November 20, 2024

Unrivaled releases team rosters for first season

Tasty team combos and the intrigue of wild cards...

Oct 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) shoots as Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) defends during the second half of game three of the 2024 WNBA Finals at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The steady stream of individual player releases by Unrivaled, the new 3×3 league, reached a crescendo on Wednesday with the release of team rosters. The league released the selection video on Wednesday detailing how the rosters were selected.

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It is an intriguing system: players were separated into groups, with coach input, based on their skill set and physical traits, and then spread out to the six clubs. After the rosters were set, the coaches were then assigned a team.

We now know who will be playing for the six clubs: The Vinyl, Rose, Mist, Lunar Owls, Phantom, and Laces. Yet, there are still a few questions when it comes to final team makeup.

Without further hesitation, here are the six Unrivaled women’s basketball rosters:

The Vinyl

Head Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon

Players: Arike Ogunbowale, Rhyne Howard, Aliyah Boston, Jordin Canada, Rae Burrell, and Dearica Hamby

The Rose

Head Coach: Nola Henry

Players: Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, Angel Reese, Brittney Sykes, Lexie Hull, Azura Stevens

The Mist

Head Coach: Phil Handy

Players: Jewell Loyd, DiJonai Carrington, Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot, Rickea Jackson, Aaliyah Edwards

The Lunar Owls

Head Coach: DJ Sackmann

Players: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Napheesa Collier, Natasha Cloud, WILDCARD, Shakira Austin

The Phantom

Head Coach: Adam Harrington

Players: Jackie Young, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally, Tiffany Hayes, WILDCARD, Brittney Griner

The Laces

Head Coach: Andrew Wade

Players: Kelsey Plum, Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas, Courtney Williams, Kate Martin, Stefanie Dolson

NOW, you may be asking – what is a wildcard?

Let’s discuss.

Originally, the Unrivaled league was going to have 30 roster spots, six clubs, and five players per club. A few weeks ago, they announced they were already able to expand. Now there are 36 roster spots, six players per team.

Accordingly, there are still two players who have not signed yet. Despite the rumors about who those players from Iowa may be, there is nothing finalized about who they are adding to the rosters and when they would be announced. So to account for the full 36, Unrivaled created “wildcard” spots, which remain unfilled as of today.

Some of the most intriguing combos include getting to see Atlanta Dream teammates Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada build more offseason chemistry with The Vinyl, reuniting the Muffet McGraw-era Notre Dame stars Jackie Young and Marina Mabrey with The Phantom, and a callback to the 2017 San Antonio Stars with a potential Kayla McBride/Kelsey Plum backcourt for The Laces.