Award-Winning Actor Takes Major Step With Unrivaled as It Reaches $650 Million Valuation
Award-Winning Actor Takes Major Step With Unrivaled as It Reaches $650 Million Valuation
Olutayo Inioluwa Emmanuel Mon, October 5, 2026 at 6:30 PM UTC
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February 18, 2025, Medley, FL, USA: Brittney Griner, with the Phantom, celebrates a score during a game against Laces in the Unrivaled Basketball League at Wayfair Arena in Medley, Florida, on Feb. 18, 2025. Medley USA – ZUMAm67_ 0804545900st Copyright: xMikexStockerx ©IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire
The list of big names betting on Unrivaled just got considerably longer. The league has announced another major vote of confidence, and this one comes from one of Hollywood’s biggest names.
As reported by WNBA reporter Myles Ehrlich, Unrivaled has announced that award-winning actor, producer, and entrepreneur Issa Rae has officially joined the league as an investor, adding another high-profile name to a growing list of backers. Her investment came as a late addition to the league’s oversubscribed Series C funding round, which pushed Unrivaled’s valuation to a staggering $650 million.
For Rae, the decision appears to be about considerably more than simply backing another sports venture. She attended games firsthand during the league’s previous season, and it was clear to her that the organization was building “something special.” She also added that she looks forward to being part of the league’s continued growth and success.
“Unrivaled speaks to me and everyone who wants to set new standards,” Rae said. “And what the league has done and continues to do for the best women’s basketball players in the world is something I’m proud to invest in. After experiencing Unrivaled firsthand last season, it was clear that they’re building something special. I look forward to being part of the league’s growth and success to come.”
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Unrivaled was co-founded in 2023 by WNBA superstars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. During that foundational period, TNT Sports stepped in with a major investment that did more than provide capital; it secured a national television broadcasting deal that made the league significantly more attractive to future investors and established a level of visibility that set Unrivaled apart from other emerging sports properties.
Building on that momentum, Unrivaled closed an oversubscribed Series B financing round in September 2025 that catapulted the league’s valuation to $340 million.
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Headed by prominent venture capital firm Bessemer Venture Partners, the round welcomed a diverse coalition of mainstream celebrities and legendary athletes, including Carmelo Anthony, Alex Morgan, and Ashton Kutcher, and directly funded the operational expansions that enabled the league to eventually scale to eight clubs and 54 contracted roster spots, while recording historic attendance highs during its sophomore campaign.
That trajectory culminated in August 2026 with an oversubscribed Series C round that generated over $100 million in fresh capital and drove Unrivaled’s valuation to $650 million. This round was led by Ten Pillars Sports Fund.
Among the most significant aspects of the league’s financial structure is the fact that its players are its largest shareholder group. Following the Series C round, in which Issa Rae participated, the player equity pool surged to nearly $200 million, ensuring that the athletes who make the product compelling are also directly positioned to profit from its long-term commercial success.
Season 3 of Unrivaled is scheduled to tip off in January 2027 and run through March 2027. Alongside the league’s continued growth, the upcoming season will also mark the beginning of a new partnership with Adidas, which has come on board as the official uniform and performance apparel partner, replacing Under Armour as the league’s debut outfitter. Adidas will manufacture and supply all custom team uniforms and elite performance apparel worn by the league’s 54 players across the season.
Crucially, the Adidas partnership extends beyond the court. The sportswear giant is also launching a full retail line of officially licensed Unrivaled merchandise, including authentic fan jerseys and lifestyle collections, giving the league a significantly expanded commercial footprint heading into its third season.
At the rate Unrivaled is growing, in valuation, in viewership, in talent, and now in the calibre of investors it is attracting, it is difficult to imagine the momentum slowing anytime soon. Issa Rae is unlikely to be the last high-profile name to come on board. The league is building something, and more people are starting to notice.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
