Media days are done. Training camp is complete. And in less than two weeks, Unrivaled tips off.
The now eight-club 3×3 professional league launches its second season on Jan. 5, with two sets of double headers.
In addition to two new clubs, plus a development player pool, the league co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, recently named Innovators of the Year by Sports Illustrated, will introduce a number of new initiatives and insights for players and fans.
Samsung, a presenting partner, already has supported players and treated fans during training camp. The Official Technology Partner will supply players will wearable technology during the season to help them enhance their performances, along with debuting the Rest Club, a first-class recovery facility. Through Samsung’s new Courtside Crew, fans will gain a deeper perspective of players’ on- and off-court experiences.
Cheez-It also joins a growing roster of sponsors, from Samsung to Throne to Maker’s Mark to Sephora, with the Official Salty Snack partner creating an exclusive content series that will highlight players’ basketball journeys.
However, the action that occurs on Unrivaled’s full 3×3 court remains the most exciting aspect of the league. And while predicting what will unfold might be unwise, it’s irresistible. So, here’s Swish Appeal’s Unrivaled preseason power rankings:
1. Laces BC
- Roster: Jackie Young (captain), Alyssa Thomas, Naz Hillmon, Maddy Siegrist, Jordin Canada, Brittney Sykes
Last season, Laces looked a championship contender until accumulating injuries prevented them from reaching their upside.
This season’s squad is different, but the returns of Jackie Young and Alyssa Thomas might give Laces the best two-star core in the league. Limited to six Unrivaled games last season, Young has MVP potential, as her ability to score at all three levels, serve as a playmaker and provide lockdown defense guarantees that she will significantly impact the action. Her final game of the 2025 season—27 points, 5-for-8 from 3, five rebounds, four assists and a steal—might have been a preview what Jackie will do regularly in 2026.
In contrast to the limitlessness of Young’s game, Thomas’ game has severe limitations, primarily due to her lack of shooting. Yet, she consistently renders her weaknesses almost irrelevant with the relentless competitiveness with which she approaches every game. AT’s intensity is only amplified in the condensed 3×3 setting.
Laces then claim a pair who will defend on the perimeter, thrive in transition and put pressure on the rim in Jordin Canada, who does it with elite speed, and Brittney Sykes, who sports a top-notch combination of quickness and strength. If Laces start to turn defensive stops into fastbreak buckets, they could quickly run up the score on opponents.
2025 Athletes Unlimited champion Maddy Siegrist will make her Unrivaled debut, hopefully brining the jump shooting that powered her play during AU to Miami. While an inconsistent shooter in the WNBA, Siegrist shot 42 percent from 3 and 54 percent overall in AU. As shooting profiles as Laces’ biggest weakness, Siegrist needs to be a sharpshooter.
While Canada, Sykes and Siegrist all bring advantages that will benefit Laces, it won’t be surprising if Naz Hillmon joins Young and Thomas in Laces’ best lineup. Whether in the WNBA, her short stint in Unrivaled last season and when playing 3×3 for USA Basketball, Hillmon has adapted her game to do what’s needed. She’s always going be aggressive on the glass. She’ll chase every loose ball. She’ll make the right cut. She’ll move the ball. She’ll take the open shot. Mix Thomas’ and Hillmon’s high-IQ basketball instincts with Young’s ability to score any way from anywhere, along with a stifling switching defense, and Laces could tie opponents in knots.
2. Mist BC
- Roster: Breanna Stewart (captain), Arike Ogunbowale, Veronica Burton, Alanna Smith, Li Yueru, Allisha Gray
Like Laces, Mist can put together some defensive units could absolutely silence opponents.
While the insane length and versatility of a Breanna Stewart-Alanna Smith pairing could cause trouble for three opposing offensive players by themselves, they can then be complemented by Veronica Burton or Allisha Gray, both of whom are dogged defenders who will chase opponents over, around and through screens. Those lineups also could sing offensively, as Stewart and Smith are stretch bigs with playmaking chops and Burton and Gray are 3-point shooters and physical drivers.
Then, there’s Arike Ogunbowale. Ogunbowale struggled in Unrivaled last year before an injury cut short her season. Her 2025 WNBA season then followed a similar script. Arike thus seems overdue to rediscover the lethal scoring form that has defined much of her career. An Arike heater can flip any game in Mist’s favor.
Li Yueru has the potential to be another wild card for Mist. Due to her limited mobility and foot speed, it would be surprising to see Li get lots of minutes. However, with a sweet scoring touch at 6-foot-7, Li could be an effective situational weapon for Mist, scoring bevy of buckets on the block in quick succession.
3. Vinyl BC
- Roster: Dearica Hamby (captain), Rhyne Howard, Courtney Williams, Erica Wheeler, Rae Burrell, Brittney Griner
Similar to last season, Vinyl might have the biggest delta between their game-to-game floor and ceiling. Although it’s true of any club, Vinyl profiles as a team that can blowout any opponent, but also get blown out on any occassion.
Rhyne Howard, Courtney Williams and Erica Wheeler all are capable of driving big wins with their explosive offensive skills. Howard can pour in 3-pointers. Williams can pop in midranger and midranger. Wheeler likewise can get hot from her favorite spots. All three, however, also are not unafraid to keep pressing, even if the game is not going their way. Then, there’s the Rae Burrell curve ball; she’s going to cause chaos—sometimes great, sometimes okay, sometimes disastrous—every second she is on the court.
Because the 3×3 format is not particularly conducive to Brittney Griner’s style of play, as the game’s fast pace tends to magnify BG’s weaknesses rather the her theoretical size-based strengths, Dearica Hamby is the sole source of trusted consistency on this club. She’s going to drive to the basket, take advantage of mismatches inside and clean the glass.
However, more often than not, the good—or even great—games from Howard, Williams and Wheeler should outweigh their off nights. That preponderance of talent should produce plenty of big wins for Vinyl.
4. Lunar Owls BC
- Roster: Napheesa Collier (captain), Skylar Diggins, Marina Mabrey, Rachel Banham, Aaliyah Edwards, Rebecca Allen
Last season, the three-player combination of Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins and Allisha Gray was the foundation of Lunar Owls’ regular-season dominance. Collier and Diggins return, but Gray’s gone. Can Owls find another third? Or, will the club look to mix and match lineups more frequently?
With Collier, the reigning MVP, and Diggins, possibly the most intense competitor in Miami, Lunar Owls aren’t going to sink to the bottom of the standings, but Owls experienced a significant talent drain that raises questions about their ability to churn out wins. Marina Mabrey, like her fellow Fighting Irish in Diggins, also plays with a feisty fire; however, she is a streakier shooter and less stout defender than Gray. The same is true for Rachel Banham, and while Rebecca Allen offers more defensive length, her shot likewise comes and goes.
Aaliyah Edwards has the potential to elevate Owls. After a wayward WNBA season, the return to Unrivaled presents Edwards with the opportunity to again show off the skills and spirit that took her to the final of last season’s 1-on-1 Tournament. With the extra space of the Unrivaled court, Edwards can more comfortably dip into her drive game, especially when she’s on the floor with Collier, who is sure to attract extra defensive attention. If Edwards also can hold up as a switchable, versatile defender, she could become the key third cog alongside Collier and Diggins.
5. Rose BC
- Roster: Kahleah Copper (captain), Chelsea Gray, Azurá Stevens, Sug Sutton, Lexie Hull, Shakira Austin
Is this ranking disrespectful to the defending champions? Absolutely!
As Rose demonstrated last season, games aren’t won on paper. Despite injuries and absences that demanded lots of different rotations, Rose got the job done. So even if, on paper, this season’s roster has questions, doubting what they can do on the court is probably dumb.
Especially since Chelsea Gray is back, ready to make this Rose roster blossom. Gray’s ability to manipulate the action, particularly in the halfcourt, is unmatched, and this group presents plenty of interesting combinations.
Last season, Rose found success with a double-big look that featured Azurá Stevens and Angel Reese; this season, Shakira Austin replaces Reese, providing the off-the-dribble driving element to complement Stevens’ shooting. Lexie Hull is also back, sure to offer all out effort on defense with streaks of hot 3-point shooting. New to Unrivaled, Sug Sutton should benefit from being Gray’s understudy, giving Rose competent point guard play, along with just enough timely shooting, when the Point Gawd sits. A full-capacity Kahleah Copper can also help Rose outpace expectations, injecting the club with an extra dose of scoring dynamism.
However, Rose’s success ultimately comes back to Gray. As long as games are close, Rose can count on Gray to deliver the W. When her clutch midrange shotmaking is activated, she’s unstoppable, dropping in improbable daggers that will allow Rose to, once again, find their way to wins.
6. Hive BC
- Roster: Sonia Citron (captain), Kelsey Mitchell, Monique Billings, Saniya Rivers, Natisha Hiedeman, Ezi Magbegor
Kelsey Mitchell and Sonia Citron could be the deadliest offensive duo in Unrivaled. The sharpshooting Citron cannot be left alone, opening up plenty of space for Mitchell to absolutely cook her defender off-the-dribble, something she probably does better than anyone else in Miami.
The rest of Hive can support that pair with defense and energy in ways that might prove that this preseason ranking is too low. Ezi Magbegor can serve as a rim-protecting defensive anchor, although she’ll also need to demonstrate offensive aggression to maximize her effectiveness. Monique Billings is pure hustle, ready to go for every rebound and loose ball. Saniya Rivers introduces defensive playmaking that can get Hive going in transition. Natisha Hiedeman, the only member of Hive with prior Unrivaled experience, offers another offense-first option as willing 3-point shooter and savvy driver.
If Hive can quickly adjust to the Unrivaled play style, this roster could be conducive to a lot of diverse lineup combinations that can effectively match up with all opponents.
7. Breeze BC
- Roster: Paige Bueckers (captain), Rickea Jackson, Dominique Malonga, Cameron Brink, Kate Martin, Aari McDonald
Why doubt the potential of a Paige Bueckers-Dominique Malonga pick and roll that ends in a Dom dunk?
Breeze, certainly, profiles as one of Unrivaled’s most fun teams. But, as boring as it might be, Breeze’s youth and inexperience makes it likely that all the many fun moments might not translate into many wins. Or maybe not?
Bueckers, of course, plays with a precocious poise, and Paige will be primed to set up her teammates to succeed, in addition to showcasing her own scoring bag. The possibility of a Malonga-Cameron Brink pairing could be a menace defensively, preventing opponents from ever scoring around the rim. (Brink’s penchant for foul trouble, however, could be a problem.) Rickea Jackson can match Bueckers’ midrange proficiency, equipping Breeze with the kind of tough shotmaking required to gut out wins. Kate Martin is eager to do all the little things that contribute to winning, while Aari McDonald introduces change-of-pace potential with her end-to-end speed and spunk.
Expect Breeze to enjoy some authoritative upset wins, where everything clicks and the youngsters run more experienced opponents off the floor, alongside some maddening losses where some critical mistakes show their lack of experience.
8. Phantom BC
- Roster: Kelsey Plum (captain), Natasha Cloud, Dana Evans, Aliyah Boston, Kiki Iriafen, Tiffany Hayes, Satou Sabally
Last season’s cellar dweller, Phantom begins 2026 still at the bottom. Even before Satou Sabally was sidelined indefinitely due to lingering concussion symptoms, Phantom’s roster seemed ill-fitting. The loss of the 6-foot-4 Unicorn only amplifies Phantom’s issues.
Although excellent during the 2025 WNBA season, Aliyah Boston was a near-afterthought during Unrivaled last season, making little impact for Vinyl. So far, no mostly traditional, low post-centric bigs like Boston have found much success in Unrivaled. Phantom then has added another big who does most of her work on the block in Kiki Iriafen. If their talents cannot be maximized in Unrivaled’s fullcourt 3×3 setting, that’s a severe detriment to Phantom’s chances.
Possibly, Boston could be used as a playmaking hub, but utilizing her in that capacity could then cramp the effectiveness of Natasha Cloud, who needs to serve as the primary initiator because of her lack of shooting. Cloud and Tiffany Hayes, a late add to the roster as Sabally’s replacement, could form a quite potent perimeter defensive duo, creating valuable transition scores for Phantom. In the halfcourt, the club likely will rely on the shotmaking of Unrivaled newcomers Kelsey Plum and Dana Evans, both of whom can get white hot…or ice cold.
Possibly, Phantom can find the right combinations and establish an identity that, at least entering the season, is hard to envision.
