diff --git a/components/TopRivalriesTicker.test.tsx b/components/TopRivalriesTicker.test.tsx
index 9cf596bc9..87e4947c8 100644
--- a/components/TopRivalriesTicker.test.tsx
+++ b/components/TopRivalriesTicker.test.tsx
@@ -39,6 +39,32 @@ describe('TopRivalriesTicker', () => {
     expect(reactLabelElements.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(2);
   });
 
+  it('labels the default list as example comparisons', () => {
+    render(<TopRivalriesTicker />);
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole('region', { name: 'Example comparisons' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('Example comparisons')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('does not show example label when custom rivalries are provided', () => {
+    render(
+      <TopRivalriesTicker
+        rivalries={[
+          {
+            u1: 'alice',
+            u2: 'bob',
+            label: 'Live rivalry',
+            icon: () => null,
+            color: 'text-orange-500',
+          },
+        ]}
+      />
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole('region', { name: 'Top rivalries' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByText('Example comparisons')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
   it('navigates to the correct URL on click', () => {
     render(<TopRivalriesTicker />);
 
diff --git a/components/TopRivalriesTicker.tsx b/components/TopRivalriesTicker.tsx
index b3641ec98..9fa02fc36 100644
--- a/components/TopRivalriesTicker.tsx
+++ b/components/TopRivalriesTicker.tsx
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ export default function TopRivalriesTicker({
   rivalries = MOCK_RIVALRIES,
 }: TopRivalriesTickerProps = {}) {
   const router = useRouter();
+  const isExampleList = rivalries === MOCK_RIVALRIES;
 
   const handleRivalryClick = (u1: string, u2: string) => {
     router.push(`/compare?user1=${encodeURIComponent(u1)}&user2=${encodeURIComponent(u2)}`);
@@ -76,62 +77,76 @@ export default function TopRivalriesTicker({
   const items = rivalries || [];
 
   return (
-    <div className="relative flex w-full items-center overflow-hidden border-b border-black/5 bg-zinc-50 py-3 dark:border-white/5 dark:bg-[#050505]">
-      {/* Edge gradients for smooth fade in/out */}
-      <div className="pointer-events-none absolute bottom-0 left-0 top-0 z-10 w-8 bg-gradient-to-r from-zinc-50 to-transparent sm:w-16 dark:from-[#050505]" />
-      <div className="pointer-events-none absolute bottom-0 right-0 top-0 z-10 w-8 bg-gradient-to-l from-zinc-50 to-transparent sm:w-16 dark:from-[#050505]" />
+    <div
+      role="region"
+      aria-label={isExampleList ? 'Example comparisons' : 'Top rivalries'}
+      className="relative flex w-full items-center overflow-hidden border-b border-black/5 bg-zinc-50 py-3 dark:border-white/5 dark:bg-[#050505]"
+    >
+      {isExampleList && items.length > 0 && (
+        <div className="shrink-0 border-r border-black/5 px-3 sm:px-4 dark:border-white/5">
+          <span className="text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-widest text-zinc-400 dark:text-zinc-500">
+            Example comparisons
+          </span>
+        </div>
+      )}
 
-      {/* Marquee content */}
-      <motion.div
-        className="flex whitespace-nowrap"
-        animate={{ x: ['0%', '-50%'] }}
-        transition={{
-          ease: 'linear',
-          duration: 30,
-          repeat: Infinity,
-        }}
-      >
-        {items.length === 0 ? (
-          <div className="flex w-full items-center justify-center px-6 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium text-zinc-400 dark:text-zinc-500">
-            No active rivalries
-          </div>
-        ) : (
-          [...items, ...items].map((rivalry, idx) => {
-            const Icon = rivalry.icon;
+      <div className="relative flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center overflow-hidden">
+        {/* Edge gradients for smooth fade in/out */}
+        <div className="pointer-events-none absolute bottom-0 left-0 top-0 z-10 w-8 bg-gradient-to-r from-zinc-50 to-transparent sm:w-16 dark:from-[#050505]" />
+        <div className="pointer-events-none absolute bottom-0 right-0 top-0 z-10 w-8 bg-gradient-to-l from-zinc-50 to-transparent sm:w-16 dark:from-[#050505]" />
 
-            return (
-              <div
-                key={idx}
-                onClick={() => handleRivalryClick(rivalry.u1, rivalry.u2)}
-                className="group mx-2 flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-3 rounded-full px-6 py-1.5 transition-colors hover:bg-black/5 dark:hover:bg-white/5"
-              >
-                <Icon
-                  size={14}
-                  className={`${rivalry.color} opacity-70 transition-opacity group-hover:opacity-100`}
-                />
+        {/* Marquee content */}
+        <motion.div
+          className="flex whitespace-nowrap"
+          animate={{ x: ['0%', '-50%'] }}
+          transition={{
+            ease: 'linear',
+            duration: 30,
+            repeat: Infinity,
+          }}
+        >
+          {items.length === 0 ? (
+            <div className="flex w-full items-center justify-center px-6 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium text-zinc-400 dark:text-zinc-500">
+              No active rivalries
+            </div>
+          ) : (
+            [...items, ...items].map((rivalry, idx) => {
+              const Icon = rivalry.icon;
 
-                <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-                  <span className="text-sm font-semibold text-zinc-700 transition-colors group-hover:text-black dark:text-zinc-300 dark:group-hover:text-white">
-                    {rivalry.u1}
-                  </span>
+              return (
+                <div
+                  key={idx}
+                  onClick={() => handleRivalryClick(rivalry.u1, rivalry.u2)}
+                  className="group mx-2 flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-3 rounded-full px-6 py-1.5 transition-colors hover:bg-black/5 dark:hover:bg-white/5"
+                >
+                  <Icon
+                    size={14}
+                    className={`${rivalry.color} opacity-70 transition-opacity group-hover:opacity-100`}
+                  />
 
-                  <span className="text-[10px] font-black uppercase tracking-widest text-zinc-400 dark:text-zinc-600">
-                    VS
-                  </span>
+                  <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                    <span className="text-sm font-semibold text-zinc-700 transition-colors group-hover:text-black dark:text-zinc-300 dark:group-hover:text-white">
+                      {rivalry.u1}
+                    </span>
+
+                    <span className="text-[10px] font-black uppercase tracking-widest text-zinc-400 dark:text-zinc-600">
+                      VS
+                    </span>
 
-                  <span className="text-sm font-semibold text-zinc-700 transition-colors group-hover:text-black dark:text-zinc-300 dark:group-hover:text-white">
-                    {rivalry.u2}
+                    <span className="text-sm font-semibold text-zinc-700 transition-colors group-hover:text-black dark:text-zinc-300 dark:group-hover:text-white">
+                      {rivalry.u2}
+                    </span>
+                  </div>
+
+                  <span className="rounded-md border border-black/5 bg-white px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-zinc-400 dark:border-white/10 dark:bg-black/20 dark:text-zinc-500">
+                    {rivalry.label}
                   </span>
                 </div>
-
-                <span className="rounded-md border border-black/5 bg-white px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-zinc-400 dark:border-white/10 dark:bg-black/20 dark:text-zinc-500">
-                  {rivalry.label}
-                </span>
-              </div>
-            );
-          })
-        )}
-      </motion.div>
+              );
+            })
+          )}
+        </motion.div>
+      </div>
     </div>
   );
 }