Chelsea Gray has made a habit of competing internationally during her WNBA offseasons. For nearly a decade, the Las Vegas Aces star would pack her bags after the W season concluded and fly to compete for teams in Israel, Spain and Turkey as a way to work on her game, travel the world and supplement her income during the winter.

A few years ago, away from the spotlight while playing in Turkey, she started wondering what was next in her career and her life. She had just turned 30, had won championships and established herself as one of the best in the game. Playing overseas every winter meant months away from some of her family and friends, and a risk that she was missing opportunities to grow her brand.

So when she was approached two years ago by executives creating a new U.S. women’s basketball league, Gray was intrigued, and she became the first non-founding player selected for the league.

“(Unrivaled) changes the game, being able to make money while still being here, being with our family,” she said. “It’s been really, really cool that it’s come to be what it is.”

Co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the new modified full-court 3×3 league has attracted many of the sport’s top players, such as Gray, who have opted against overseas competition this winter in hopes of establishing a new winter home for women’s basketball. The league debuts Friday in Miami, with six teams who boast some of the most notable names in the sport such as Angel Reese, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd and Brittney Griner.

The First 36 are Unrivaled 👑

Watch them on TNT, TruTV and Max all season long. pic.twitter.com/RNbSFwuXK4

— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) January 16, 2025

For decades, American women’s basketball players have wrestled with career decisions every winter: Stay home to recuperate, work on marketing deals and spend time with family or spend winters abroad in Russia, China, Turkey, Italy, Israel and Spain. Many of the world’s best followed Gray’s routine of overseas play.

Now, with the launch of Unrivaled, more top-tier WNBA players than ever have elected to stay in the U.S. this offseason. Unrivaled’s goal isn’t to stop international leagues from signing top American players, but it’s a trend many involved believe will continue if the league is successful.

Collier, a star for the Minnesota Lynx, and Stewart, an MVP for the New York Liberty, aim to offer comparable domestic offseason competition and compensation to their colleagues.

“I think overseas is still a great option,” Collier said. “We just think it shouldn’t be your only option, so we wanted to give players other things that they could do in their home (country). … We’re not trying to take away any other option that you had before. We’re trying to expand upon that.”

They said that keeping many of the world’s best players in the U.S. during the WNBA offseason will help grow the sport more broadly. While formulating the idea during a discussion about Collier’s year-round basketball experience, she and her husband, Alex Bazzell, who is also the league president, talked about wanting to optimize player experiences. Unrivaled executives describe that aspect as its “North Star.”

“(We were) trying to make women’s basketball continue to be relevant in the offseason from a professional standpoint,” Stewart said, “and be a way where people are able to build their brands.”

Playing internationally significantly supplements the income of WNBA players, whose seasonal salaries range from around $60,000 to nearly $250,000. Overseas contracts can sometimes double that, if not pay even more.

Unrivaled promises to pay players the highest average salary in American women’s sports league history. Players earn an average salary of more than $200,000 for the 10-week season, and participants in its inaugural campaign also receive equity.

Unrivaled, Collier said, was founded on the principle that WNBA players “deserve compensation and ownership that reflect their value.” They understood player development and high-quality amenities like a sauna, cold tub and weight room were central to piquing players’ interest and support.

“We’re not playing for anybody because we’re all owners of this,” said Unrivaled wing Rhyne Howard, who’s played three seasons for the Atlanta Dream. “The equity in this, that’s something that’s definitely different but also is very helpful in the long run.”

Despite the many benefits of Unrivaled, Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey still wrestled with her options. She had largely positive, career-altering experiences overseas while competing in Latvia, Israel, Australia, Italy and Turkey. She credits her time in Latvia in 2019 for her weight loss, more dedicated work ethic and skills development. She has appreciated the cultural experiences and the work-life balance abroad.

“I learned to love myself,” she said. “I had to love myself again and my whole career changed after that.”

So while some of her peers jumped at the opportunity to play in Unrivaled, Mabrey’s decision was more difficult. She considered playing this offseason in China and Turkey, two countries that have historically compensated top WNBA players well. She weighed another seven-month season abroad against the 10-week Unrivaled calendar. Travel was another consideration: Unrivaled will occur at a single site in Miami, and Mabrey wanted a break from the long flights and bus rides that can come with international competition.

Salary was important, too, but it wasn’t everything to her. She wanted to compete against top competition, have access to the amenities and training resources Unrivaled offered, receive equity in the league and also support Unrivaled as a new venture created by her colleagues.

“Having Unrivaled give that opportunity to play 3×3 and … only be 10 weeks, and obviously the financial part of it is great,” Mabrey said. “It’s about what do I need right now? And this is exactly what I needed.”

For other veteran players, the overseas calendar, which caused them to miss winter holidays, became a breaking point.

“Stay with our families for the holidays but still be able to hoop with some of the best in the world: It was kinda a no-brainer for this point in my career,” said 11-year WNBA veteran Kayla McBride, who had played abroad since her rookie season. She carved out one of the most prolific EuroLeague careers in recent seasons with the Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe but will compete for Unrivaled this winter.

Brand-building was another appeal of the new league. Unrivaled has partnered with high-profile companies (Under Armour, Samsung Galaxy, State Farm, Wilson and Sephora), and games will air on TNT and stream on Max. Players recognized the opportunity to form new relationships with some of the sponsors.

“Different brands and partnerships (came) in that are different from the WNBA, and hopefully (they will) continue to expand their reach to other players,” Stewart said.

Plus, by remaining in the U.S., players can still make endorsement appearances and maintain broader relevance. Guard Natasha Cloud said players typically leave and go overseas and it’s “blackout season.” But now?

“I can be here and fulfill marketing deals and compete against other women who are the best in the league,” said Unrivaled big Satou Sabally, who has spent her first five WNBA seasons with the Dallas Wings.

Stewart traveled to Istanbul for a partial season with Fenerbahçe in 2022. (She did not compete last season largely for family reasons.) She said that was likely her last time playing professionally abroad.

“I think that overseas door is kinda closed (for me),” said Stewart, who has played more than a half-decade at top clubs in China, Turkey and Russia. “Especially with the way that we’ve set things up. What we’re doing here is really, really special. I think there’s so many things that I love about it, but the fact that we have the top people here, that was the missing thing when we played overseas.”

GO DEEPER

Can Unrivaled’s 3×3 style benefit WNBA players?

Not all of the WNBA’s best players are in Unrivaled. Three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and rookie sensation Caitlin Clark are among the league’s notable absences, opting to take time away from formal competition while also training privately.

International leagues still drew some top WNBA players who likely would have been offered spots on Unrivaled teams. Kamilla Cardoso and Kelsey Mitchell, for instance, are playing in China, while Tina Charles, Ariel Atkins and Natasha Howard are in Turkey. But of last year’s 24 WNBA All-Stars, only three are scheduled to play abroad this winter. (Jonquel Jones said in October she planned to play in China this offseason, but she has yet to debut. Mitchell is in China while Brionna Jones is playing in Prague.)

Considering Unrivaled’s calendar, it’s possible that in future seasons the league’s players could still compete internationally in the fall (or even in the waning weeks of EuroLeague competition at the end of March and into April before WNBA training camps begin). But even if some of the original Unrivaled 36 play abroad again, the number of WNBA stars choosing to do so seems likely to diminish if the league thrives.

Collier had two stints with Fenerbahçe last season, and though she doesn’t officially rule out a return to an international club, she said it would be “really hard” for her to do so for family reasons. (Collier’s daughter turns 3 in May.) Aliyah Boston, who will be in her third season with the Fever this spring, said that as a self-described homebody, she recognized years ago that she wanted to spend her offseason in the U.S., not playing time zones apart from those she’s closest with. Not surprisingly, she is excited for Unrivaled’s present and future — one that she expects to feature a next generation of women’s basketball stars.

“People not only dream of being in the W, but they’re like now I want to be one of the top players to get in Unrivaled (too),” Boston said.

Of course, players have yet to record any Unrivaled statistics, and the first game, let alone the first season, has yet to be completed. Still, those involved are optimistic about how Unrivaled could change offseason routines for the better.

“Five years from now,” Reese said, “this thing is going to be bigger than ever.”

(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Photos: Courtesy of Unrivaled)

As Philadelphia Eagle fans face national scrutiny following a viral video of one verbally assaulting a woman, star running back Saquon Barkley has come to their defense. 

With the Eagles set to face the Los Angeles Rams in a divisional playoff game on Sunday, Rams player Jared Verse expressed his hatred for Eagles fans in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Verse’s comments came days after Eagles fan Ryan Caldwell was fired from his job when the video of him insulting a female Green Bay Packers fan at a playoff game last Sunday went viral. 

“I hate Eagles fans,” Verse said. “They’re so annoying. I hate Eagles fans.”

Barkley was asked by reporters about Verse’s comments ahead of the game, and suggested that the Rams rookie’s decision to say those things was “not smart.” 

“Probably not the smartest thing to say if you’re coming to Philadelphia,” Barkley told reporters on Friday.

Barkley cited his previous experience coming to play in Philadelphia as an opponent when he was with the New York Giants from 2018-23. 

“I’ve been on the other side, I’ve felt some type of way,” Barkley said. “I probably wouldn’t give them any extra fuel.”

Barkley expects Verse will receive an especially rude greeting when he takes the field on Sunday. 

“I’m pretty sure Philly fans have seen that comment. It was already going to be loud and rocking, so it’s just only going to add to it,” Barkley said. 

Eagles defensive back Darius Slay also weighed in on Verse’s comments and warned that snow in the forecast could result in fans throwing snowballs. 

“He ain’t the first person to hate Eagles fans. There’s a lot of folks who don’t like Eagles fans. There’s some people that played for the Eagles that don’t like Eagles fans,” Slay told reporters Fridat. “That just comes with the sport.

“I think Eagles fans are fired up regardless. They [don’t] have to say another word. And if there’s snow out there, I won’t be surprised if snowballs get thrown on the sideline.”

Verse is just one of the harsh vocal critics of Eagles fans in the aftermath of the viral footage of Caldwell. Verse said even though the game was in Los Angeles, he heard heckling Eagles fans, despite wearing headphones. 

“I didn’t even do nothing to em. It was my first time playing. Oh, I hate Eagles fans,” Verse said. 

The Eagles won that game 37-20, and Barkley ran wild, amassing 302 scrimmage yards, including 255 rushing yards with two touchdowns.

5 MOST INFAMOUS FAN MOMENTS IN SPORTS

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) gets pushed out-of-bounds by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse (right) during the first half at SoFi Stadium.  (Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images)

Meanwhile, Caldwell was fired from his job as a project manager at BCT Partners after a video of his insults went viral. He has apologized but also defended himself by insisting his actions “were not without provocation” and that the viral video “does not show the full context” of what happened. 

“While attending an NFL game last Sunday to support my beloved Philadelphia Eagles, an incident occurred that I deeply regret,” Caldwell said in a statement. 

“What began as banter with two Packers fans sitting near me escalated to something more serious, and I said things that were unacceptable. In the heat of the moment, I chose unforgiving words to address one of the fans, Ms. Ally Keller.

“I want to sincerely apologize to Ms. Keller for those words, and to my wife, family, and friends, my former employer and colleagues, Packer fans, Eagle fans, the Philadelphia Eagles, the City of Philadelphia, and all who were offended. That said, there are two sides to every story. 

Ryan Caldwell was identified as the fan who hurled taunts at a Packers fan. (X/@Basaraski)

“The video clip circulating online does not reflect the full context of what transpired, and my actions were not without provocation. I will live with this experience, and I am certainly paying a personal price. For those who don’t know me, this incident does not reflect my values or the respect I have for others and is not indicative of the person I am.”

The viral video was filmed by Keller’s fiancé, Alexander Basara, and spread rapidly across the internet in the days after the Eagles’ 22-10 win. 

Caldwell’s apology and news of his firing prompted a wave of celebration and mockery by sports fans on social media. 

Eagles fans have a long history of unruly behavior. 

The franchise’s former home, Veterans Stadium, had an on-site judicial court and jail cells to deal with law-breaking fans.

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The Rams weathered a soggy downpour and won in Santa Clara. They played in a freezing windchill and won in New Jersey.

On Sunday in Philadelphia, the forecast calls for temperatures in the low 30s and a chance of snow for the NFC divisional-round game between the Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

Rams coach Sean McVay is not concerned.

“If it does snow or if it does rain, we have to be mindful of what we need to do to adjust and adapt,” McVay said this week, “but there’s no way it can be as cold as it was at the Jets game.”

But are the Rams well suited for a game in the snow?

“We can’t simulate what that weather is like out here,” McVay said Friday after practice, “but that’s not going to be an excuse for us to not be locked in.”

When it comes to adjustments, the biggest will be how the Rams attempt to slow Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.

On Nov. 24, Barkley rushed for 255 yards and two long touchdowns in a 37-20 victory over the Rams at SoFi Stadium.

First-year defensive coordinator Chris Shula, echoing McVay, described it Friday as a “humbling” night.

So Shula must devise a scheme to keep Barkley under control, while also taking into account quarterback Jalen Hurts, receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert.

Shula showed an ability to adapt in last Monday’s wild-card victory over the Minnesota Vikings, scheming a blitzing pass-rush plan that netted nine sacks. One caused a fumble that edge rusher Jared Verse returned for a touchdown.

Is there an equivalent schematic adjustment to slow Barkley?

“There’s no perfect defense,” Shula said, adding, “so if you want to devote a lot of resources to the run, they obviously have some really good receivers and a really good quarterback.”

Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore also has the benefit of one of the NFL’s biggest and best offensive lines.

But the Rams showed against the Vikings that they are “playing as well as any defense in the league right now,” Moore said.

“You could tell just every phase of that defense is tied together, and the front is doing an excellent job getting pressure,” Moore told reporters in Philadelphia. “The challenge when you get in obvious passing situations, those guys are as good as it gets in this league collectively .”

The Eagles’ defense, under coordinator Vic Fangio, once again offers McVay one of his greatest challenges.

Fangio was the architect of the 2018 Chicago Bears’ defense that limited a high-powered Rams offense to six points. Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick borrowed heavily from that scheme and limited the Rams to three points in Super Bowl LIII.

In the November loss to the Eagles, the Rams totaled 290 yards and failed to convert all eight third-down opportunities.

Fangio’s defenses reveal “an identity and a philosophy, but I think there’s a flexibility” that enables him to adapt to his personnel, McVay said.

“They’re obviously at the top of the charts in every single metric that really matters,” McVay said, adding, “We know what a great challenge it’s going to be, and how little margin for error you have if you expect to consistently move the ball and ultimately finish drives.”

Fangio also respects McVay.

“He’s got a great offense that he has great command of,” Fangio told Philadelphia reporters this week. “And he’s a really good play-caller.

“During the game he can change gears on you at a moment’s notice. He’s one of the top play-callers in this league, for sure, without a doubt.”

Etc.

Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (thigh) was limited and defensive lineman Bobby Brown III (shoulder) and offensive linemen tackle Alaric Jackson (chest/knee) and Justin Dedich (illness) did not practice. All are listed as questionable, but McVay said he expected all would be available to play against the Eagles. Inside linebacker Troy Reeder and defensive lineman Larrell Murchison, who returned Thursday from injured reserve to practice, are out.