It's Tip-off Time

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It's Tip-off Time

What’s going on: Season two is officially here — and no, we’re not talking about The Pitt. Unrivaled, the three-on-three women’s league, tipped off this week with some of the biggest names in basketball. Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers dropped 24 points in the Breeze’s inaugural debut, securing its first-ever win. While other stars, like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and A’ja Wilson, won’t be hitting the court, the viral StudBudz duo — Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman — are back. With eight teams, including two new ones, vying for the championship, the competition promises to be fast, dynamic, and even more exciting than a regular-season matchup. Pass the popcorn.

Our take: Unrivaled isn’t only serving plenty of action — it’s changing women’s basketball. The league, started by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, has made waves for offering players better pay, new competitive ground, and visibility beyond the WNBA. It also gives athletes an alternative to playing abroad — something many players have done for years to earn a paycheck. The league has plenty of upgrades, from arena expansion to its first-ever tour stop. Just call Unrivaled the offseason dream women’s basketball fans didn’t know they needed.

Related: The Clock’s Ticking on This WNBA Deadline (USA Today)

Pick Six

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Timeout...

Is the Battle of the Sexes So 1970s?

In 1973, more than 90 million people watched Billie Jean King defeat Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes showdown. The event helped ignite the fight for equal pay and women’s sports. But December’s matchup in Dubai between women’s No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios (ranked No. 673 in men’s tennis before the match) landed very differently. Critics called it “outdated” and warned it risked unfair comparisons between men’s and women’s tennis. Even King’s wife, Ilana Kloss, said the two matches aren’t “in the same conversation.” Sabalenka saw it differently: “We just brought more attention to our sport.” Both players are open to a rematch, but some fans are asking: Do we really still need this?

Related: Wait, What Did Coco Gauff Just Say About American Tennis Fans? (AP)

Just Trust Us

Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…

PSA: The NFL’s Wild Card Weekend is coming up, and we found the perfect wear-anywhere sweater for Texans fans. 

In other big news, Abercrombie & Fitch is offering 20–50% off almost everything, including our favorite ultra high-rise leggings.

Just because it’s freezing out doesn’t mean you don’t need sunscreen. This one's our go-to. It blends in smoothly and feels like air. 

Every big win comes down to timing, risk, and knowing when to make a move. Vivian Tu (@YourRichBFF) breaks down the money decisions that changed her career, in an exclusive Skimm+ conversation.

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