Unrivaled’s rule set is built for speed: a compressed full court, an 18-second clock and a fourth quarter with no clock at all. Here’s every rule that shapes the game, with examples.
Unrivaled plays 3-on-3 on a 72-by-49.2-foot full court with an 18-second shot clock. Games have three 7-minute quarters, then an untimed fourth quarter: the league adds 11 points to the leading score, and the first team to reach that target wins. Shooting fouls earn one free throw worth two or three points, and players foul out on six.
Unrivaled Court Size and Shot Clock
Unrivaled uses both baskets, unlike half-court 3×3. The floor is 72 feet long and 49.2 feet wide, about 22 feet shorter than a WNBA court and slightly narrower. With only six players on the floor, that shorter length is what keeps spacing tight and transition constant.
| Rule | Unrivaled | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Court size | 72 × 49.2 ft | Less ground to cover, faster outlets and more early offense |
| Shot clock | 18 seconds | Six fewer seconds than the WNBA; most sets are one action and a read |
| Quarters | 3 × 7 minutes | 21 minutes of clock before the target-score fourth |
| Game clock stoppage | Made baskets stop the clock only in the final 30 seconds of a period | Fewer stoppages and a faster game |
| Fourth quarter | No game clock, shot clock stays on | No fouling to stop the clock and no running it out |
How the Unrivaled Winning Score Works (Elam Ending)
After the third quarter, the league takes the leading team’s score and adds 11. That number is the target. The first team to reach or pass it wins, so every game ends on a made basket or free throw. If the game is tied after three, 11 is added to the tied score.
This is a version of the Elam Ending, used at The Basketball Tournament and in several NBA All-Star Games. The trailing team still needs the full margin, but it can never run out of time.
Target score tool
Enter the score after the third quarter.
| Score after Q3 | Target | Leader needs | Trailer needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 – 50 | 61 | 11 | 11 |
| 52 – 47 | 63 | 11 | 16 |
| 60 – 48 | 71 | 11 | 23 |
Because nobody can run out the clock, a team down double digits after three quarters is still alive. The 2026 title game was decided at the line: Breanna Stewart’s free throw reached the target score.
Unrivaled Foul Rules and Free Throws
| Situation | Unrivaled ruling |
|---|---|
| Fouled on a missed 2-point shot | One free throw worth 2 points |
| Fouled on a missed 3-point shot | One free throw worth 3 points |
| Fouled on a made basket (and-one) | One free throw worth 1 point |
| Sixth personal foul | Player fouls out |
| Sixth foul with only 3 players available | Player stays in; opponent gets a 1-point technical free throw |
The single free throw keeps the game moving and raises the stakes of every trip to the line. A missed one on a 3-point foul is a three-point swing.
Unrivaled Rosters, Subs and Injuries
Each team carries six players. Rosters are set by a selection committee that balances position and skill, not by a draft or trades, and rosters change every season. Each team has a head coach, an assistant coach and a team manager, plus a dedicated athletic trainer and player development coach since 2026.
Depth is the format’s weak point. In Season 1, injuries left Laces and Vinyl without enough players, and their February 8, 2025 game was canceled. The league answered in 2026 with a development pool: players who train in Miami, fill in for any team during injuries and are paid a full salary either way.
Unrivaled Season Format and Playoffs
Teams play a round-robin regular season, mostly at Sephora Arena in Miami. The playoff format has changed each year.
| Season | Playoff teams | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | TBA | Not yet announced; the published schedule runs through March 5 |
| 2026 | 6 of 8 | Top 2 seeds get first-round byes; semifinals at Barclays Center, title game in Miami |
| 2025 | 4 of 6 | Top 4 make single-elimination semifinals; title game in Miami |
Every playoff game is single elimination, with no series. Bracket results by year are on our Unrivaled champions page.
Unrivaled 1-on-1 Tournament Rules
The mid-season 1-on-1 tournament is single elimination and pays $200,000 to the winner, $50,000 to the runner-up and $25,000 to each losing semifinalist. Napheesa Collier won in 2025 and Chelsea Gray won in 2026. The 2027 tournament runs February 18–20 at Sephora Arena; see the schedule for tip times.
Unrivaled vs. Olympic 3×3
Unrivaled is often confused with 3×3, the half-court format played at the Olympics since Tokyo. They share the player count and little else.
| Unrivaled | FIBA 3×3 (Olympics) | |
|---|---|---|
| Court | Full court, two baskets | Half court, one basket |
| Scoring | 2s and 3s | 1s and 2s |
| Shot clock | 18 seconds | 12 seconds |
| Game length | 3 × 7 min, then race to target | 10 minutes or first to 21 |
| After a score | Inbound and bring it up the floor | Defense takes it under the basket and must clear the arc |
Three of the four players on the US women’s 3×3 team that won gold in Tokyo, Allisha Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, are on Unrivaled’s 2027 player list. So are Rhyne Howard and Dearica Hamby from the team that took bronze in Paris.
FAQ
What is the Elam Ending in Unrivaled?
After the third quarter, 11 points are added to the leading score. The clock is turned off and the first team to reach that target wins.
Is the Unrivaled court full size?
No. It’s a full court with two baskets, but 72 feet long instead of the WNBA’s 94, and 49.2 feet wide instead of 50.
How many free throws do you get in Unrivaled?
One. It’s worth two points on a fouled 2-point attempt, three on a fouled 3-point attempt, and one on an and-one.
Can an Unrivaled game end in a tie?
No. The fourth quarter is played to a target score, so a team always wins on a made basket or free throw.
How many players are on an Unrivaled team?
Six per team, with a development pool covering injuries since 2026.
How much does the Unrivaled 1-on-1 winner get?
$200,000. The runner-up gets $50,000 and each losing semifinalist gets $25,000.
