by Betty Cantley
Philadelphia, PA – 21,490 fans didn’t just show up for Unrivaled-it made history, on Friday, January 30. The city hosted the league’s inaugural “Tour Stop” at Xfinity Mobile Arena and shattered the record for the most-attended regular-season game in women’s pro basketball history.
Here is why everyone in Philly is buzzing: a record-breaking night in attendance officially clocked in at 21,490 fans, surpassing the previous record (20,711) set by the Indiana Fever and Washington Mystics in 2024.
The arena was electric with a “homecoming” vibe for local stars Natasha Cloud and Kahleah Copper, a scoring master class, and while the crowd was on fire, the basketball lived up to the hype.
Marina Mabrey’s (Lunar Owls) set a new Unrivaled scoring record with a staggering 47 points in a single game, including 10 three-pointers. She dropped 27 points in the first quarter alone, leaving the Philly crowd in awe.
Results of Game 1: Phantom BC 71, Breeze BC 68 (Kelsey Plum led with 22 points).
Game 2: Lunar Owls 85, Rose BC 75 (Mabrey’s record night).
There were star sightings, “who’s who ” of sports royalty, Dawn Staley, Kyle Lowry, and Jameer Nelson.
What does this mean for Philly’s WNBA fate? This wasn’t just a “proof of concept ” for the city’s basketball hunger. The 2030 mandate with Philadelphia is officially slated to receive a WNBA expansion team. This sell-out proves the
market is more than ready.