Lez Ball: Unrivaled First Impressions
No one knew what to expect when it came to the new 3x3 league. It was hard to imagine a new way to play basketball. The first week has come and gone, and here are our first impressions of Unrivaled.
No one knew what to expect leading up to Unrivaled’s first ever game. 3x3, but on a full court? What do you mean the fourth quarter is not timed? And what about that 1v1 tournament! So many unknowns. There has never been a women’s basketball league like this in the history of U.S.A. women’s basketball. There was anticipation, excitement, and in all honesty, fear. But after the first slew of Unrivaled games, all of that was replaced with pure fun. So here are our first impressions of Unrivaled.
Wall-to-Wall Lesbians
Listen, this is called LEZ Ball, heavy emphasis on the lez. And we absolutely love that every team has a lesbian player. Now, you could argue that’s also the case in WNBA. Sure, but because of the smaller rosters the lesbians really get their time to shine. Did you see Sloot balling it up out there! There may be times in a W game where no out lesbians are on the court. Not at Unrivaled! You are guaranteed at least two lesbians on the court at all times. It’s wall-to-wall lesbians out here, can’t move for lesbians. And we love it!
Fast and Furious
Teams usually use the first quarter to settle into a rhythm while the third is used to correct first half mistakes. You can’t do that here. The pace is much faster than anyone anticipated. I once had an MMA instructor tell me, “it’s okay to start off like a lamb, as long as you finish like a lion.” But Unrivaled teams don’t have that luxury. You need to start like a lion and finish like a dragon. Having said that, this kind of pace really speaks to the elite conditioning of these athletes.
Add that to the condensed full court and having only three players on the court per team, you have much more space. And nowhere to hide. Players have to go deep into their bag. Weaknesses are exposed, forcing them to improve quickly. Overall, it makes for an incredibly fun watch. There’s never a dull moment. However…
Damnit, Ref!
Is it even women’s basketball unless you’re getting mad at the referees! While the egregious calls were kept to a minimum (for now), we felt there were simply too many calls period. The fast-paced play was often interrupted by a whistle. And at times, players were visibly frustrated by this. Understandably so! It’s hard to get into a flow and it’s even harder to get back into it after being interrupted. And with the shorter time frame of Unrivaled games, you simply cannot be doing with any of that. Perhaps, these are just first week jitters. After all, The officials have to get used to the new format just as much as the platers do. Hopefully, things smooth out as the season progresses. Because damnit, ref! Let those women play!
Hanging With the Homies
When we first started getting glimpses of the Unrivaled roster, there were jokes aplenty about how it was just Stewie and friends. And, well… Yeah. The whole Unrivaled league is just a bunch of friends having fun playing ball. And isn’t that what life is all about?
And what do friends do? They talk to each other, of course. You might be thinking, well how is that relevant? WNBA free agency season is in full swing. With players like Satou Sabally and Jewell Loyd already expressing their desire to leave their teams, this time at Unrivaled could be influential in deciding where they play during the 2025 season.
Playing with your friends also makes for great social media posts because it’s all in good fun and never too serious.
At the end of the day, they genuinely look like they’re having fun. Watching them play with such joy really highlights their love of the game. And when players play with love and joy, the fans are treated to some spectacular plays. Speaking of…
Top Moments of Unrivaled Week 1
We aren’t about to let you go without sharing our favorite moments! Despite teams still finding their rhythm and chemistry, it was an embarrassment of riches for women’s basketball fans.
First Basket
Of course Stewie had to score Unrivaled’s first ever basket. Felt good, felt organic.
Seat Belt Season
We stand by our defensive queen DiJonai Carrington, DPOY in our hearts.
One for the Highlight Reel
If you got the Point Gawd on the court, you will get a highlight. Fact.
This Was Personal
We’re big enough to admit that we sometimes like a little drama on the court. And if you’ve been following the controversies surrounding the Seattle Storm lately, you know exactly why this Jewell Loyd block felt personal.
Hootie Hoooooo
After Skylar Diggins-Smith’s game winning 3, she had all the bird watchers taking note of that Lunar Owl call.
The Future of Unrivaled
We have high hopes for the future of this league. In their first season, they’ve already bagged high-profile sponsors like Samsung and Under Armour. Any doubt surrounding Unrivaled has been hastily thrown out the window. We can confidently say this league is going to grow the game in a huge way.
The best rookies in the W are only getting better now that they’ve got more time to play with some of the best vets. College stars like Paige Bueckers and Flau’jae Johnson are already signed on with NIL deals. Next season will see a healthy Cam Brink and hopefully an expansion team or two, bringing in new players. Could A’ja Wilson be Unrivaled? Maybe! Could the league become big enough to attract international players like Gabby Williams and Marine Johannes? We hope so!
But most importantly what Unrivaled does is show the world a league made for and by female athletes. All their needs are met. They have a six figure salaries plus equity in the league. The players sole focus is the game. And that’s guaranteed magic.
What are you most excited to see in Unrivaled?