Unrivaled: New 3×3 Winter Basketball League Launches with WNBA Stars
Unrivaled Basketball League Overview
Unrivaled is a new 3×3 winter basketball league. It is co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. The league announced its rosters on Wednesday, preparing for its first season, which starts on January 17.
Purpose of Unrivaled
Unrivaled aims to keep players active and provide an option for athletes to compete and earn money during the WNBA offseason. The league has divided 34 players into six teams. Two teams still have wild card roster spots available. Players were sorted into six pods (A to F), each with guards, wings, or bigs. Six coaches selected players from each pod, unaware of which team they would coach. The goal was to create balanced rosters.
Player Compensation and Investments
Unrivaled features many top WNBA players. The league promises the highest average salary in women’s professional sports history and offers equity in the league to its participants. Notable investors include Alex Morgan, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash, Megan Rapinoe, and former ESPN and Turner executives John Skipper and David Levy.
Team Rosters
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Vinyl (Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon)
- Arike Ogunbowale, guard, Dallas Wings
- Rhyne Howard, wing, Atlanta Dream
- Aliyah Boston, big, Indiana Fever
- Jordin Canada, guard, Atlanta Dream
- Rae Burrell, wing, Los Angeles Sparks
- Dearica Hamby, big, Los Angeles Sparks
-
Rose (Coach: Nola Henry)
- Chelsea Gray, guard, Las Vegas Aces
- Kahleah Copper, wing, Phoenix Mercury
- Angel Reese, forward, Chicago Sky
- Brittney Sykes, guard, Washington Mystics
- Lexie Hull, wing, Indiana Fever
- Azurá Stevens, big, Los Angeles Sparks
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Mist (Coach: Phil Handy)
- Jewell Loyd, guard, Seattle Storm
- DiJonai Carrington, wing, Connecticut Sun
- Breanna Stewart, big, New York Liberty
- Courtney Vandersloot, guard, New York Liberty
- Rickea Jackson, wing, Los Angeles Sparks
- Aaliyah Edwards, big, Washington Mystics
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Lunar Owls (Coach: DJ Sackmann)
- Skylar Diggins-Smith, guard, Seattle Storm
- Allisha Gray, wing, Atlanta Dream
- Napheesa Collier, big, Minnesota Lynx
- Natasha Cloud, guard, Phoenix Mercury
- Shakira Austin, big, Washington Mystics
- Wildcard
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Phantom (Coach: Adam Harrington)
- Jackie Young, guard, Las Vegas Aces
- Marina Mabrey, wing, Connecticut Sun
- Satou Sabally, big, Dallas Wings
- Tiffany Hayes, guard, Las Vegas Aces
- Brittney Griner, big, Phoenix Mercury
- Wildcard
- Laces (Coach: Andrew Wade)
- Kelsey Plum, guard, Las Vegas Aces
- Kayla McBride, wing, Minnesota Lynx
- Alyssa Thomas, big, Connecticut Sun
- Courtney Williams, guard, Minnesota Lynx
- Kate Martin, wing, Las Vegas Aces
- Stefanie Dolson, big, Washington Mystics
Coaching Staff
The coaches prioritize player development. Weatherspoon, Handy, Harrington, Wade, Henry, and Sackmann bring experience from the NBA and WNBA. After rosters were formed, coaches were assigned to their teams.
Game Schedule and Broadcast
Unrivaled’s season begins in January. Collier and Stewart’s teams will play the first game. The league runs for eight weeks, ending with a championship on March 17. Games will air on TNT and TruTV, with streaming on Max. The league also has a deal to broadcast games through TNT Sports.
Gameplay Format
Unrivaled features a modified 3×3 format. Games are played on a compressed full court, about 70 feet long, over four quarters. This setup reduces physical strain on players and allows them to showcase their skills.
Participation of Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark has an open invitation to join Unrivaled. Currently, she is not among the 34 players. The league president has indicated a willingness to accommodate her if she decides to participate. Other stars like A’ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu also have not joined for the inaugural season but could join in the future.
Conclusion
Unrivaled provides an exciting opportunity for WNBA players to compete in winter basketball. The league offers competitive salaries and player equity, enhancing the visibility of women’s basketball in the offseason.