Unrivaled 3-on-3 League to Play in Philadelphia for One Night

North Philadelphia native Kahleah Copper excited to bring pro women's basketball back to the city

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:07pm

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The Unrivaled 3-on-3 women's basketball league, founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, will make a one-night tour stop in Philadelphia on Friday at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. The event will feature two games, including one with North Philadelphia native Kahleah Copper's Rose team. Philadelphia has not hosted a professional women's basketball team since the Philadelphia Rage folded in 1998, and Copper is thrilled to help bring the sport back to her hometown.

Why it matters

Philadelphia has a rich history of women's basketball, from the short-lived Women's Professional Basketball League in the 1970s to the Philadelphia Rage in the late 1990s. The city is also home to several prominent women's college basketball players and coaches, including Dawn Staley and Natasha Cloud. The Unrivaled tour stop represents a revival of professional women's basketball in Philadelphia and a chance for the city to showcase its passion for the sport.

The details

The Unrivaled doubleheader will feature two games - the first between Paige Bueckers' Breeze and the Phantom, whose roster includes Liberty guard and Philadelphia-area native Natasha Cloud, and the second between Copper's Rose and the Lunar Owls. The event was announced in October 2025 and quickly sold out the 21,000-seat Xfinity Mobile Arena, demonstrating the city's readiness for pro women's basketball.

  • The Unrivaled tour stop in Philadelphia is scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026.
  • The league announced the sellout of the 21,000-seat arena on January 14, 2026.

The players

Kahleah Copper

A four-time WNBA All-Star and native of North Philadelphia, Copper is excited to help bring professional women's basketball back to her hometown.

Breanna Stewart

WNBA star and co-founder of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league.

Napheesa Collier

WNBA star and co-founder of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league.

Natasha Cloud

WNBA player and Philadelphia-area native, playing for the Phantom team in the Unrivaled doubleheader.

Paige Bueckers

WNBA player whose Breeze team will be playing in one of the Unrivaled games in Philadelphia.

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What they’re saying

“It really set the tone, and it really shows everybody that we're ready and we've been ready.”

— Kahleah Copper, WNBA Player (New York Post)

“I'm from a city where nothing was given to me. Kind of gotta work for what you want, and then it's just an inspiring story for little girls in Philly who don't have an easy route but can look to someone who is from where they're from and look like them and it just gives them the inspiration and the belief in themselves that they can accomplish anything.”

— Kahleah Copper, WNBA Player (New York Post)

What’s next

The Unrivaled league is expected to continue its tour with additional stops in other cities, but the Philadelphia event represents an important milestone in the return of professional women's basketball to the city.

The takeaway

The sold-out Unrivaled event in Philadelphia demonstrates the city's passion for women's basketball and its readiness to support a professional franchise. The return of pro hoops to the city, led by local star Kahleah Copper, has the potential to inspire the next generation of Philadelphia basketball players and fans.