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Unmatched began out as an thought, and it has was a phenomenon.
The three-on-three ladies’s basketball league started final 12 months in Miami, and this 12 months the league has determined to go on tour. Its first cease on Friday evening resulted in record-breaking numbers at a sold-out doubleheader.
With 21,490 followers in attendance at Philadelphia’s Xfinity Cell Area, Unmatched set the all-time information for the highest-attended regular-season skilled ladies’s basketball sport and the most-attended occasion ever on the enviornment that performs host to the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers, in addition to loads of live shows.
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Rickea Jackson of the Breeze controls the ball in opposition to the Phantom through the first half of the Unmatched 2026 sport at Xfinity Cell Area on Jan. 30, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Hunt Martin/Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
The earlier respective information had been 20,711, set by Caitlin Clark‘s Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics on Sept. 19, 2024, and 21,424, set by the Backstreet Boys’ “Into the Millennium” Tour on Sept. 29, 1999.
Some critics could also be shocked, contemplating the low viewership numbers early within the league’s second season. However David Levy, an early investor of the league and former president of TNT Sports activities, felt the numbers had been skewed and success was on the horizon.
“I am completely shocked that, and perhaps I should not be with what is going on on on this planet lately with information, how unfavorable individuals obtained within the first two weeks of Unmatched. The primary two weeks, we bumped into soccer. Soccer, NFL, faculty, Monday nights, championship sport, you assume anyone’s gonna watch Unmatched? In all probability not,” Levy admitted in a current interview with FOX Enterprise. “So, to unexpectedly come out and go, ‘The league is useless.’ No, it is surprising to me.”
Paige Bueckers of the Breeze controls the ball in opposition to the Phantom through the first half of the Unmatched 2026 sport at Xfinity Cell Area on Jan. 30, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Hunter Martin/Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
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League sources informed FOX Enterprise that Unmatched is on monitor to eclipse $40 million in league income this season, up greater than 48 % from final season’s $27 million income. Even through the low-ratings weekend, Levy talked about, social engagement was manner up. Merchandise gross sales are additionally up 54% from September via the tip of opening weekend this season in comparison with that very same time interval final season.
“I’m in regards to the info. The info are, each single different metric is up,” Levy stated.
Levy stated he knew the league could be a success when he realized that the standard of play was A-plus.
“Crucial factor is the product on the ground needs to be nice. I didn’t know that out of the gate. I did not understand how onerous these ladies had been gonna play. I did not. Was this gonna be extra of a scrimmage? However after the primary two weeks, I knew it was gold,” Levy stated.
Clark and A’ja Wilson, arguably the WNBA’s two greatest stars, have but to hitch the league. However that is OK for now, Levy stated.
“Should you had closed your eyes and tried to say, ‘What if this was an NBA product? And also you had the highest 56 NBA gamers besides Steph Curry and LeBron did not play, however all people else was in. This could be the most popular factor through the summer season. If that was a summer season league, it will be bought out,” Levy stated.
Cameron Brink of the Breeze controls the ball in opposition to of the Phantom through the second half of the Unmatched 2026 sport at Xfinity Cell Area on Jan. 30, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ( Hunter Martin/Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
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“It is each single nice participant taking part in in a three-on-three league. It’s completely an enormous alternative, and that is why I feel it simply rose so quick. The standard of play, the names on the again of the jerseys, the social technique is superb. These ladies, all of them have fairness. Everybody has a following; ladies athletes fully have interaction with their followers. The breadth of impressions, I feel, is an outstanding one. I feel that is why the league is as profitable as it’s after only a 12 months and three weeks.”
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