Unrivaled sets professional women's basketball attendance record in 3-on-3 league's Philadelphia debut

The previous regular-season attendance record of 20,711 was set in the WNBA by the Indiana Fever and Washington Mystics on Sept. 19, 2024.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 9:55pm

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The Unrivaled 3-on-3 women's professional basketball league made its first tour stop outside of Florida, hosting a doubleheader in Philadelphia that set a new regular-season attendance record for professional women's basketball. The record crowd of 21,490 included celebrities and local sports stars, and the games featured standout performances from players like Kelsey Plum and Marina Mabrey.

Why it matters

This event marks a significant milestone for women's professional basketball in Philadelphia, a city with a rich basketball history that has lacked a women's pro team since 1998. The strong attendance and enthusiasm from the crowd suggest that Philadelphia is ready to embrace and support a WNBA franchise, which the city is planning to bring in by 2030.

The details

The Unrivaled league, co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, held its first tour stop outside of Florida, bringing two games to Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. The first game saw Kelsey Plum score 22 points to lead the Phantom to a 71-68 win over the Breeze, while the second game featured a record-setting 47-point performance by Marina Mabrey to lead the Lunar Owls to an 85-75 victory over Kahleah Copper and the league champion Rose.

  • The previous regular-season attendance record of 20,711 was set in the WNBA by the Indiana Fever and Washington Mystics on September 19, 2024.
  • The Unrivaled doubleheader took place on Friday, February 2, 2026.

The players

Natasha Cloud

A former WNBA champion and current New York Liberty standout, who is from the Philadelphia area and was excited to play professionally in her hometown for the first time.

Kelsey Plum

The star player who scored 22 points to lead the Phantom to victory in the first game of the Unrivaled doubleheader.

Marina Mabrey

The Lunar Owls player who set an Unrivaled single-game scoring record with 47 points in the second game of the doubleheader.

Kahleah Copper

The 2021 WNBA Finals MVP for the Chicago Sky, who played a key role in promoting the Unrivaled event in her hometown of Philadelphia.

Breanna Stewart

The WNBA star who is a co-founder of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league.

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What they’re saying

“Man, like how crazy it is that I'm standing here about to play for the first time professionally in my home city.”

— Natasha Cloud

“I think the city is ready for women's professional sports. I'm excited that, one, that it's here, and two, that I'm a part of it.”

— Kahleah Copper

“To see the turnout, to see the sold-out arena, to just see the love that they have for women's sports, it means a lot for the future too in terms of getting a WNBA team. It's really cool just for the game to continue to expand and for us to see that turnaround and for us to see that support everywhere we go.”

— Paige Bueckers

What’s next

Philadelphia is planning on a new arena that will be completed hopefully by 2030 and will serve as the new home for the WNBA team set to join the league.

The takeaway

This event in Philadelphia demonstrates the growing demand and enthusiasm for women's professional basketball across the country. The record-breaking attendance and the city's plans to bring in a WNBA franchise suggest that women's sports are poised to make significant strides in expanding their fanbase and visibility in the coming years.