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via Reuters

via Reuters

The countdown is on! We are almost a week away from the most talked-about league. Players all geared up, a buzzing venue in Miami, fans counting down the days- this must be the vision Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart had when they co-founded Unrivaled back in 2023. 

The UConn duo took their shared experience of missing out on home comforts during offseasons (as they used to play overseas) and put their heart and soul into finding an alternative. And they did. Playing close to home, enjoying the holidays with family, and a condensed, three-day-a-week schedule with six-figure salaries. They came up with a dream solution, we must say. 

Unrivaled to officially kickstart with a star-studded lineup

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The inaugural season of Unrivaled starts on January 17, 2025. Sure, it’s 3-on-3, but this isn’t your pickup-game vibe. Games will be played on a shorter full court with four seven-minute quarters. The Lynx star even teased on social media that it’ll feel like “normal basketball with more spacing.”

There are 36 players in this inaugural season split across six teams: Laces BC, Lunar Owls BC, Mist BC, Phantom BC, Rose BC, and Vinyl BC. And the roster’s not set in stone. Since the initial announcement, we’ve seen some shake-ups, some massive ones, too.

For instance, Kelsey Plum bowed out, and Sabrina Ionescu snagged the final spot. Then we got wildcard picks like Cameron Brink and Katie Lou Samuelson joining the fray. To top it off, teams have been wheeling and dealing in trades. Natasha Cloud and a Wildcard spot went to Phantom, Jackie Young and Tiffany Hayes moved to Laces, and Courtney Williams landed with Lunar Owls.

USA Today via Reuters

Now, here’s a breakdown of who’s playing where and how you can catch the action in Week 1!

What’s your perspective on:

Will Breanna Stewart's Mist BC dominate, or can Napheesa Collier's Lunar Owls pull off a surprise?

Have an interesting take?

Here’s everything you need to know: When and where to catch the action

Friday, January 17, 2025

  • Game 1: Mist BC vs. Lunar Owls BC – 7:00 PM ET
  • Game 2: Rose BC vs. Vinyl BC – 8:15 PM ET
  • Where to Watch: TNT or grab your tickets on Ticketmaster

Saturday, January 18, 2025

  • Game 1: Phantom BC vs. Laces BC – 2:00 PM ET
  • Game 2: Lunar Owls BC vs. Rose BC – 3:00 PM ET
  • Where to Watch: truTV or book your seats via Ticketmaster

Monday, January 20, 2025

  • Game 1: Vinyl BC vs. Phantom BC – 8:00 PM ET
  • Game 2: Laces BC vs. Mist BC – 9:15 PM ET
  • Where to Watch: TNT or Ticketmaster for live action

Below is the team roster for all six clubs: 

Laces BC

(All healthy)

  • Head Coach: Andrew Wade
  • Roster:
    • Stefanie Dolson (F/C, Mystics)
    • Tiffany Hayes (G, Aces)
    • Kate Martin (G, Valkyries)
    • Kayla McBride (G, Lynx)
    • Alyssa Thomas (F, Sun)
    • Jackie Young (G, Aces)

Lunar Owls BC

(Cameron Brink won’t play this season due to an ACL injury but has signed a two-year deal)

  • Head Coach: DJ Sackmann
  • Roster:
    • Shakira Austin (F/C, Mystics)
    • Cameron Brink (F, Sparks)*
    • Napheesa Collier (F, Lynx)
    • Skylar Diggins-Smith (G, Storm)
    • Allisha Gray (G, Dream)
    • Courtney Williams (G, Lynx)

Mist BC

(All healthy)

  • Head Coach: Phil Handy
  • Roster:
    • DiJonai Carrington (G, Sun)
    • Aaliyah Edwards (F, Mystics)
    • Rickea Jackson (F, Sparks)
    • Jewell Loyd (G, Storm)
    • Breanna Stewart (F, Liberty)
    • Courtney Vandersloot (G, Liberty)

Phantom BC

(All healthy)

  • Head Coach: Adam Harrington
  • Roster:
    • Natasha Cloud (G, Mercury)
    • Brittney Griner (C, Mercury)
    • Sabrina Ionescu (G, Liberty)
    • Marina Mabrey (G, Sun)
    • Satou Sabally (F, Wings)
    • Katie Lou Samuelson (F, Fever)

Rose BC

(All healthy)

  • Head Coach: Nola Henry
  • Roster:
    • Kahleah Copper (G, Mercury)
    • Chelsea Gray (G, Aces)
    • Lexie Hull (G, Fever)
    • Angel Reese (F, Sky)
    • Azura Stevens (F/C, Sparks)
    • Brittney Sykes (G, Mystics)

Vinyl BC

(All healthy)

  • Head Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon
  • Roster:
    • Aliyah Boston (F/C, Fever)
    • Rae Burrell (G, Sparks)
    • Jordin Canada (G, Dream)
    • Dearica Hamby (F, Sparks)
    • Rhyne Howard (G, Dream)
    • Arike Ogunbowale (G, Wings)

With star power like this, Unrivaled’s opening week promises to be a spectacle. With games set to air on TNT and truTV, fans nationwide can witness the league’s debut from the comfort of their homes. And you know, even the broadcasting is led by some of the biggest W faces. Can you imagine the unparalleled insight it will bring to the coverage?

TNT to 360 cover Unrivaled , Studio room led by Candace Parker

TNT is stepping up its game with its coverage of the brand-new Unrivaled League, and it will surely bring some serious star power to the table. Along with airing the live games, TNT is rolling out a studio show featuring basketball legends like Candace Parker, Renee Montgomery, and Lauren Jbara, with appearances from the iconic Lisa Leslie as a game analyst. 

Other familiar faces like Taylor Rooks, Allie LaForce, Stephanie Ready, and Ros Gold-Onwude will be there, reporting live on the action. The league has made it clear several times that Unrivaled is all about bringing together the right voices to match the talent on the court. 

Alex Bazzell, president of Unrivaled, told The Hollywood Reporter, “You need people who are authentic in the space, true advocates for the sport.” And he’s spot on. Having Candace Parker as a key part of this league is huge. As he puts it, her presence is “impactful for the space” because her basketball IQ goes way beyond women’s hoops.

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via Imago

Even Craig Barry, TNT’s executive VP, couldn’t stress enough how important it was to build a team that could match the caliber of talent on the court. Unrivaled is a totally different type of basketball with a different format and point system. It’s got this whole “run and gun” feel to it, and as Barry says, that makes it “entertainment-driven.”

Plus, TNT will have full access to Unrivaled’s Miami facilities, bringing fans a behind-the-scenes docuseries that’s sure to be a hit. So, tune in to TNT, and if you’re in Miami, snag those tickets and be part of history. 

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So, what’s your pick for Game 1? It will be a battle between the founders. Will Stewie and Mist BC flex their dominance? Or can Lunar Owls BC, led by Phee, pull off an upset? Let us know in the comments below!

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Will Breanna Stewart's Mist BC dominate, or can Napheesa Collier's Lunar Owls pull off a surprise?