Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women's professional basketball league, set a regular-season attendance record of 21,490 in Philadelphia on Friday night. The crowd at the Wells Fargo Center surpassed the previous WNBA record of 20,711 set in September 2024.
Natasha Cloud, a Philadelphia-area native and New York Liberty guard, played for Phantom BC in the doubleheader. She expressed pride in bringing professional women's basketball back to the city for the first time since 1998, when the Philadelphia Rage of the American Basketball League last played.
In the first game, Kelsey Plum scored 22 points to lead Phantom BC to a 71-68 win over the Breeze. Later, Marina Mabrey set an Unrivaled scoring record with 47 points as the Lunar Owls defeated Rose 85-75. Philly native Kahleah Copper played for Rose and helped promote the event.
The league, co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, is exploring expansion beyond its Florida base. Philadelphia is planning a new arena by 2030 and is expected to host a future WNBA team. Unrivaled's viewership has declined 49% this season, but the strong attendance suggests growing demand for women's basketball in the city.
