It was all good until the Dallas Wings saw an early WNBA Playoff elimination, along with the Chicago Sky. With that, fans were looking for answers, as it would also very much mean an end to star rookie Paige Buekcers’ phenomenal run for the season.
But wait, there’s Unrivaled, right? So much so, there’s still a great opportunity for hoop fans to witness the same level of athleticism, just with fewer players on the court. Getting paid way more than WNBA. Though this comes at a time when Sue Bird advocated media coverage for Bueckers over Caitlin Clark.
Paige Bueckers Gets Positive Update From Unrivaled’s Team Expansion
Unrivaled, the brainchild of WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, kicked off its first season earlier this year with six teams and quickly proved its appeal by drawing top talent and surpassing revenue expectations. Now, ahead of the January 2026 tip-off, the league is jumping from six to eight squads by introducing Breeze Basketball Club and Hive Basketball Club.
This move adds 12 permanent roster spots, pushing the total to 48 players, plus a new development pool of six more who can step in for injuries. That means Bueckers fits perfectly into this expansion picture.
Joining us in 2026 for season two, please welcome Breeze BC and Hive BC to Unrivaled! pic.twitter.com/2OslxUvyDt
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) September 10, 2025
She inked a three-year deal with Unrivaled back in April 2025, right before the WNBA draft, and sources say her first-year salary for the 10-week season will top what she’d earn over four years in the WNBA as a rookie.
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However, this couldn’t come at a better time than the current scenario around the league, especially with Unrivaled’s average salaries last season hitting around $222,000. Needless to say, that goes far above many WNBA benchmarks.
Paige Bueckers Set To Receive Part Of Unrivaled’s Success
Bueckers, who grabbed an equity stake through an NIL deal while still at UConn, could easily captain one of the new teams, using her experience to mentor and compete at a high level. The timing feels spot-on amid whispers of a potential WNBA work stoppage due to ongoing CBA talks, set to expire in October 2025.
UNRIVALED 📈
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 8, 2025
December 2024: The league had a valuation of $35M
9 months later, the league announced they have a valuation of $340M!! pic.twitter.com/gqrzEm376o
Unrivaled’s growth opens doors for more players to stay stateside and earn solid money without heading overseas. Bueckers, fresh off a strong rookie campaign where she earned presumptive Rookie of the Year nods, brings that championship pedigree from her UConn days.
Almost every player from Year 1 is returning, and Bueckers joins as a headliner newcomer. With her equity as a stakeholder who stands to benefit as Unrivaled’s valuation soared to $340 million after a recent funding round. This setup lets her shine in 3-on-3 while padding her profile ahead of her second WNBA year.