Unrivaled, the three‑on‑three basketball league that brings together the league’s premier WNBA players, is poised to return to Boston in January for its third season, a move that comes after the Connecticut Sun’s relocation to Houston ended the franchise’s presence in New England.
Boston Marks the League’s Comeback
Two opening games will be staged at the iconic TD Garden on January 8, marking the league’s first live events in the city since the Sun’s departure and signaling a renewed commitment to in‑person experiences for fans.
Governor Maura Healey, the former Harvard women’s basketball captain, played a pivotal role in securing the Boston dates, leveraging her connections and advocacy to bring the league back to the region.
The schedule will span ten games across the United States, including two matches at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, as the league seeks to broaden its reach and deepen fan engagement through diverse venues.
After a modest inaugural season in Medley, Florida, where an estimated 1,000 fans filled Sephora Arena, Unrivaled set a women’s basketball attendance record of 21,490 spectators in Philadelphia during a late‑January 2025 contest, underscoring the growing appetite for live play.
While broadcast and streaming numbers for the 2026 championship fell 14 % compared with the 2025 title game, the league has pledged to avoid major scheduling clashes in future seasons to improve viewership.
By prioritizing the in‑person experience, Unrivaled aims to cultivate lifelong supporters, using local arenas and community venues to turn casual attendees into dedicated fans.