Unrivaled & Mount Sinai: A New Standard for Athlete Care in Pro Sports

MIAMI, FL – January 12, 2026 – As the Unrivaled women's basketball league enters its highly anticipated second season, its commitment to a “player-first” philosophy is being solidified not just in player contracts, but in player care. The league, presented by Samsung Galaxy, announced today the renewal of its comprehensive partnership with Mount Sinai Medical Center, cementing the prestigious institution as the league's official medical provider for the 2026 season. This strategic alliance extends far beyond the traditional team doctor model, embedding elite, multidisciplinary medical care into the very fabric of the league’s innovative structure.

For Unrivaled, a league co-founded by basketball superstars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier on the principle of athlete investment, the partnership is a cornerstone of its identity. Since the league's inaugural season in 2025, Mount Sinai physicians have been an integral presence, providing care that now formally extends to athletes, staff, and their families. This renewed commitment underscores a foundational belief that the health and well-being of players is the most critical asset for long-term success.

"Mount Sinai continues to serve as an extraordinary partner for Unrivaled in our second season, providing the trusted quality care that our athletes and their families need," said Unrivaled Commissioner Micky Lawler. "With player health and well-being at the foundation of our player-first approach at Unrivaled, we are grateful for the support from those at Mount Sinai who are just as focused and dedicated to athlete care as we are."

A Foundation of Holistic Well-Being

The scope of the partnership reflects a modern, holistic approach to sports medicine. Throughout the 2026 season, Mount Sinai's team will provide on-site clinical support during Unrivaled’s fast-paced 3-on-3 games, conduct comprehensive preseason and postseason physicals, and offer players seamless access to a full spectrum of medical services. This includes advanced evaluation, treatment, state-of-the-art diagnostic services and imaging, and priority access to specialty care as needed.

The medical support is spearheaded by a team of physicians with extensive experience in caring for elite athletes. The leadership includes Dr. Danica Vance, Director of Sports Medicine at Mount Sinai and an Assistant Professor at the Columbia University Division of Orthopedic Surgery; Dr. Pooja Sharma, a board-certified, non-operative sports medicine physician; and Dr. Medeona Gjergjindreaj, a board-certified non-invasive cardiologist. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that player health is managed from all angles, from musculoskeletal injuries to cardiovascular wellness, setting a new standard for a professional league’s duty of care.

"For more than 75 years, Mount Sinai has remained committed to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care to our community," said Gino R. Santorio, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mount Sinai Medical Center. "Continuing our partnership with Unrivaled reflects our shared values around excellence, innovation, and holistic care. We are proud to support these remarkable athletes and their families throughout the 2026 season."

Redefining the Professional Athlete Experience

The medical partnership is a key pillar in Unrivaled's broader mission to revolutionize the professional landscape for female athletes. Launched in January 2025, the league was designed to provide a high-paying, domestic playing opportunity during the traditional overseas season, directly addressing the WNBA's controversial prioritization rule. With a reported total salary pool of $8 million in its first season and a minimum six-figure salary for its players, Unrivaled is built on a player-owned model, giving athletes equity and a vested interest in the league's success.

This investment extends to the daily athlete experience at the league's state-of-the-art facility in Miami. Players have access to amenities that rival any top-tier professional sports organization, including an on-site salon sponsored by Sephora, a dedicated childcare room, a rest and recovery lounge featuring hyperbaric oxygen chambers, and even an in-house aesthetician. This environment, designed to support athletes as whole people, is where the Mount Sinai partnership truly integrates. The availability of world-class medical care is not an afterthought but a central component of a system built to optimize performance, health, and career longevity.

By creating a comprehensive support ecosystem, Unrivaled is making a powerful statement: investing in player well-being is not a cost, but a competitive advantage that attracts top talent and builds a sustainable, high-performance league.

A Strategic Alliance for Growth and Excellence

For both organizations, the partnership is a powerful strategic alignment. For Unrivaled, which has already expanded from six to eight teams and added a tour stop in Philadelphia for its second season, aligning with a healthcare institution of Mount Sinai's caliber lends immense credibility. It serves as a powerful recruiting tool, assuring prospective players that their health is the league's top priority. In a physically demanding sport, this assurance can be a deciding factor for elite athletes weighing their career options.

For Mount Sinai, the collaboration is a high-profile showcase of its advanced sports medicine capabilities. The medical center, South Florida's largest independent, not-for-profit teaching hospital, has a long history of excellence. This partnership places its expertise on a national stage, following a model similar to its New York-based health system's long-standing relationship with the US Open Tennis Championships. It reinforces the hospital's brand as the provider of choice for elite performers, which can attract both top medical talent and a broader patient base seeking the same standard of care.

The league's innovative “content-first” strategy, which generated 5.5 times the engagement rate of other professional sports in its first year, provides Mount Sinai with significant brand visibility among a young, passionate, and engaged audience. As Unrivaled continues its growth, with broadcast deals on TNT and HBO Max bringing its action-packed games to a wider viewership, Mount Sinai’s role as the guardian of player health will become an increasingly visible part of the league’s compelling story.