Unrivaled launched with the highest average salary in US women’s pro sports and an ownership stake for every player. Two years and a new WNBA CBA later, here’s what Unrivaled pays, what the equity is worth, and how it now compares.
Unrivaled paid an average of about $220,000 in its first season, from an $8 million salary pool, with every player earning at least six figures. Salaries rose in 2026, though the league hasn’t published new averages. Players also hold equity in the league, a pool now valued at close to $200 million, and can earn up to $200,000 more in the 1-on-1 tournament.
How Unrivaled Player Pay Works
The pitch to players was simple: earn more in roughly two months at home than many earned in a full WNBA season or a winter overseas, and own part of the business that grows from it.
Unrivaled Salaries by Season
| Season | Players | Salary pool | Average | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 48 roster spots | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | More than 75% of returning players on multiyear deals |
| 2026 | 48 + development pool | Not disclosed | Increased, figure not public | Development pool players paid a full salary regardless of games played |
| 2025 | 36 | $8 million | About $220,000 | Six-figure minimum for every player |
President Alex Bazzell confirmed before Season 2 that pay was going up because the business beat its targets. The league hasn’t released per-player numbers since.
Unrivaled Equity: What Players Own
Every player in the inaugural class received equity in the league, vesting over four years. As revenue and valuation have climbed, so has the value of that stake.
League revenue by season. The 2026 figure is an estimate.
Salaries are a fixed cost. Equity ties players to the league’s upside, which is why most of the 2026 class signed multiyear deals and why rival leagues, including Project B, now offer equity too.
Biggest Unrivaled Contracts
| Player | Deal | Why it mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Paige Bueckers | 3 years, signed April 13, 2025, the day before the WNBA Draft | Reported first-year pay above $350,000, more than her entire four-year WNBA rookie contract at the time |
| Napheesa Collier & Breanna Stewart | Co-founders and players | Equity holders as founders; Collier also won the first 1-on-1 title and $200,000 |
| Chelsea Gray | Returning player | 2026 MVP, All-Unrivaled First Team and 1-on-1 champion, which came with the $200,000 prize |
Unrivaled NIL Deals With College Stars
Unrivaled also signs college players to NIL deals before they turn pro. After Bueckers and Flau’jae Johnson in 2024, the league added a 14-player “Future is Unrivaled” class in July 2025, including JuJu Watkins, Azzi Fudd, Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles, Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice. Miles, Johnson and Rice are on the 2027 player list.
Unrivaled Pay vs. WNBA Pay
When Unrivaled launched, its average salary was nearly double the WNBA’s. The WNBA’s 2026 collective bargaining agreement flipped that over a full year, but the two leagues play in different months, so most players collect both. A player on the WNBA minimum plus a six-figure Unrivaled deal now earns at least $370,000 before equity, endorsements or prize money. The full side-by-side, including the salary cap and max contract, is in Unrivaled vs. WNBA.
The real offseason bidding war is with Project B, the 5-on-5 international league. Its top signings were reportedly offered seven-figure salaries starting at $2 million, plus equity, for a first season that runs January to April 2027. Azzi Fudd, part of Unrivaled’s 2025 NIL class, chose Project B.
FAQ
How much do Unrivaled players make?
The 2025 average was about $220,000, with a six-figure minimum. Salaries rose in 2026, but the league hasn’t published new figures.
Do Unrivaled players get equity?
Yes. Players received equity in the league, and the player equity pool is now valued at close to $200 million.
Who is the highest-paid Unrivaled player?
Salaries aren’t published. Paige Bueckers’ first-year pay was reported above $350,000, the highest figure made public.
Are Unrivaled contracts multiyear?
Most are. More than 75% of Season 2 players are on multiyear deals and return in 2027, and Paige Bueckers signed for three years.
Do Unrivaled development players get paid?
Yes. Since 2026, development pool players train in Miami, fill in for injured players and receive a full salary no matter how many games they play.
