2025 Unrivaled basketball rules, including a reduced shot clock and tweaked quarters
The 2025 Unrivaled season is just days away, and there are some rules for the inaugural year that you’ll want to know.
When the Mist, Lunar Owls, Rose and Vinyl basketball clubs kick off the 2025 season on January 17 by playing the first-ever games for Unrivaled, things might look slightly different from what most people know 5-on-5 and even 3-on-3 basketball to be.
Unrivaled’s president of basketball operations, Luke Cooper, recently shared via ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, “This game is rooted in how you would play basketball as a kid on a blacktop.”
The changes to the rules will likely be unlike anything fans have ever watched and will take some getting used to for even the players. We’ve got you covered if you’re wondering what rules you should know.
Here’s what you can expect to see:
How big is the Unrivaled court?
(Photo rendering courtesy of Unrivaled)
A typical WNBA court is 94 feet by 50 feet, but Unrivaled’s full court is condensed—49.2 feet by 72 feet—a stark difference.
How long is each quarter in an Unrivaled matchup?
Sep 22, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey (4) looks to pass the ball defended by Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) in the fourth quarter during game one of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images
Instead of the 10-minute quarters typically associated with women’s basketball, there will be three seven-minute quarters. The fourth quarter will work a bit differently. It will be known as the “winning quarter.”
The team with the highest score through three quarters will have 11 points added to its total. Both teams will play in the fourth quarter until they reach that total. For example, if Mist BC leads the Lunar Owls 40 to 35 at the end of the third quarter, the first team to 51 points wins.
Teams will never play overtime.
What kind of shot clock will Unrivaled use?
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 11: The number 10 is seen on the shot clock during Sue Bird’s jersey retirement ceremony after the game between the Seattle Storm and the Washington Mystics at Climate Pledge Arena on June 11, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
A typical WNBA shot clock is 24 seconds, but Unrivaled is expected to be much more fast-paced. The shot clock will only be 18 seconds.
Additionally, there’s a small change at the end of the quarter. Clocks will stop on any made baskets during the final 30 seconds of a period.
Will there be fouls in Unrivaled basketball?
Jul 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Sparks forward Azura Stevens (23) is fouled by Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor (13) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
There are fouls in Unrivaled, including free throws. But, of course, those work a little bit different, too.
If a player is fouled, regardless of the shot type, there will only be one free throw assessed. The lone free throw is worth two points on fouls committed during two-point baskets and three points for any foul committed during a three-point attempt. Any and-1 opportunities are worth just one point.
There’s also this to consider. Unrivaled is keeping the standard six-fouls-per-game limit. However, if a team gets into a situation where it only has three remaining players, and one picks up a sixth foul, that player can stay in the game. However, that player will pick up technical fouls for each additional foul after that.
Each technical foul is worth one shot and one point.