'Unrivaled' rosters set, Phoenix Mercury's Copper, Cloud, Griner learn teammates
The Unrivaled 3-on-3 league's "Basketball Club Selection" process took place on Wednesday where players learned which teams they will play on.
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury trio of Kahleah Copper, Natasha Cloud and Brittney Griner all learned their fate on Wednesday as the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league's "Basketball Club Selection" process took place, assigning players to each team.
Copper will be playing for the Rose Basketball Club alongside Chelsea Gray, Brittney Sykes, Angel Reese, Azurá Stevens and Lexie Hull.
Cloud was paired with Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, a wildcard, Napheesa Collier and Shakira Austin on the Lunar Owls Basketball Club.
Griner will team up with Jackie Young, Tiffany Hayes, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally and a wildcard on the Phantom Basketball Club.
Originally pegged for 30 players, the league announced it increased its size to 36 players last month, creating six teams of six players.
“We’re able to do this because we outperformed our financial projections, and so now we get to do something that we wanted to do in the future, which is give more people spots in Unrivaled,” Collier said in a video posted to X. “This is such an amazing time in women’s sports and we’re so thankful to all the positive people who have come out and supported us.”
The Unrivaled league, which was founded by former UConn teammates Collier of the Minnesota Lynx and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty, will be based out of Miami, Florida, this upcoming season but will also play additional games in cities across the country and will have a tour model.
“We wanted a city that was gonna be obviously warm in the offseason,” Stewart told Desert Wave Media. “Something that’s different than an actual WNBA market. And who doesn’t want to be in Miami in the winter months.”
The competition will begin on Jan. 17 and will last eight weeks. After a six-week round-robin phase, there will be a two-week postseason.
Games will feature four 10-minute quarters but the court will be about 2/3 the size of a WNBA court.
“It opens up the floor more, so there’s more space,” Collier told Desert Wave Media. “You still have the up and down where you can still have the natural flow of a basketball game but there’s more room for the best players in the world to showcase their talent.”
“I think having a little bit smaller than a regulation size court is important because it’s gonna make the games quick,” Stewart told Desert Wave Media. “If you’ve ever played full-court 3-on-3 at like a (YMCA) or something like that, you’re using the side baskets and making sure the game is short, it’s quick. It’s gonna keep the fan and the consumer locked in and action-packed basketball.”
A minimum salary of $100,000 will be offered to each player, while opportunities to earn additional bonuses will be available. For example, in addition to 3-on-3 play, participants will compete in a 1-on-1 tournament, with the winner being awarded a minimum of $250,000.
Unrivaled rosters:
Laces Basketball Club: Kelsey Plum, Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, Kate Martin, Alyssa Thomas, Stefanie Dolson, (coached by Andrew Wade)
Mist Basketball Club: Jewell Loyd, Courtney Vandersloot, DiJonai Carrington, Rickea Jackson, Breanna Stewart, Aaliyah Edwards (coached by Phil Handy)
Phantom Basketball Club: Jackie Young, Tiffany Hayes, Marina Mabrey, Wildcard, Satou Sabally, Brittney Griner, (coached by Adam Harrington)
Lunar Owls Basketball Club: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Natasha Cloud, Allisha Gray, Wildcard, Napheesa Collier, Shakira Austin, (coached by DJ Sackmann)
Rose Basketball Club: Chelsea Gray, Brittney Sykes, Kahleah Copper, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese, Azurá Stevens, (coached by Nola Henry)
Vinyl Basketball Club: Arike Ogunbowale, Jordin Canada, Rhyne Howard, Rae Burrell, Aliyah Boston, Dearica Hamby, (coached by Teresa Weatherspoon)
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