Unrivaled: Why Laces, Lunar Owls look like new 3×3 league’s best teams

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Unrivaled’s six head coaches divided the league’s 36 players—34 identified and two yet-to-be-named—into six clubs, with the coaches not knowing which coach would be in charge of which six-player club.

While the coaches sought to create six balanced rosters, the laws of competition demand that distinctions be drawn. One club likely will quickly cohere into a strong side, while one or two may struggle to find a groove.

Considering the dynamics of the game play still remain unclear—as compressed, full court 3×3 play will be unique to Unrivaled—it’s hard to predict which clubs are best prepared to thrive. Will games be dominated by fast-paced, free-flowing play with limited halfcourt sets? Will this style place a premium on versatile, switchable perimeter defenders over traditional rim protection? If halfcourt play is limited, will 3-point spacers be as valuable as they are in a 5×5 game?

We have just under to two months to imagine how things might play out, as Unrivaled’s inaugural season tips off on January 17 in Miami. So here’s our first stab at it, with some way-too-early Unrivaled club power rankings:

1. Laces Basketball Club

Roster: Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx), Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun), Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx), Kate Martin (Las Vegas Aces), Stefanie Dolson (Washington Mystics)

Head coach: Andrew Wade

While we don’t know if Unrivaled will foster intense competition or a competitive-yet-rather-convivial atmosphere, we know Alyssa Thomas will be all business. Her mentality and abilities seem perfectly suited to own the Unrivaled court. Able to get a stop against anyone, Thomas can then turn defense into offense, ramming the ball up the court in transition before finding a teammate for an easy score.

This also seems like a roster ready to amplify Thomas’ strengths, starting with the two dawgs she’ll be supported by: Kelsey Plum and Courtney Williams, a pair of always-on, absolutely fearless guards who are more than willing to take a clutch shot—and let you know about it when they drain it in your face. Then, there’s the supreme 3-point shooting of Kayla McBride, who can never be left alone from behind the arc and, in turn, will create passing and scoring space for Thomas, Plum and Williams. Stef Dolson, a 3×3 Olympic gold medalist alongside Plum at the Tokyo Olympics who is fresh off the best shooting season of her WNBA career, can demonstrate the value of a stretch-big in the 3×3 setting, where her shooting and playmaking should far outweigh her limitations as a defender. On top of that quintet is Kate Martin, a right-place, right-time connective player willing to fill any role.

Driven by Thomas, Laces B.C. is designed to dominate Unrivaled.

2. Lunar Owls Basketball Club

Roster: Skylar Diggins-Smith (Seattle Storm), Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream), Natasha Cloud (Phoenix Mercury), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Shakira Austin (Washington Mystics), Wildcard

Head coach: DJ Sackmann

As with Laces, Lunar Owls B.C. have their share of spirited players unafraid to snarl and snipe, even if the Unrivaled environment trends toward the collegial. Skylar Diggins-Smith and Natasha Cloud are cut-throat competitors, who, after irritating opponents as defenders, will take it right at them on the other end of the floor.

Their fire is balanced by the cooler, composed play of Napheesa Collier and Allisha Gray. As she showed throughout the 2024 WNBA season and even more so in the playoffs, Collier can almost singularly carry a club to victory with her enviably versatile and ever-fundamental skill set. Gray also sports a multi-faceted game, as well as high-level 3×3 experience as a 2020 Olympic gold medalist. Quietly relentless, she’s ready to assume a tough defensive assignment, put pressure on the rim through repeated drives to the basket and, as she showed at All-Star Weekend, rain in triples from behind the arc.

That foursome will be boosted by the athletic, two-way play of a hopefully healthy Shakira Austin, who has the potential to run opposing bigs off the floor and, after that happens, exploit an undersized opponent. Even before their sixth teammate is named, the Lunar Owls are equipped to take on any and all comers.

3. Rose Basketball Club

Roster: Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces), Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury), Angel Reese (Chicago Sky), Brittney Sykes (Washington Mystics), Lexie Hull (Indiana Fever), Azurá Stevens (Los Angeles Sparks)

Head coach: Nola Henry

Rose B.C. brings bunches of versatile athleticism, all conducted by the Point Gawd Chelsea Gray. There’s Kahleah Copper, who not only is one of the fastest players in the game but also has complemented her speed with an improved outside shot. Brittney Sykes likewise is one of the sport’s best athletes. Just imagine Gray delivering the ball to those two as they streak down the court. Their lanes to basket will be even more open when Lexie Hull is on the floor, threatening as quick trigger 3-point shooter. Hull’s willingness to do the thankless work on the defensive end also will augment Sykes’ defensive playmaking.

Rose then has a one-two interior punch, with the unrelenting athleticism of Angel Reese and the more refined skills of Azurá Stevens. In free-flowing games, players might neglect the glass. Not Reese. Expect her to feast on rebounds for second-chance points or to kickstart transition opportunities. Stevens, meanwhile, can capably operate both inside and outside.

Gray, however, is the key that really will make this club kick. If her extended injury recovery that resulted in uneven play throughout the 2024 WNBA regular season spills into the Unrivaled season, Rose might not reach their peak.

4. Mist Basketball Club

Roster: Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), DiJonai Carrington (Connecticut Sun), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Courtney Vandersloot (New York Liberty), Rickea Jackson (Los Angeles Sparks), Aaliyah Edwards (Washington Mystics)

Head coach: Phil Handy

The omni-positional Breanna Stewart seems tailor-made for 3×3 hoops, as she can fit with any other two players. For Mist B.C., she’ll be combining with WNBA teammates old and new in Jewell Loyd and Courtney Vandersloot. There’s also a UConn connection with Aaliyah Edwards. Then, two of the game’s most promising young wings in 2024 Most Improved Player DiJonai Carrington and Rickea Jackson round out the squad.

Yet, for all the ways that Stewie can work within any three-player combination, Mist might be a bit short on outside shooting and high-level athleticism, two club characteristics that seem essential to consistent 3×3 success. Outside of Carrington, members of Mist are smooth, rather than explosive, athletes. On the shooting front, Loyd’s outside stoke went wayward during the 2024 WNBA season, while Vandersloot is increasingly hesitant from 3, Carrington is inconsistent from the outside and Jackson is more comfortable from midrange. That area of the floor should not be a problem for this group. Stewart, Loyd and Jackson can can cash in plenty of 2-point jumpers, with Carrington’s smart cuts and Edwards’ duck ins also earning easy buckets at the cup.

Stewie’s not wrong—her team is good. But, every Unrivaled club is good. And if most games trend toward faster-paced, up-and-down affairs, does Mist have enough firepower to hang with the competition?

5. Vinyl Basketball Club

Roster: Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings), Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream), Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever), Jordin Canada (Atlanta Dream), Rae Burrell (Los Angeles Sparks), Dearica Hamby (Los Angeles Sparks)

Head coach: Teresa Weatherspoon

Rhyne Howard and Dearica Hamby experienced a 3×3 trial by fire this summer, expected to immediately triumph on the Olympic stage with a too-quickly constructed team. After a rough start, Howard and Hamby helped Team USA recover to win bronze at the Paris Games. That experience should serve them well in Unrivaled, where improvisation and adaptability could prove valuable when thrust into a unique 3×3 format with new teammates. Fortunately, not only do Hamby and Howard have familiarity with each other, but both have played with Jordin Canada. Hamby and Canada also have played with Rae Burrell.

On top of that foursome, Vinyl B.C. sports two of sport’s true talents, albeit with quite different games. Arike Ogunbowale is an offensive dynamo, capable carrying her club to victory with a high-volume scoring display. Aliyah Boston, in contrast, thrives because of her efficiency, with her often quieter contributions on both ends of the floor elevating the play of her teammates.

It’s a bit difficult to imagine how this roster, featuring players with more isolationist tendencies in Ogunbowale, Howard and Hamby, will fit together. That could put a lot of responsibility on Canada to serve as the authoritative orchestrator, especially in order to make sure that Boston is consistently involved. Alternatively, fit, or lack thereof, might not matter, as the explosive scoring potential of Ogunbowale and Howard could produce more than enough wins.

6. Phantom Basketball Club

Roster: Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces), Marina Mabrey (Connecticut Sun), Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings), Tiffany Hayes (Las Vegas Aces), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Wildcard

Head coach: Adam Harrington

It’s similarly hard to grasp how Phantom B.C. will fit together. Possibly, the club’s final, yet-to-be-named player will make all the pieces click.

For all her brilliance, Brittney Griner might not be the ideal big for this style of 3×3 ball. Not the swiftest floor runner, she could get lost in up-and-down action. Yet, if games are played a slower pace with more halfcourt sets, the option of just throwing it to BG could be a cheat code for Phantom. It could be especially valuable since this club also might be a bit short on playmaking. While Marina Mabrey, Jackie Young and Satou Sabally all have matured as passers over the course of their careers, they’re better suited to serve as secondary or tertiary playmakers. Shooting also is a slight concern, as Mabrey, Young and Sabally, along with Tiffany Hayes, have tended to be streaky from the outside.

Yet, Phantom also has the potential to avoid those pitfalls by leaning into high-flying, small-ball combinations. With Sabally has the lone big surrounded by two of Mabrey, Young and Hayes, the club could run over opponents, quickly turning stops on one end into scores on the other. Sabally can be a do-everything unicorn. Mabrey brings the saucy scoring. Young can punch with power or finesse. And Hayes’ quickness can leave any opponent in the dust. It could be phantasmagoric.