New York Liberty stars were unable to withstand a fourth quarter comeback in the debut of the new 3-on-3 league.

Unrivaled is a new 3-on-3 professional women's basketball league comprised of 36 players separated into six teams — the Laces Basketball Club, Lunar Owls Basketball Club, Mist Basketball Club, Phantom Basketball Club, Rose Basketball Club and Vinyl Basketball Club.

Unrivaled Basketball, launched by a Minnesota star, is a real game-changer — and it tipped off Friday night in Florida.

A new 3-on-3 league offers a condensed format, some of the best W.N.B.A. players and a made-for-TV approach that aims to bring viewers close to the action.

“Yeah, it got spicy between co-founders for a little bit,” says New York Liberty center Breanna Stewart, who along with her 2024 WNBA Finals rival, Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier, are starting Unrivaled, a three-on-three women’s pro basketball league that tips off Friday night in South Florida.

Unrivaled’s inaugural season is scheduled to begin Friday in Miami. Ionescu's participation in the league adds to her remarkable 2024, which included winning a gold medal at the Olympics and securing the WNBA championship with the Liberty.

The Liberty opted to retain this up and coming guard on their roster via camp contract before the WNBA free agency period.

The Liberty are coming off the two best seasons in their history — a run that was punctuated with the franchise’s first WNBA Finals title in October. Running it back should be the plan for New York, especially considering the league is due for a reset in 2026.

With the core designation, New York will officially take the biggest free agent off the market as the Liberty now have exclusive negotiating rights with Stewart.

New York's Breanna Stewart was one of a handful of players who have been given the franchise tag by their WNBA teams, meaning they can’t sign a contract directly with anyone else.

The Liberty begin their WNBA title defense in 2025. Here's how to get the best prices on tickets for every game of New York's season.

Unrivaled, a new 3x3 women's professional basketball league co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, debuts Jan. 17. Here's how to watch and stream games.