Who Is Alex Bazzell? Meet The President of Unrivaled League 2026 Women’s Basketball

The Unrivaled basketball league returns in 2026 after a sensational debut season in 2025. The new season, running from January 5 to March 4, features eight teams—up from six last year—adding competitive depth and increasing roster opportunities. Among the teams, Breeze Basketball Club and Hive Basketball Club join the expanded league, bringing fresh excitement for fans.

The 2026 season launched in Miami with a fast-paced format that includes three seven-minute quarters followed by an untimed “winning score” fourth quarter, adding unpredictability and excitement to each game. The league has also introduced its iconic 1-on-1 tournament, providing viral highlights and star moments throughout the season. The opening night on January 5 featured standout performances, setting the tone for an electrifying season.

Breanna Stewart led Mist BC to a 72-56 victory over Hive BC, with Allisha Gray scoring 21 points. Lunar Owls faced Rose BC, while Phantom clashed with Breeze BC, giving fans thrilling action from the outset. Other notable players trending on social media included Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink, and Skylar Diggins.

Unrivaled’s roster showcases elite WNBA talent, including six former UConn stars like Paige Bueckers and Aaliyah Edwards. However, co-founder and 2025 season MVP Napheesa Collier is sidelined this season due to double ankle surgery. To address injury concerns, the league has introduced a development player pool of six athletes ready to join teams when needed.

The league, co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, was created to provide top players a competitive offseason platform while promoting women’s basketball worldwide. With high salaries, equity opportunities for players, and broadcasting deals with TNT, HBO Max, and truTV, Unrivaled aims to be the “Champions League” of women’s basketball.

The 2026 schedule features a 56-game regular season, a 1-on-1 tournament from February 11 to 14, and playoffs culminating in early March. Leading the league’s growth is President Alex Bazzell, a former UMKC Roos and Lindenwood player turned trainer and coach of NBA and WNBA talent for over nine years. Bazzell is married to Napheesa Collier, with whom he shares a daughter, Mila Sarah Bazzell.

Commissioner Micky Lawler, a former President of the Women’s Tennis Association, provides quiet yet decisive leadership. Lawler, a mother of three, was recognized by Sports Business Journal in 2012 as a “Game Changer: Women in Sports Business.” Together, Bazzell and Lawler are guiding Unrivaled toward an exciting future, blending star power, player-first vision, and elite competition.