Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 women’s professional basketball league co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, tips off Friday night on TNT. The new league boasts 36 WNBA stars, including high-profile names like Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, and Brittney Griner, and promises players equity and an average salary of more than $220,000 — more than double the average WNBA salary.
Noa Dalzell is a senior writer covering the WNBA and all of women’s basketball for Breakaway, SB Nation’s women’s sports vertical, as well as the Celtics for CelticsBlog.
And, in the days leading up to its first games, its list of partnerships has continued to proliferate.
On Friday morning, the league announced a partnership with the financial services corporation Morgan Stanley. As part of this partnership, Morgan Stanley will be integrated throughout Unrivaled programming — both on the court in Miami and beyond, including via social media content, community programming, and financial empowerment opportunities for Unrivaled players.
“Our new partnership with Unrivaled is an opportunity for us to deepen our commitment to breaking down barriers in women’s sports and beyond,” said Alice Milligan, Morgan Stanley’s chief marketing officer, in a press release.
Unrivaled Commissioner Micky Lawler echoed the sentiment.
“Unrivaled is proud to partner with Morgan Stanley to uplift women’s sports and help usher in a new era of athlete empowerment,” said Lawler. “Morgan Stanley has a long tradition of championing women’s athletics and building towards a more inclusive and egalitarian future that reflects the incredible talents of women, both in sports and beyond.”
Unrivaled announced Icy Hot, Sprite, and BODYARMOR as partners earlier this week
The Morgan Stanley partnership announcement came on the heels of several other big partnerships, including with IcyHot (Official Recovery Partner), Sprite (Presenting Sponsor of 1-on-1 Tournament), and BODYARMOR Sports Drink (Official Sports Drink). As part of the IcyHot sponsorship, Napheesa Collier will serve as a brand ambassador for the company.
“As an athlete, staying in top shape is critical, and Icy Hot has been a game-changer for me,” Collier said. “I’m thrilled that Icy Hot believes in our vision for Unrivaled and am excited to see this partnership come to life for our players and our fans.”
Unrivaled President Alex Bazzell said the Icy Hot partnership was a natural fit.
“Together, we’ll be able to provide players everything they need to play their best on the court, while taking care of their bodies off of it,” Bazzell said. “We’re appreciative of Icy Hot’s commitment to Unrivaled and its athletes.”
Previously, the league had announced a long list of major sponsorships, including Samsung Galaxy (Presenting Partner), Ally Financial (Founding and Official Banking Partner), Mediapro North America (Production and Hosting Partner), Miller Lite (Official Beer Partner), Sephora U.S. (Official Beauty Partner), State Farm® (Home and Auto Insurance Partner), Ticketmaster (Official Ticketing Partner), TNT Sports (Exclusive Media Rights Partner), Under Armour (Official Uniform Partner and Performance Outfitter), VistaPrint (Official Print and Design Partner), and Wilson (Official Game Ball Manufacturer).
