In a landmark move for women's sports, WNBA superstars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier have co-founded the innovative, player-owned 3x3 basketball league, Unrivalled. This venture marks a significant transformation in the women's basketball landscape, empowering athletes beyond the court. Both players have not only dominated professionally but have also built impressive financial portfolios through salaries, endorsements, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Breanna Stewart's Financial Dominance On and Off the Court
Breanna Stewart, affectionately known as "Stewie," is a colossal figure in basketball. Since being the first overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft, her career has been decorated with three WNBA championships and three Olympic gold medals (2016, 2020, 2024). Her financial achievements mirror her athletic prowess.
For the 2024 WNBA season, Stewart's salary is $205,000, ranking her among the league's top 20 highest-paid players. While WNBA salaries are often compared unfavorably to male-dominated leagues, Stewart stands at the forefront of the sport's evolving economic landscape.
A major contributor to her wealth is her endorsement portfolio. After a pivotal five-year deal with Nike starting in 2016, Stewart made a strategic shift to Puma in 2021, becoming a signature athlete for the brand. Puma has since launched three signature "Stewie" shoe lines, featuring colorways inspired by her life and tributes to her daughter, Ruby. Although the exact value of her Puma contract is undisclosed, it significantly boosts her earnings.
Her Olympic success has also been financially rewarding. Reports from CNBC indicate Stewart earned $38,000 for each gold medal, totaling $114,000 from her Olympic triumphs alone.
Napheesa Collier: Rising Star and Savvy Businesswoman
Napheesa Collier is more than a standout for the Minnesota Lynx; she is a transformative entrepreneur. While an exact figure is not officially confirmed, several publications estimate her net worth to be around $1.5 million.
Collier's WNBA earnings trajectory shows rapid growth. She started her career earning $55,059 but has since amassed $647,763 from her WNBA contracts. A major increase came when she signed a three-year extension with the Lynx worth $552,516.
Her crowning professional achievement, alongside Stewart, is founding the Unrivalled league in 2023. The league's surging popularity in early 2025 indicates Collier's entrepreneurial journey is just beginning. On the court, her accolades are impressive: 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year, 2025 WNBA All-Star Game MVP, and notably, the 2025 Unrivalled MVP.
The Unrivalled Legacy and Future of Women's Hoops
The creation of Unrivalled by Stewart and Collier represents a seismic shift in athlete ownership and control within women's sports. It provides an alternative platform and revenue stream for players, challenging traditional structures.
Their dual success as elite athletes and business founders sets a powerful precedent. They are not just playing the game; they are actively reshaping its business model, ensuring greater agency and financial growth for future generations of women basketball players. Their stories highlight a new era where on-court excellence and off-court business acumen go hand in hand.
