New Women’s Basketball League Sets First Games in Philadelphia

Philadelphia's 2026 sporting events scene just added one more event to the mix.

Unrivaled, a groundbreaking three-on-three women's basketball league founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, will host its first tour stop with back-to-back games in Philadelphia on Jan. 30, 2026. The tour stop will mark the first women's pro basketball games in the city since 1998. Four clubs will compete in games scheduled for the Xfinity Mobile Arena in South Philadelphia. 

Tip-off will be at 7:30 p.m., with the games airing on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max, according to a press release from Unrivaled. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster and the arena website.

Unrivaled combines professional basketball with street hoops flair, creating a fast-paced, high-energy game designed to appeal to modern audiences and social media followers.

According to CBS News Philadelphia, Mayor Cherelle Parker and The Philadelphia Sisters — an organization created by comedian Wanda Sykes, Alexandra Niedbalski-Sykes, and others who advocate for women's sports — worked to bring the league to Philadelphia.

"Advancing women's pro sports in Philly has been a goal we've passionately pursued for years, and this initiative represents the perfect alignment of purpose and passion," Sykes said in the news release. "Unrivaled, this groundbreaking league, is set to elevate the women's basketball ecosystem as a whole, and we are honored that Philly has been chosen as its first-ever tour stop."

Unrivaled gives top WNBA players — such as Philly's Natasha Cloud, who played at Cardinal O'Hara and St. Joseph's University — a chance to compete in the United States in the offseason without going overseas. 

According to ESPN, several WNBA stars have already committed to return for the second season. They include Collier, Stewart, three-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner, and the Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas.

Unrivaled's home base will be at Wayfair Arena, an 850-seat venue in Miami where games were held during the league's inaugural season, which finished in March.

Excitement for women's basketball in Philly is growing following an announcement that the city will get its own WNBA team in 2030.

The Unrivaled games are part of a full slate of professional sporting events taking place in the Philadelphia region next year. These events include the MLB All-Star Game, FIFA World Cup matches, NCAA men's March Madness games, the PGA Championship, and the return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic.