And in other business news, there is no conflict of interest between the W and Unrivaled. period. Conflict of interest only happens when a person or entity is contractually forbidden from working for or representing another firm, competing or not. If there is no contract or agreement that prohibits one person from running two businesses, or working at the same position at two different companies, then it's a moot point. Now, most businesses will have that in their employee contract, but apparently the WNBA, or anyone hiring Naphessa or Breanna, hadn't figured on them starting a different league. That they did is just to their credit. Can the WNBA stop Unrivaled from doing anything they want? As they have no ownership stake or leadership position, the answer is a big no. Will some sort of change in this in terms of employee service be a part of the new CBA? I would think so, as the WNBA needs to try to close a pretty big loophole. Whether or not they're successful will be interesting to see.
But I can see why the W didn't want to invest in Unrivaled: any sort of league where the employees not only own, but run the ship, is not a business model that the NFL, NHL, MLB would like to see succeed. In that respect, the WNBA was taking one for the major league sports teams.
And for those who think a competing league can't succeed enough to cause tremors in the establishment, look no further than the AFL (Joe Namath and the Jets!), the ABL with Dr. J, and the AHL, which whatever hockey players jumped (I can't remember who they were.) So it happens, and historically, the W's success is a very short timeline. If it weren't for the Caitlins and Paiges, or the rivalries (like Clark and Reese throwing shade at each other during the finals) that have happened dover the past few years, they'd still be in the financial dark ages. As good as the early players were (and some still are), there's that rivalry x-factor from college that makes for conversation, and that can only happen organically. Being a Smokin' Joe Frazier fan is one thing, but when it elevates to Frazier Vs. Ali, it's a phenomenon, and no one could have predicted that 5 years earlier. The W is in a very lucky place right now, let's hope the right the ship.