With the Unrivaled tip-off just around the corner in Miami—less than a month away—let’s take a moment to assess the six teams in the league.
Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 basketball league co-founded by Nafeesa Collier and Brianna Stewart last year, kicks off its second season on January 5th. It features 22 WNBA players alongside 26 returnees from the first year. However, some standout newcomers like Angel Reese, Kayla McBride, and Sabrina Ionescu won’t be participating this season.
The previous year’s champions, the Rose Club, captained by Chelsea Gura and Carlea Copper, took home the trophy. Meanwhile, the Lunar Owls, led by Napheesa Collier and Skyler Diggins, dominated the regular season.
It’s still a bit early to determine how the new teams will gel together, but here are my thoughts on how the eight clubs might fare.
Predicted Rankings for Unrivaled Clubs
- chelsea gray
- carrea copper
- Azura Stevens
- Lexi Hull
- shakira austin
- Thug Sutton
Chelsea Gray just bagged a title with the Las Vegas Aces and was among Unrivaled’s top players last season. Azura Stevens and Shakira Austin had breakout seasons, while Carlea Copper, despite missing a chunk of the last season, proved to be a top scorer. Technically, the Rose Club isn’t the same as last year (Angela Reese is no longer there), but given they won it all before, I’m inclined to say they’ll remain a front-runner this year.
- Nafeesa Collier
- Skylar Diggins
- Marina Mabry
- Aaliyah Edwards
- Rachel Banham
- rebecca allen
The Lunar Owls were last season’s top team, and Napheesa Collier might just be the standout player. She led the league with an average of 25.7 points and 10.6 rebounds, steering the Owls to a solid 13-1 record. Skylar Diggins made his mark as a key guard, averaging 17.9 points and 4.8 assists. Aaliyah Edwards was a force, finishing as the runner-up in the league’s head-to-head tournament. Although Marina Mabry had to sit out a good portion of last year due to injury, I’m optimistic she’ll make a strong return.
- jackie young
- Britney Sykes
- Alyssa Thomas
- jordan canada
- Maddie Siegrist
- naz hillmon
The Races have some remarkable defenders in Jackie Young, Britney Sykes, Alyssa Thomas, and Jordan Canada. Naz Hillmon was part of the Rose’s title-winning team, and Maddie Siegrist could enhance their spacing on the floor. This fall, Young has been reinforcing his status as one of the best two-way players, helping the Aces clinch their third WNBA title in four years. That said, they might have some challenges with shooting, making Siegrist’s ability to hit open three-pointers quite crucial.
- kelsey plum
- Sato Sabally
- aliyah boston
- dana evans
- natasha cloud
- kiki iliafen
Kelsey Plumb didn’t play in Unrivaled last year, but given her status as an elite scorer, she should fit in nicely. This lineup looks balanced, with Aliyah Boston and Kiki Iliafen being solid young bigs. Natasha Cloud is expected to be a support for Plumb in the backcourt and will likely handle some tough defensive assignments.
- paige backers
- recare jackson
- Dominic Malonga
- ari mcdonald
- kate martin
- Cameron Brink
The Brees are among the youngest teams, which might actually work to their advantage in this fast-paced game. Ari McDonald is the only one from the last two drafts who wasn’t selected, but several could be poised for breakout seasons. Dominic Malonga might gel well here, and Paige Bueckers seems prima facie an ideal fit for 3-on-3 play. Cameron Brink has ample 3-on-3 experience—albeit in half-court format—so she should provide some defensive versatility.
- kelsey mitchell
- Sonia Citron
- Ezi Magbegor
- Natisha Hedeman
- Saniya river
- Monique Billings
Kelsey Mitchell is coming off the best season of her career and, like Kelsey Plumb, can adapt swiftly to the competition. She and Sonia Citron could establish a backcourt that emphasizes pace and shooting. Natisha Hedeman hasn’t officially been part of Unrivaled, but she’s seen playing time in the league due to injuries and is known for her explosive scoring ability.
- Alisha Gray
- brianna stewart
- Alana Smith
- veronica barton
- Arike Ogunbowale
- Li Yuer
Considering the wealth of talent on this squad, it’s tough to rank the Mists too low. Alisha Gray just completed an All-WNBA first-team season, and Brianna Stewart had another strong performance with the New York Liberty. Alana Smith was noted as the secondary defensive player of the year, and Veronica Barton emerged as an elite point guard for the Golden State Valkyries, even grabbing the accolade for most improved player in the WNBA. Nonetheless, the spacing may become problematic, especially if Stewart continues to struggle from long range, shooting 24.1% from beyond the arc last season.
- courtney williams
- line howard
- Darica Humvee
- erica wheeler
- ray barrel
- britney griner
To be honest, it’s quite tricky to place a team at the bottom when the rosters are packed with talent. But my suspicion is this team leans heavily on a few key players, such as Ryne Howard and Dearika Hamby, hence my ranking.
It feels a bit wild to try to predict how these new combinations will pan out, but here goes my best shot. It’s also essential to keep in mind that health and availability are crucial elements. Last season, numerous key players were sidelined for long stretches. It’s going to be interesting to see who can stay on the court. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of my rankings turned out completely off base. After all, the league’s aim was to create balanced teams. But, well, this is just my impression based on initial observations.
