Unrivaled players and fans alike were thrilled by the record-breaking crowd at the Philadelphia tour stop, as the 3-on-3 league set a new benchmark for women's professional basketball. The Xfinity Mobile Arena buzzed with excitement as 21,490 spectators gathered for the inaugural regular-season game, marking a historic moment for the sport.
The atmosphere was electric, with league co-founder Napheesa Collier expressing her joy: "It was unbelievable! You could feel the love tonight. I'm so glad we came here. It was just amazing."
This tour stop held even more significance, as it was the first game outside of Miami for the second-year league and Philadelphia's first professional women's basketball game in 22 years. The city is set to welcome a WNBA expansion team in 2030, further solidifying its commitment to women's sports.
The Unrivaled festivities spanned two days, featuring a community event and clinic on Thursday, followed by thrilling games on Friday. The Breeze and Phantom faced off in a close contest, with the Phantom emerging victorious, 71-68. The Rose and Lunar Owls also battled it out, with the Lunar Owls claiming the win, 85-75.
Celebrities and basketball legends graced the courtside, including women's basketball icon Dawn Staley, former NFL star Jason Kelce and his wife Kylie, comedians Wanda Sykes and Leslie Jones, and Philadelphia 76ers player Kyle Lowry. The turnout was a testament to the league's growing popularity and the passion of its fans.
"It's just a testament to what we're building here, how much people believe in it," Collier said. "So to have the city show out like this, breaking a record in all of women's professional basketball, I think it's just amazing. The future's Unrivaled."
The league's success has sparked interest in expanding its tour model, with players expressing enthusiasm for future stops. Marina Mabrey, who scored an Unrivaled-record 47 points and 10 3-pointers, highlighted the support and hype surrounding the league: "I think it was awesome to see the fans come out and support us like that. I think going to other cities would be great..."
The Unrivaled season continues in Miami, with the regular season wrapping up in February and the playoffs set for March 2 and 4.
