Unrivaled, a groundbreaking winter basketball league, has made significant waves with its recent roster announcements. Co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, this league is set to kick off its first season in January, marking a new era in women's basketball.

Unlock the Potential of Women's Basketball with Unrivaled

The League's Aim and Concept

The Unrivaled league, which will commence on January 17th, aims to keep players fresh and offer a domestic alternative for athletes during the WNBA offseason. It splits a pool of 34 players into six teams, with two teams still having wild card roster spots. By organizing players into six pods based on positions and having coaches select one from each pod, a well-rounded roster is created. This league features most of the WNBA's top players and promises to pay the highest average salary in women's professional sports league history. It also gives equity to its inaugural participants, ensuring their long-term profit.The league has a strong lineup of high-powered investors, including Alex Morgan, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash, Megan Rapinoe, and former ESPN and Turner presidents John Skipper and David Levy.

The Roster Breakdown

The rosters for the six teams are as follows:- Vinyl (coached by 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 (coached by 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), Azurá Stevens (big, Sparks).- Mist (coached by Phil Handy): Jewell Loyd (guard, Seattle Storm), DiJonai Carrington (wing, Connecticut Sun), Stewart (big, New York Liberty), Courtney Vandersloot (guard, Liberty), Rickea Jackson (wing, Sparks), Aaliyah Edwards (big, Mystics).- Lunar Owls (coached by DJ Sackmann): Skylar Diggins-Smith (guard, Storm), Allisha Gray (wing, Dream), Collier (big, Minnesota Lynx), Natasha Cloud (guard, Mercury), Shakira Austin (big, Mystics), Wildcard.- Phantom (coached by Adam Harrington): Jackie Young (guard, Aces), Marina Mabrey (wing, Sun), Satou Sabally (big, Wings), Tiffany Hayes (guard, Aces), Brittney Griner (big, Mercury), Wildcard.- Laces (coached by 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).

The Coach Selection Process

Unrivaled's six coaches emphasize player development, with several having served in similar roles on NBA or WNBA staffs. Teresa Weatherspoon was a player development coach and assistant with the New Orleans Pelicans before becoming the Sky's head coach. Phil Handy, a three-time NBA champion, has been an NBA assistant coach for over a decade. Adam Harrington is a former NBA player with experience as a shooting coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder and an assistant coach and director of player development with the Brooklyn Nets.Andrew Wade most recently served as the Mystics' head video coordinator and player development assistant. Nola Henry has collegiate coaching experience and recently completed her fourth season in the WNBA as an assistant coach with the Sparks. DJ Sackmann is an acclaimed NBA and WNBA skills coach with over 15 years of experience.After the player rosters were created, coaches were assigned to one of the six teams.

Gameplay and Broadcasting Details

The season begins in January and will last for eight weeks, concluding with a championship in mid-March. In mid-October, the league reached a multi-year deal with TNT Sports and will have its games broadcast on TNT, TruTV, and streamed on Max. Games will air on TNT on Monday and Friday nights and on Saturday night on TruTV.In partnership with Mediapro North America, Unrivaled will host competitions at a new, nearly 130,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art production facility in Miami. The facility features various spaces such as meeting rooms, training facilities, a cafeteria with nutritionists, and a childcare room.The format of Unrivaled is a modified 3×3 game. The international version is a half-court game played to 21, while Unrivaled games will be four quarters. It will be played on a compressed full court that is about 70 feet long. This extra space allows players to showcase their skills and reduces body wear and tear.WNBA players have traditionally played overseas during the offseason to supplement their incomes. However, playing year-round takes a toll on their bodies and requires personal sacrifices. It also keeps them out of the public eye for long periods, affecting their marketability and the growth of the sport.

Other Notable Aspects

Clark, a prominent WNBA star, is not currently part of the league. League president Alex Bazzell has expressed that there will always be a roster spot for her. Skipper, an advisor to the league, has confirmed discussions with Clark. However, after a busy schedule, Clark appears to be taking a break from high-level competition.Other WNBA stars like A'ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu have also not joined Unrivaled yet. UConn star Paige Bueckers signed an NIL deal with the league, becoming the first NCAA athlete to receive ownership equity.