Unrivaled Power Rankings: Where Every Team Stands Ahead of New Women's League Tip-Off
It's almost time for Unrivaled, folks!
For those unfamiliar, Unrivaled is an innovative three-on-three women's basketball league founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier in an effort to give 36 of the WNBA's best (or rising) players a stateside option for offseason basketball.
Not only is it three-on-three competition—it's full-ish court competition. The court dimensions—70-by-50 feet—should make for a spaced-out, fast-paced experience that'll take some adjusting to.
The league is based in Miami and is set to officially tip off on January 17. Games will be broadcast on TNT and TruTV, while streams can be found on Max.
The 36-player pool has been split into six teams that'll play each other in a round-robin format across nine weeks. The top four teams at the end of the regular season will make the playoffs where, naturally, those teams will play one another to determine a champion.
In this piece, we'll be taking an early look at the each roster and identifying something to be excited about, something worth monitoring and a lineup combination to keep tabs on.
As you'd imagine, trying to power-rank teams in a brand-new league that hasn't officially started yet isn't the easiest exercise. This will be a weekly feature, however, so don't be surprised by a good bit of movement next week after we get some games under the proverbial belt.
Let's dig in, shall we?
No. 6: Lunar Owls BC
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Head Coach: DJ Sackmann
Roster: Shakira Austin (Mystics), Cameron Brink (Sparks; out with Torn ACL), Napheesa Collier (Lynx), Skylar Diggins-Smith (Storm), Allisha Gray (Dream), Courtney Williams (Lynx)
Disclaimer: I love this roster, and frankly I'd rank them higher if they weren't the only team with five active players (Get well soon, Cam!). Considering they're at a depth deficit and games haven't been played yet, it felt fair to put them here until I can see them in action. This is your early warning that they might fly up the rankings in the next article.
What to like: Defensive foundation
Between the ball pressure and quick hands of Diggins-Smith and Gray, and the versatility of Collier (this year's rightful DPOY) and Austin, the Lunar Owls have the potential to put virtually any offense they face into a headlock.
Something to keep an eye on: Perimeter shooting
Everyone on the roster is capable of knocking down open looks from deep; I'm not sure there's a player who teams are deathly afraid of, however.
Only Gray (34.1 percent) shot above league-average from three (33.8 percent) this past season. A part of that was leaning more into self-created looks within an admittedly wonky Atlanta context, but that's also part of the point.
Both Diggins-Smith and Williams are more comfortable pulling up inside the arc than outside of it. Collier has generally run hot and cold from deep in her career. I'm curious to see how willing they are to pull the trigger against unders, and how much help opposing defenses may be willing to show.
Lineup to watch for: Allisha Gray, Napheesa Collier, Shakira Austin
This is the biggest lineup the Lunar Owls can toss out there, and probably their most versatile.
Collier can score on all three levels. Gray can generate a paint touch almost at will. Austin is a willing, effective screening partner but also has a bit of off-the-bounce juice that could pop in a three-on-three setting.
Most importantly: I have no idea how you begin to try to score on this group. Gray's an absolute beast at the point of attack; Collier can guard up and down the positional spectrum and can clean up messes as a helper. Austin, when right physically, is one of the switchiest bigs in the W.
We need to see this group.
No. 5: Laces BC
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Head Coach: Andrew Wade
Roster: Stefanie Dolson (Mystics), Tiffany Hayes (Aces*), Kate Martin (Valkyries), Kayla McBride (Lynx), Alyssa Thomas (Sun*), Jackie Young (Aces)
What to like: Off-ball work
Between Thomas and Dolson, the Laces have a pair of bigs with plenty of experience operating as high post or handoff hubs. Between Young, McBride, Hayes and Martin, there's plenty of off-ball feel and an overall willingness to cut into open space. With the amount of switching we'll likely see, don't be surprised if this group dices up opposing defenses with slips and cuts.
Something to keep an eye on: Kate Martin's on-ball growth
Martin is known for filling gaps: cutting when the opportunity presents itself, screening for others, attacking tilted defenses and maintaining advantages with timely passes.
I wonder how much we'll get to see her spread her wings offensively—and I'm sure the Golden State coaching staff would like to get a glimpse of what it looks like. If Martin showcases comfort with operating ball screens or attacking off handoffs, they may lead to more usage than we'd expect when the W season comes around.
At the very least, we should get a glimpse of how close or far away she is from being ready for on-ball work.
Lineup to watch for: Jackie Young, Tiffany Hayes, Alyssa Thomas
If you had to come up with a trio of players who you'd absolutely hate to defend on drives, this is probably the crew, right?
Thomas will move you out of the way; players routinely bounce off Young when she attacks the basket (and let Aces head coach Becky Hammon tell it, it's partly why Young doesn't get as many foul calls as she could). Even at this stage of her career, the 35-year-old Hayes is one of the most prolific drivers in basketball.
They're going to put an unbelievable amount of pressure on the rim when they play together. They should also be a pretty tough group to score against, headlined by the All-World talents of Thomas.
* = Player is unsigned in the WNBA for 2025
No. 4: Rose BC
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Head Coach: Nola Henry
Roster: Kahleah Copper (Mercury), Chelsea Gray (Aces), Lexie Hull (Fever), Angel Reese (Sky), Azurá Stevens (Sparks), Brittney Sykes (Mystics)
What to like: Competitive fire
It was something head coach Nola Henry called out early in her media availability this week, but this is a group that will get after you.
You don't want to get Copper or Gray activated, as both can bury you with tough drives and pull-up jumpers. Dealing with Reese on the offensive or defensive glass is a chore. Sykes and Hull are physical, in-your-jersey defenders who can disrupt the rhythm of just about anyone in front of them. Even Stevens, generally all smiles off the floor, doesn't mind mixing it up if you try her.
Something to keep an eye on: Angel Reese's development
A rookie phenom last season, how Reese operates in space on either end could give us a sneak peek into what the upcoming W season may look like for her.
Reese was comfortable switching on occasion last season; in this setting, she'll have to do a good bit of it. Playing off the scoring gravity of Copper and the elite passing vision of Gray, Reese should have plenty of opportunities to hone her interior finishing.
Lineup to watch for: Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, Azurá Stevens
It's a traditional 1-3-5 trio, but one that can put a lot of strain on defenses. It's easy to envision them inverting the floor, using Stevens on the perimeter as a handoff hub or even an entry passer while Gray or Copper take advantage of space inside the arc.
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No. 3: Vinyl BC
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Head Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon
Roster: Aliyah Boston (Fever), Rae Burrell (Sparks), Jordin Canada (Dream), Dearica Hamby (Sparks), Rhyne Howard (Dream), Arike Ogunbowale (Wings)
What to like: Transition attacks
There's plenty of speed in the backcourt between Ogunbowale and Canada. Howard and Burrell run hard in the open floor and are both willing to spot up for triples or pull-up for threes when they're feeling it.
Hamby is always a grab-and-go threat, and is more than willing to flow into handoffs if an immediate scoring opportunity doesn't present itself. Not many bigs in the league run end to end like Boston does, and she compounds that with quality seals against off-balance defenders. Speaking of which...
Something to keep an eye on: Aliyah Boston's usage
Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon spoke glowingly about Boston during media availability this week, highlighting both her skill level and the positivity she provides.
To the skill level portion, I wonder how much she'll get to handle the ball. Boston's a talented passer, and it's easy to envision that skill popping in this setup considering the space she'll get to operate with. Refining the handle may give her some grab-and-go juice; I sure hope she has the freedom to test it out.
Lineup to watch for: Arike Ogunbowale, Rhyne Howard, Dearica Hamby
All three have three-on-three experience, which should in theory help them acclimate to this setup a little quicker than their peers. Beyond that, there's a lot of bucket-getting potential here.
Ogunbowale is one of the best shot creators in the world in tight spaces; how on earth will teams deal with her in even more space?
No. 2: Mist BC
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Head Coach: Phil Handy
Roster: DiJonai Carrington (Sun*), Aaliyah Edwards (Mystics), Rickea Jackson (Sparks), Jewell Loyd (Storm), Breanna Stewart (Liberty*), Courtney Vandersloot (Liberty*)
What to like: The reunion tour
I mean, how cool is it that Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd get to play together again? They have plenty of experience with each other between their Storm tenure and Team USA play. They should be absolutely electric in a three-on-three setting.
Something to keep an eye on: The sophomores
Any time a coach compares a second-year player to a Hall of Famer in any capacity, your ears perk up. So when Handy named Kevin Durant as the NBA comp for Rickea Jackson during media availability this week, it's hard for the gears not to turn.
Jackson is an incredibly smooth scorer—impressively so for someone her size, listed at 6'2". Tracking her shooting range and defensive growth will be toward the top of my list. Edwards is already a quality screen-and-roll partner, but I'm not sure people realize how comfortable she is putting the ball on the floor.
Big picture, I'm curious to see how much burn they get in light of the veteran (star) talent of the roster, as well as what their usage will look like when they do get playing time.
Lineup to watch for: Jewell Loyd, DiJonai Carrington, Breanna Stewart
The scoring prowess of Loyd and do-it-all of Stewart speaks for itself. Having Carrington, one of the league's best defenders and willing drivers, to complete the trio is...ridiculous? Unfair? All of the above?
Either way, they project to be one of the best trios in Unrivaled whenever (and however long) they play together.
No. 1: Phantom BC
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Head coach: Adam Harrington
Roster: Natasha Cloud (Mercury), Brittney Griner (Mercury*), Sabrina Ionescu (Liberty), Marina Mabrey (Sun), Satou Sabally (Wings*), Katie Lou Samuelson (Fever)
What to like: Versatility
The fun of this roster is that they can earnestly do whatever is asked of them. We know what kind of interior presence Griner is, but she's one heck of a passer. Inverting the floor will be possible.
We're familiar with the blend of shooting and playmaking that Ionescu and (to a slightly lesser but still impactful degree) Mabrey bring to the table, but both are willing on and off-ball screeners.
Cloud is a phenomenal defender who literally guarded every player type you can think of; The 6'4" Sabally has been dubbed a unicorn because of the rare intersection of size, athleticism and ball skills. Samuelson, when healthy, is the kind of low-maintenance role player you want to fill gaps around stars—and she's 6'3 in her own right.
Something to keep an eye on: Griner's defense
Scheme versatility is a natural question for the 6'9" Griner considering her size and the stage of her career she's in. The Mercury attempted to mix looks last year—some drop coverage here, some at-the-level there, a sprinkle of zone for giggles (and occasional stops—to varying results.
Stop me if you've heard this one before: There's a lot more space to navigate in this setting. As such, the 34-year-old Griner's ability (or inability) to hold up will dictate some lineup decisions for the Phantom.
Lineup to watch for: Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Cloud, Satou Sabally
Frankly, this may be the best three-player combo for the Phantom regardless of how well Griner defends.
Ionescu can score on all three levels. Cloud can get into the paint whenever she wants. Sabally is a walking mismatch. And if the jumper proves to be real—Sabally has converted 39 percent of her threes over the past two seasons, playoffs included—I'm not quite sure what you do.
It's hard not to be excited about how they could play off one another. All three can initiate actions and win one-on-one battles; all three can be effective screeners, opening the door for two- or three-player actions to put strain on opposing defenses.
Defensively, Cloud is willing and able to defend anyone you ask her to. Sabally is probably a tier or two below All-Defensive level, but has the size and athleticism to hold up against different matchups. Ionescu made meaningful strides as a defender last season, though this is a different context for her.
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