Issa Rae Invested in Basketball League Unrivaled

The actress joined the women's professional basketball league during its recent $100 million funding round.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive sports illustration of a basketball player in motion, painted with bold, directional brush strokes in navy and orange. — Actress and producer Issa Rae has joined the women's professional basketball league Unrivaled as an investor following a $100 million funding round. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe celebrity investment improves the long-term success of new sports leagues?

In August 2026, actress and producer Issa Rae joined the professional basketball league Unrivaled as an investor. Her contribution came as part of an oversubscribed Series C funding round that brought the league to a $650 million valuation.

Why it matters

Issa Rae stated that the league establishes new standards for the sport and provides vital support to women's professional basketball players. Her involvement follows a period of rapid growth for the league, which saw its valuation nearly double in less than a year.

The league reached a $650 million valuation after its Series C round generated over $100 million in capital. The organization maintains a player equity pool totaling nearly $200 million across its 54 roster spots and eight clubs.

The players

Issa Rae

She is an actress, writer, and producer known for creating and starring in the television series Insecure.

Napheesa Collier

She is a professional basketball player and co-founder of the league who also competes in the WNBA.

Breanna Stewart

She is a decorated professional basketball player and co-founder of the league who has won multiple WNBA championships.

Ten Pillars Sports Fund

This investment firm acted as the lead financier for the recent Series C funding round.

Adidas

This global sportswear corporation is partnering with the league to launch a line of officially licensed merchandise.

The details

Issa Rae served as a late addition to the Series C round, which was led by the Ten Pillars Sports Fund. The league, co-founded in 2023 by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, continues to expand its commercial footprint with upcoming retail lines from Adidas.

Unrivaled was co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart in 2023.
The Series B funding round reached a $340 million valuation in September 2025.
The Series C funding round closed in August 2026.
Season 3 of the league is scheduled to tip off in January 2027.
The third season is scheduled to run through March 2027.

Season Trajectory

The league is aggressively scaling its operations to compete for market share in the professional sports landscape ahead of its January 2027 season tip-off. By securing significant equity-based funding, the organization is positioning itself to challenge established basketball entities for talent and fan engagement.

Fans and observers should note that the league will feature 54 active roster spots distributed across eight clubs when play resumes. The upcoming season will provide a concrete test of the league's ability to convert its $650 million valuation into consistent broadcast and in-person viewership.

The takeaway

The entry of high-profile celebrity investors into women's sports leagues signifies a shift toward treating these organizations as major commercial assets. Prospective investors and fans should watch how the league utilizes its $200 million player equity pool to attract talent in the coming seasons.