Unrivaled Basketball sets attendance record in Philadelphia debut

Sold-out crowd of 21,490 fans welcomes Unrivaled to Xfinity Mobile Arena, supporting local stars like Kahleah Copper and Marina Mabrey.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 9:47pm

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Unrivaled Basketball, a new professional women's basketball league, made its debut in Philadelphia on January 30, 2026, setting a record for the highest-attended regular season professional women's basketball game in history with 21,490 fans at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The doubleheader featured local stars like Kahleah Copper and Marina Mabrey, who put on a show for the enthusiastic crowd.

Why it matters

The record-breaking attendance demonstrates the growing popularity and demand for women's professional basketball in Philadelphia and across the country. The event highlighted local talent and provided a platform for the next generation of women's basketball stars, building excitement for the WNBA's planned expansion to Philadelphia in 2030.

The details

The first game of the doubleheader saw Phantom Basketball Club defeat Breeze Basketball Club 71-68, with Natasha Cloud, a Philadelphia native and WNBA champion, playing in a homecoming game. In the second game, Manasquan, New Jersey native Marina Mabrey set the Unrivaled single-game scoring record with 47 points, including 10 three-pointers.

  • Unrivaled Basketball's doubleheader took place on January 30, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
  • The WNBA will bring an expansion team to Philadelphia in 2030, co-owned by the 76ers owners with Comcast holding a minority stake.

The players

Kahleah Copper

A Philly native and captain of the Rose Basketball Club.

Marina Mabrey

A Manasquan, New Jersey native who set the Unrivaled single-game scoring record with 47 points.

Natasha Cloud

A Philadelphia native and WNBA champion who played in a homecoming game for her Phantom Basketball Club.

Aliyah Boston

A Phantom Basketball Club forward who was developed by Dawn Staley at the University of South Carolina.

Dawn Staley

A Basketball Hall of Famer who first entered the pro ranks with the Philadelphia Rage and now coaches the South Carolina Gamecocks.

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What they’re saying

“Even when we were warming up, the crowd was screaming and they were just really there to support. You look up in the stands and you just see so many different color jerseys because there's just so many women to support. That's really, really huge and it's beautiful to see.”

— Paige Bueckers, Breeze Basketball Club captain (WHYY)

“I'm looking around and seeing my jersey, seeing signs … Man, I love this city. Young Tash would be really proud, man. Mid-major, Delco kid, Philly kid, no one expected me to be here.”

— Natasha Cloud, WNBA champion and Philly native (TNT Sports)

“I think Coach Staley helped shape my career in just such a great way, really helped me go from a girl to a woman. She's just so special to me and I'm just grateful that we got this win in front of her.”

— Aliyah Boston, Phantom Basketball Club forward (WHYY)

“We're going to look back and say that we were the first to play in Philly when Unrivaled traveled … so to take it in and soak it in, I took that as time to go crazy.”

— Marina Mabrey (WHYY)

“I'm sure it took a lot of work to get us to Philly and have this kind of outcome. I think it was awesome to see them come out and support us like that. I don't know what I expected, but I didn't realize it was going to be so much hype around it and so much support.”

— Marina Mabrey (WHYY)

What’s next

Unrivaled Basketball will wrap up its second season at Sephora Arena in Miami, with the league's 1-on-1 tournament beginning on February 11 and being broadcast on TNT and truTV.

The takeaway

The record-breaking attendance for Unrivaled Basketball's debut in Philadelphia demonstrates the growing popularity of women's professional basketball and the excitement surrounding the sport's future in the city. The event highlighted local talent and provided a platform for the next generation of stars, building anticipation for the WNBA's planned expansion to Philadelphia in 2030.