When the inaugural season of Unrivaled concluded last year, it did so with Rose BC prevailing in the championship contest over Vinyl BC with the final score being 62-54.
Fast-forward to today where the second season of the full-court 3×3 league is set to tip-off its season in a matter of weeks. Following a holiday break, players will return to Miami for games beginning on Jan. 5.
Last year’s version of Unrivaled debuted with six teams – the two aforementioned assemblings in addition to Lunar Owls BC, Mist BC, Laces BC and Phantom BC. This year, those six teams are back along with two new squads – Breeze BC and Hive BC.
One of the main players for Breeze is Rickea Jackson who wears the gold, purple and teal of the Los Angeles Sparks while in WNBA mode. Jackson, who recently participated in a USA Basketball training camp at Duke University, mentioned how important this holiday break is to ensure she is at her best for Unrivaled.
It’s very important, that’s one thing that I appreciate about Unrivaled. We have two (or) three months off before we start and then even after the season, depending on where they figure out where the (WNBA) season starts, we have about a month and a half. So, I’m very appreciative how they care for our bodies.
–Rickea Jackson, Breeze BC
Jackson remarked during her Monday media availability that she arrived in Miami from Durham that Sunday night before it was time for her to meet (virtually) with the press.
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(I) just came literally straight from North Carolina last night, got in super late. So, waking up early today was pretty tough…my body hurts so bad from (Team USA) training camp. But, again, we get a Christmas break, so I have a lot of time to rejuvenate my body.
–Rickea Jackson, Breeze BC
All eight teams – including Breeze – will be in action for when the 2026 Unrivaled season tips off on Jan. 5. Breeze BC will participate in the nightcap against Phantom BC and the nighttime slate for that day will also feature a matchup between Lunar Owls BC and defending champion Rose BC.
The four-day card for the first Monday of the new year will also see Mist BC take on the other new club to the Unrivaled league – Hive BC. Last season’s Unrivaled runners-up – Vinyl BC – will have a get-together against Laces BC.
Jackie Young – of Laces – included winning another championship in the W with the Las Vegas Aces. She was also at the USA Basketball camp in the Hoop State prior to making the quick turnaround to South Florida for Unrivaled’s media days. Young mentioned how she is particularly about who she is playing alongside – and those she will play against for the next few months.
Getting to play with them and learn their game and playing alongside them. Obviously, we’ve played against each other for a few years now. And so, I think that’s what makes Unrivaled cool is just being able to play with some of the players that I haven’t played with before.
–Jackie Young, Laces BC
Laces BC’s roster also includes Maddy Siegrist who recently completed her third season with a Dallas Wings team that will have the first overall selection in the 2026 WNBA Draft. She says she is particularly looking forward to learning more from her Laces BC teammates – including Young and Alyssa Thomas.
I think we’re seeing how much Unrivaled’s growing and all the buzz about it. So, I’m super excited to be here and just be able to learn from so many great players, especially on my team having Jackie and AT. They were on this team last year and just being able to learn from them.
–Maddy Siegrist, Laces BC
Naz Hillmon, Jordin Canada and Brittney Sykes rounds out Laces BC that will have Andrew Wade as its coach.
One team already facing a bit of adversity prior to any Unrivaled contests being played is Phantom BC. Satou Sabally suffered a concussion in Game 3 of this past season’s WNBA Finals between the Aces and Phoenix Mercury. That ailment will have her indefinitely sidelined for Unrivaled.
Roneeka Hodges, an assistant with the Connecticut Sun is at the helm for Phantom BC in 2026. That team will include Tiffany Hayes, Natasha Cloud, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Plum, Dana Evans and Kiki Iriafen.
Evans is already a two-time WNBA champion – 2021 with the Chicago Sky and last season with the Aces. She has spent the last few offseasons in Turkey and is more than thrilled to be stateside with Unrivaled as opposed to on the other side of the planet.
I’ve been overseas my last three, four seasons. So, just being able to be in the States and playing against great competition, getting better. I think it’s dope and I love 3-on-3 because I feel like it’s so much space, so much opportunity for me to just really play my game. So, I’m excited about that and just challenging myself on both ends.
–Dana Evans, Phantom BC
Iriafen was another of the names that made the quick turnaround to Unrivaled media days from that Team USA camp in North Carolina. Between her days at Stanford, USC and now in the W with the Washington Mystics, she has established herself as one of the premier young post players in the sport.
She is looking forward to how Unrivaled’s full-court 3-on-3 format will have her playing more on the 3-point line.
For myself, just an opportunity to grow. I feel like I’m very comfortable in the post, but in a 3-on-3 format, I’m going to be on the perimeter a little bit more. So, that’s going to force me to guard on the perimeter which I think will help me when I go back to the Mystics. But then, also, what can I do on the perimeter.
Kiki Iriafen–Phantom BC
Being comfortable with uncomfortable is what I’m excited for and just pushing myself to limits I couldn’t think of before.
–Kiki Iriafen, Phantom BC
As for Vinyl BC, it vividly remembers how last season concluded – with that 62-54 defeat at the hands of Rose BC to decide the inaugural Unrivaled championship. Rose itself will have a bit of a different look this season given it will be without one of the more high-profile names from last season’s version in Angel Reese.
Three from last season’s Vinyl team are returning for 2026. Those three are Rae Burrell and Dearica Hamby (Los Angeles Sparks) as well Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream). Brittney Griner (Atlanta Dream), Erica Wheeler (Seattle Storm) and Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx) also will be in Vinyl threads for the next several months.
Also returning for Vinyl BC is coach Teresa Weatherspoon – one of five Black women head coaches that will be featured for Unrivaled this season. The others are Hodges (Phantom), Noelle Quinn (Breeze), Rena Wakama (Hive) and Nola Henry (Rose).
Williams says she is excited for the advice she will receive from Coach Spoon on improving as a player.
I’m excited to see how she can help me expand and better my game. I’ve heard nothing but great things about her from players … (In) the conversations that we had on the phone, she just pretty much came out the gate and saying, ‘I can help you be better.’ So, I’m excited to see how she’s going to help me better.
–Courtney Williams, Vinyl BC
Hamby is among that contingent of players that had an opportunity to be coached by Weatherspoon last year at Unrivaled. She recalls last season with Vinyl BC and reflects on how often the former Chicago Sky coach would encourage Hamby to believe in herself and be unapologetically herself. Hamby also sees how Unrivaled’s sophomore season can benefit Weatherspoon as well as a coach.
From my experience, Spoon is a coach that just pours a lot of love into you and, really, that’s the thing that takes you to the next level…like that belief and comfortability and vulnerability both ways. So, just excited to see her take another level for her too. She learned a lot last year, everything was new for everybody. So, just to see her continue to help us.
–Dearica Hamby, Vinyl BC
Given Unrivaled’s South Florida base, the upcoming season is particularly special for Wheeler who is a Miami native. Her less-than-conventional roundball journey has taken her many places – including Rutgers, the Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm in the WNBA.
Wheeler has also played for a number of overseas clubs but she has not played in South Florida since 2009 – her senior season at Parkway Academy in Miramar where she led her team to a state championship.
She mentions how others that have descended on Miami are asking her for advice on where to go. She is especially the latest chapter in her basketball journey – one with a number of unexpected but well-earned wins – will see her ball out in front of her loved ones.
Well, of course, everybody always asks me, Rhyne is one of them, food places and things to do. But, I think the biggest thing for me that I’m super-excited about is I’ve missed a lot of birthdays. I’ve missed my nieces and nephews growing up. And now they’re able to see me for three months … and being able to see me play because one of my nieces can’t travel.
–Erica Wheeler, Vinyl BC
This year’s season will be bigger than last year’s with the two new teams plus a tour date in Philadelphia in late January that will feature Breeze BC, Phantom BC, Rose BC and Lunar Owls BC. Phantom’s Natasha Cloud and Rose’s Kahleah Copper are Philadelphia natives and the Xfinity Mobile Arena will certainly be full of fans in large part because of Tash and Kah.
Another unique feature of this season is the Development Pool. Six players are in said pool and will be called up to one of the eight team rosters in case of an injury.
Those six are Hailey Van Lith (Chicago Sky), Emily Engstler (Washington Mystics), Laeticia Amihere (Golden State Valkyries), Makayla Timpson (Indiana Fever), Aziaha James and Haley Jones (Dallas Wings).
During their media availability, Engstler mentioned that she has not had a chance to study film from the first Unrivaled season. Van Lith recalls watching Unrivaled games last season while she was a senior at TCU.
I watched it live a lot when I was in college. I remember I was always tuning in especially when the one-on-one tournament came around. If I become available to play and I’m ready and I’m elevated to that, I might pull more from the archives and the film and look at different styles of play. But, mostly up to this point I just remember watching it live.
–Hailey Van Lith, Unrivaled Development Pool
That one-on-one tournament was won by Unrivaled co-founder Napheesa Collier (Lunar Owls BC) over Aaliyah Edwards (Mist BC). Arike Ogunbowale (Vinyl BC) and Azurá Stevens (Rose BC) were two other semifinalists of said tournament.
This season is the first for Timpson to experience Unrivaled. She echoed the sentiments of many who have been part of an Unrivaled season by giving its presentation and venues – which will include a second court this season – glowing reviews.
It was incredible. Great hospitality here. You can already notice (as) soon as you get here they’re going to take care of you. The communication is great. They’re going to make sure we have everything that we need. Even if (there’s) things that we don’t have and we have questions about it, they’re right there to answer. They’re going to answer our questions as soon as we can.
–Makayla Timpson, Unrivaled Development Pool
Another advantage of being at Unrivaled is a phrase often expressed among real estate professionals – location, location, location. As opposed to New York City where the high temperature can be barely above 40 degrees in December, Miami’s average high even during the winter months can hover around 80.
The average temperature in Indianapolis is also barely above 40 – a bit lower than it would be at Florida State where Timpson played her collegiate ball.
It’s good to be down here in this weather…It’s pretty good weather, it’s a good city. So, I’m excited to get to work.
–Makayla Timpson, Unrivaled Development Pool
Jones – who is from Northern California and played her collegiate basketball at Stanford – also understands the difference between the Bay Area and South Florida around this time of year.
It was cold in Cali, so I’m excited to be in the heat.
–Haley Jones, Unrivaled Development Pool
