Paige Bueckers finally stepping into the Unrivaled 3×3 league should’ve been a momentum boost. Instead, her debut lined up with an awkward reality — viewership for the league is trending the opposite way, and WNBA fans were quick to weigh in on why.
A post from @DayDreamThis set the tone, claiming Unrivaled’s second season is down sharply compared to last year, even with Bueckers now in the mix.
“How does Paige Buckets get added to your league and you lose 6% YoY viewership. Y’all not serious and we told ya so,” the post read.
From there, the comment section turned into a free-for-all. Fans tossed out theories ranging from criticism of the product itself to flat-out dismissing Bueckers’ pull as a draw.
Some responses crossed into uncomfortable territory.
@JohnM00re pointed directly at Bueckers’ personal life, writing, “Because she is a lesbian!! 99% of the young girls in this country don’t want to see this s**t! Most importantly their parents either!!!”
Because she is a lesbian!! 99% of the young girls in this country don’t want to seethis shit! Most importantly their parents either!!!
— John Moore (@JohnM00re) January 9, 2026
Others kept the focus on basketball.
@Peezy407 shrugged off the format altogether: “It’s not enjoyable hoops.”
Then there were those who questioned how much star power Bueckers actually brings.
@SarcasmStardust added, “I mean, she wasn’t even selling out her tiny arena in Dallas and only got tv viewership when she played Caitlin.”
Even with all the chatter about ratings and relevance, the basketball itself didn’t disappoint. Bueckers and Breeze BC opened their Unrivaled season with a 96–92 win over Phantom BC, showing flashes of why she was handed the captain’s role in the first place.
“The future of women’s basketball is bright”: WNBA fans show love for Paige Bueckers after Unrivaled debut
While the numbers debate raged on, plenty of fans focused on what actually happened on the court — and liked what they saw.
Supporters praised Bueckers’ all-around impact and what it represents for the game moving forward.
@SammyF99 kept it simple, saying, “The future of women’s basketball is bright.”
Others noticed the physical changes in her game.
@AlWarren18 wrote, “Paige has really built up her body, looking strong, making these impossible shots look easy!!!!”
And @Fallingpauli wrapped it up with, “she was awesome all round as always.”
By the final buzzer, Bueckers’ stat line backed up the praise. She finished her Unrivaled debut with 24 points, six assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and shot 7-for-15 from the field — a strong opening night, regardless of how the viewership numbers look on paper.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
