Unrivaled tips off Season 2 with star-studded 3×3 firepower

Off to the races.

Unrivaled 3×3 is officially back in action

Unrivaled is officially back, as the offseason 3×3 league tips off Season 2 this afternoon with more teams, deeper rosters, and an expanded broadcast schedule.

• The WNBA offshoot has grown from six to eight teams, adding Hive and Breeze BC to its founding lineup while also bringing in a developmental player pool to supplement absences and injuries.

• Each week of the regular season now features four nights of action, with games Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday through February 27th.

How it works: Formatting will mirror Season 1, with small-sided full-court play, targeted fourth-quarter scoring, single-shot free throws, seven-minute periods, and an 18-second shot clock. (See full rules)

• Unrivaled’s popular midseason 1v1 tournament will also make a comeback next month, ahead of March’s newly expanded playoffs.

• Unlike Season 1, the Miami-based league will hit the road on January 30th, with four teams set to play a first-ever “tour stop” in Philadelphia.

Read up: Check out today’s Unrivaled newsletter takeover for everything you need to know about Season 2’s loaded 3×3 slate.

Napheesa Collier’s injury looms over Lunar Owls

The Lunar Owls start Season 2 down their biggest star, as Unrivaled co-founder and 2025 leading scorer Napheesa Collier announced she’ll miss all of Season 2 with dual ankle injuries.

• Collier will undergo two surgeries to fix the issues, with the four- to six-month estimated recovery putting an additional question mark on her WNBA availability next season.

• “I have fought hard over the last few months to be back with my Owls and was devastated to be told by my team of doctors that surgery was the best path forward,” Collier posted on Instagram late last week.

Stepping up: Forward Temi Fagbenle will fill Collier’s roster spot, as the Owls rely on guards Skylar Diggins and Marina Mabrey alongside versatile forward Aaliyah Edwards.

Tune in: See if the Lunar Owls can start strong when they face Rose BC tonight at 8 PM ET, live on TNT.

Reigning champs Rose BC shoots for consistency

After getting hot in the 2025 postseason, Rose BC will shoot to defend their inaugural 3×3 title without two of last year’s regular-season starters.

• Star forward Angel Reese did not sign with Unrivaled this year while guard Brittney Sykes jumped ship to the Laces, with the team returning guards Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, and Lexie Hull, plus forward Azurá Stevens.

• “A lot of us have played with each other already, so that helps,” said Copper. “Chelsea does a really good job of setting us up to be successful, so it makes it really easy.”

Sideline stability: Rose BC will also have a returning presence on the bench, as Dallas Wings assistant coach Nola Henry comes back after winning the championship in her first head coaching role.

Tune in: See if Rose BC can get the job done against the Lunar Owls tonight at 8 PM ET, live on TNT.

Young superstars bring the heat to Breeze BC

Newcomer Breeze BC is already bringing the heat, as the 2026 expansion team looks to transform a powder keg of young talent into a 3×3 dynamo.

• 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers will make her Unrivaled debut alongside forward Dominique Malonga and guard Aari McDonald, joining second-year stars Cameron Brink, Kate Martin, and Rickea Jackson.

• “It means a lot that I get to be back here and play with someone like Paige,” said Brink. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, as great of a player as she is. I think her mid-range game is really going to tear people up.”

Steady guidance: The team’s lack of experience will be tempered by former Seattle head coach Noelle Quinn, as she assumes her first sideline role post-Storm.

Tune in: See the stars in action as the Breeze tip off against Phantom BC tonight at 9:15 PM ET, live on TNT.

Vinyl BC gets ready to stir the pot

Falling one game short of the 2025 title, Vinyl BC returns to the court armed with amped up versatility and a renewed focus on crossing the finish line.

• Rhyne Howard, Rae Burrell, and Dearica Hamby are back on the roster, joining big-name signings Courtney Williams and Brittney Griner.

• “We might crash out a couple of times,” laughed rookie guard Erica Wheeler. “We gonna talk some mess… We all have one goal, and that’s to win.”

T-Spoon’s support: Returning head coach Teresa Weatherspoon will also bolster the Season 1 runners-up, with the ex-Chicago Sky boss known for developing players eager to improve their 3×3 skills.

Tune in: Vinyl opens the season against the Laces today at 2:15 PM ET, live on TruTV.

Mist BC shoots for Unrivaled redemption

One of just two teams missing the playoffs in 2025, Mist BC is gearing up for a redemption tour behind newly healthy Unrivaled co-founder Breanna Stewart.

• Stewart competed last season with limited availability before undergoing minor knee surgery, returning to the 3×3 court rested after New York’s early WNBA postseason exit.

• “I can’t tell you the last time where I was just not on the basketball court for a month,” she said ahead of today’s tip-off. “I was able to take a step back and feel better, and then move forward.”

Roster refresh: Stewart’s leadership will come in handy this year, with the Mist rebuilding their lineup around the 31-year-old.

• Five new faces are joining the squad, including top WNBA performers Allisha Gray, Arike Ogunbowale, and Veronica Burton.

Tune in: Mist BC kicks off today’s opening slate, squaring off against Hive BC at 1 PM ET, live on TruTV.

Veterans shape Hive BC’s Unrivaled debut

Hive BC will look to lean on leadership this year, as tested WNBA veterans line up beside up-and-comers to form the 2026 expansion team.

• Experienced pros Kelsey Mitchell and Monique Billings make their Unrivaled debut with the Hive, balancing out rookies Sonia Citron and Saniya Rivers.

• “We’re vets on this team,” said Billings. “Setting an example, setting the tone, and having an enjoyable season.”

• “Fun is important,” added Mitchell, now fully recovered from the muscle condition that saw her depart the 2025 WNBA semifinals. “If you’re not enjoying it, you can’t really do it if you truly want to be good at it.”

Role call: Billings and Ezi Magbegor are set to battle in the interior, as backcourt playmaker Natisha Hiedeman gives the still-gelling Hive options behind the arc.

Tune in: Hive BC takes the court for the first time today against the Mist at 1 PM ET, live on TruTV.

Revamped Phantom relies on top-tier signings

After finishing the 2025 season in last place, Phantom BC is looking to change things up, bringing back just two players from last year’s disappointing run.

• Second-year guard Natasha Cloud will try to better her team’s results, with returning forward Satou Sabally set to miss the start of the season with lingering concussion symptoms dating to October’s WNBA Finals.

• Former Laces guard Tiffany Hayes will take over Sabally’s duties for now, with the starter potentially rejoining the squad later this season.

Going all in: The Phantom will instead bet on flashy newcomers, combining three-point shooting specialists Kelsey Plum and Dana Evens with forward Kiki Iriafen’s sharp inside game as the trio make their 3×3 debuts.

• “I’m just excited to be here, excited for the opportunity to get better,” said Plum, after opting out of the 2025 season for personal reasons. “So far my experience has been nothing short of amazing.”

Tune in: See if Phantom BC can turn things around against the Breeze tonight at 9:15 PM ET, live on TNT.

Laces’ 2026 bounce-back hinges on health

Laces BC is betting on health in 2026, with multiple returning stars anticipating greater availability as the team looks to recover from 2025’s early playoff exit.

• Key starters Jackie Young and Alyssa Thomas are coming back in top form, boosting the potential for regular-season momentum.

• “Last year was kind of different for me. I was hurt most of the season,” said Young. “So kind of just building, and not having to start from from zero.”

Mixing it up: The Laces could present a mismatched threat this year, adding 6-foot-2 forwards Maddy Siegrist and Naz Hillmon while undersized guards Brittney Sykes and Jordin Canada run the backcourt.

Tune in: See the new and improved Laces take on Vinyl BC today at 2:15 PM ET, live on TruTV.

Quote of the day

Lunar Owls guard Marina Mabrey
hyping up fellow Notre Dame alum and Owls teammate Skylar Diggins ahead of today’s Unrivaled 3×3 tip-off.