Oct 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) defends against New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during the second half of game three of the 2024 WNBA Finals at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Though Caitlin Clark has reportedly not signed to play, there is no lack of star power among the rosters unveiled by Unrivaled, a new 3-on-3 winter women’s basketball league, on Wednesday.
Unrivaled, co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, revealed the rosters as it prepares for its inaugural opening day on Jan. 17.
In addition to Collier and Stewart, reigning rebounding leader Angel Reese, second-leading scorer Arike Ogunbowale and several other WNBA All-Stars are set to play. Others include Aliyah Boston, Jewell Loyd, Dearica Hamby, Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas and Brittney Griner.
ESPN reported Wednesday that Clark will not play in the upstart league.
The league will feature six teams and 34 players, though a pair of teams will have each have a wild-card roster spot to fill. Players were put into six pods, with bigs, wings and guards in each pod. Unrivaled’s six coaches selected one player from each pod and assigned the player to one of the six teams. None of the coaches knew which team they would be assigned.
Aiming to supplement players’ income between WNBA seasons, the league promises the highest average salary in the history of women’s professional sports. Among the investors are Megan Rapinoe, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash and Alex Morgan.
A’ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu are among the WNBA stars who have yet to join Unrivaled. UConn star Paige Buecker signed an NIL deal with the league but will not participate in games this season. She’s the first NCAA athlete to have a stake in the ownership equity of a league.
Collier and Stewart’s teams will face off in the league’s opener on Jan. 17. The season will last eight weeks and culminate in the championship on March 17.
TNT will handle broadcasting duties, with games also appearing on TruTV and streamed on Max. TNT will air games on Monday and Friday nights, with Saturday night games airing on TruTV.
Unrivaled rosters:
Vinyl (head coach Teresa Weatherspoon):
Arike Ogunbowale, guard, Dallas Wings
Rhyne Howard, wing, Atlanta Dream
Aliyah Boston, big, Indiana Fever
Jordin Canada, guard, Dream
Rae Burrell, wing, Los Angeles Sparks
Dearica Hamby, big, Sparks
Rose (head 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, Fever
Azura Stevens, big, Sparks
Mist (head coach Phil Handy)
Jewell Loyd, guard, Seattle Storm
DiJonai Carrington, wing, Connecticut Sun
Breanna Stewart, big, New York Liberty
Courtney Vandersloot, guard, Liberty
Rickea Jackson, wing, Sparks
Aaliyah Edwards, big, Mystics
Lunar Owls (head coach DJ Sackmann)
Skylar Diggins-Smith, guard, Storm
Allisha Gray, wing, Dream
Napheesa Collier, big, Minnesota Lynx
Natasha Cloud, guard, Mercury
Shakira Austin, big, Mystics
Wild-card roster spot
Phantom (head coach Adam Harrington):
Jackie Young, guard, Aces
Marina Mabrey, wing, Sun
Satou Sabally, big, Wings
Tiffany Hayes, guard, Aces
Brittney Griner, big, Mercury
Wild-card roster spot
Laces (head coach Andrew Wade):
Kelsey Plum, guard, Aces
Kayla McBride, wing, Lynx
Alyssa Thomas, big, Sun
Courtney Williams, guard, Lynx
Kate Martin, wing, Aces
Stefanie Dolson, big, Mystics
–Field Level Media
