Monica McNutt highlights pressure on Unrivaled players while breaking down Breanna Stewart & Napheesa Collier's league ceiling

The "7PM in Brooklyn" podcast sat down and discussed the new professional three-on-three women's basketball league, Unrivaled. The cast broke down all the ways the landscape of women's basketball could shift and the opportunities the new league could bring to WNBA players.

In a conversation between The Kid Mero, Carmelo Anthony, and Monica McNutt, the "7PM in Brooklyn" crew talked about the new three-on-three league, co-founded by WNBA All-Stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, which is set to kick off its inaugural season Friday night. The group discussed how the new league would coexist with the WNBA.

"There's been some talk," said Mero. "About whether the league is stepping on to the W[NBA]'s toes."

McNutt responds by talking about how Unrivaled will impact dynamics within the WNBA, such as players' leveraging power in negotiations with ownership.

"It definitely is two different products," McNutt said. "But I do think it's raising the level of expectation. The timing is what's important, cause they're about to enter the last year of the current CBA. So when they go to the table and are asking for more based on this experience that's been provided by this new startup league... the expectation is there. "

McNutt explains how the new league could provide a standard that increases players' appetite at the negotiating table. Unrivaled is offering some of the highest salaries in all of women's professional sports with the average salary for players being upwards of $220,000. Currently, only 21 WNBA players earn $200,000 or more.

"So much of negotiating is not necessarily who you are it's what you negotiate," McNutt added. "And so the timing of this is what makes it pressurized for sure."

"I love it, shout out to the Unrivaled team", said Anthony gleefully.

McNutt points out another key factor that distinguishes the new three-on-three league and how it could change player-owner dynamics in the future.

"The thing about Unrivaled that's super unique is that the players have equity in the league", McNutt said.

If the new league becomes commercially successful it could pave the way for WNBA players having a higher level of ownership in their league. McNutt also commented on the quality of talent fans can expect to see, noting "hitters" and "All-Stars", further adding reasons for there to be a draw.

"Do y'all see a scenario where Unrivaled becomes popular enough where hoopers from overseas are coming here?", Mero asked the group.

"Absolutely", Anthony replied. "The three-on-three game, the sport, is growing rapidly overseas, internationally. That's like top of conversation, 3v3, it's an Olympic sport. They figured out a way how to at least attract people."

Much like McNutt, Anthony also recognizes how the success of three-on-three can positively impact players in the WNBA. The relationship between the two leagues could drive standards to be raised everywhere.

"Unrivaled, they have a lot of the top players in the WNBA, and the WNBA should support it, that's the key", said Anthony.

New Unrivaled League tips off first season

The stage is set Friday night for the first slate of games in Unrivaled, an all-new three-on-three professional women's basketball league co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier and launched with a host of investors. The league consists of six teams and 36 players.

Action tips off at 7 p.m. EST between the co-founder's respective teams, the Mist and Lunar Owls basketball clubs. The Mist's roster, led out by Breanna Stewart, also features two-time champion Jewell Loyd, DiJonai Carrington, Stewart's New York Liberty teammate Courtney Vandersloot, and others.

On the Lunar Owls, Collier is flanked by All-Stars Courtney Williams, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, and others. Following the initial game, the Rose will play the Vinyl at 8 p.m. EST.

The Rose features rookie sensation Angel Reese and three-time champion Chelsea Gray, while the Vinyl has Arike Ogunbowale and Dearica Hamby. Both games will be live on TNT.