The Unrivaled 3v3 league is in Philly this week, bringing professional women’s basketball back to the city for the first time since 1998, and ahead of Philly getting its own WNBA team in 2030.
The Xfinity Mobile Arena will host a doubleheader Friday night. Tickets sold out a while ago, though some can be found on the secondary markets and there’s a few chances to win some. Both games are airing live on TNT and truTV, and streaming on HBO Max.
The games pit:
- Breeze against Phantom, which includes Delco native Natasha Cloud on the roster, at 7:30 p.m.
- The defending champion Rose — North Philly native and Olympic gold medalist Kahleah Copper plays for them — against the Lunar Owls at 8:45 p.m.
If you aren’t able to snag tickets, here are some of the events around town that are linked to the return of women’s professional basketball to Philly, as well as the next day’s games in Miami.
Thursday
- Marsha’s on South Street is tipping off the basketball celebrations Thursday night with a “Black Lesbians are Unrivaled Happy Hour,” in partnership with Mouth of Rain and the Philadelphia Sisters, from 4 to 6 p.m. After that is a hype party from 7 to 11 p.m., which will include a ticket giveaway for Friday’s games. You can RSVP for the event here, which counts as a raffle ticket for the ticket draw.
Take note, the RSVP does not guarantee seating or entry if Marsha’s is already filled to capacity. - Two Locals Brewing in University City is also hosting a party from 6 to 10 p.m., with quizzo and tequila cocktail tasting. The RSVP for the free general admission has ended on the Evenbrite page, but you can still purchase early bird tickets there to guarantee entry.
- The Can’t Retire Project is hosting a live podcast recording, documentary screening and other events paying tribute to Philadelphia women’s basketball at Room 217 of Temple’s Howard Gittis Student Center from 7 p.m. Thursday. Tickets can be purchased here.
Friday
- The league is teaming up with the Stoop Pigeon by Watch Party and the Philadelphia Sisters for a free pregame watch party and a watch party at Stateside Live!, which kicks off at 4:30 p.m.
- Cerveau on Spring Garden Street is having a postgame party starting at 9:45 p.m. The event is for ages 18 and older and the suggested donation for entry is $15, which the organizers say is going to fundraising for the Black Women’s Basketball Museum.
Saturday
- A free Unrivaled watch party and weekend afterparty starts at 4:30 p.m. at Two Locals Brewing. The gathering will include women-owned vendors, music and other festivities, while Hive takes on Mist, then Laces go up against Vinyl at 5:45 p.m. Laces have Harrisburg native Alyssa Thomas and former Villanova star Maddy Siegrist on the roster. The Working Families Party are giving a free drink ticket to the first 80 people to arrive, and registering people to vote.
- Watch Party PHL and Visit PA are offering a VIP weekend package that includes tickets to the Barnes Foundation, with a brunch there featuring Philadelphia Sisters co-founder Wanda Sykes, a private Philly PHLASH bus tour, VIP access to the Two Locals watch party and a women’s sports gift bag. Those limited, $200 tickets are available here.
- If you still have a craving for live women’s basketball on Saturday, the Villanova Wildcats do play against DePaul in the Finneran Pavilion at 2 p.m.
