What’s the Secret Behind This League’s Fast Success? 💼🏀

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

1. Unrivaled Says Profitability Is Within Reach 💼

The player-founded 3-on-3 women’s basketball league Unrivaled is close to breaking even, just one season in. League executives recently shared that the startup earned $27 million in revenue during its inaugural year, driven by a marquee TV deal, strong corporate sponsorships, and seven-figure sales in both merch and ticket revenue. (Front Office Sports)

WHY IT MATTERS: Launching a sports league is no easy feat and profitability rarely comes fast. Unrivaled took a bold approach by investing heavily upfront in player salaries and premium facilities, which raised eyebrows about sustainability.

But their early results are proving doubters wrong. Nearly breaking even in Year 1 is a big deal—and signals that their model, built on high production value and player empowerment, has real staying power.

With demand surging, the league plans to expand arena capacity (they sold out every game last season) and streamline merchandise operations—key moves toward becoming fully profitable in Season 2.

2. South Carolina Leads Nation in Attendance—Again 🏟️

For the 10th consecutive season, South Carolina led NCAA women’s basketball in home game attendance. The Gamecocks averaged 16,437 fans per game at Colonial Life Arena this past season, setting new program records with seven sellouts and 13,152 season tickets sold. (Gamecocks Online)

WHY IT MATTERS: Sustained fan support like this doesn’t happen by accident. Since head coach Dawn Staley took over in 2008, she’s turned South Carolina into one of the sport’s premier programs, on the court and in the stands. After capturing their first SEC title under Staley in 2013–14, home attendance skyrocketed by 93% the following season—and hasn’t slowed since.

Now one of the highest-paid coaches in the game, Staley continues to deliver wins and fill seats, proving that when programs are supported, women’s sports thrive.

3. Cotie McMahon Commits to Ole Miss 🔁

Ohio State’s homegrown star Cotie McMahon is heading south. The 6-foot forward is transferring to Ole Miss for her senior season, leaving behind a standout three-year career with the Buckeyes. (ESPN)

WHY IT MATTERS: The transfer portal continues to reshape college basketball, and McMahon is one of the biggest names on the move. A former Big Ten Freshman of the Year and back-to-back AP All-American, she brings elite scoring, toughness, and experience to a rising SEC program.

For Ole Miss, this is a potentially game-changing addition. For Ohio State, it’s a significant loss—and a reminder of how quickly a roster can shift in the portal era.

🗳️ Poll Results from Yesterday: 28.6% of respondents said they're most excited to see Paige Bueckers get drafted on Monday. Kiki Iriafen and Georgia Amoore followed closely behind, each earning 23.8% of the vote.