The inaugural tour event of the new 3×3 professional women’s basketball league, Unrivaled, has etched its name into the history books. An unprecedented assembly of 21,490 spectators converged upon the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia this past Friday, establishing a new benchmark for attendance at a professional women’s basketball regular-season contest.
This monumental turnout, transforming the venue into a cauldron of energy, underscores the burgeoning public appetite for the sport and validates the innovative vision behind the league’s creation. The atmosphere within the arena was described as electric, a palpable wave of support that resonated with players and organizers alike.
A Testament to Belief and Vision
Reflecting on the historic evening, Napheesa Collier, a co-founder of Unrivaled, conveyed her profound reaction to the spectacle. “The experience was truly unbelievable,” Collier remarked, emphasizing the tangible sentiment in the arena. “You could genuinely feel the love emanating from the crowd tonight. This monumental support serves as a powerful testament to the project we are constructing and the depth of belief people are investing in it.”
The record-shattering event in Philadelphia represents merely the commencement of Unrivaled’s ambitious journey. By successfully drawing such an immense crowd for its very first tour stop, the league has not only captured the attention of the sports world but has also set a formidable standard for its future engagements, signaling a potentially transformative era for women’s professional basketball.