#80: Which Unrivaled Season 2 Team Is Made for You?
With Unrivaled Season 2 around the corner, which team is made for you?
I received a text the other day from a friend, subscriber, and former co-worker about an idea that he had for a newsletter topic.
Now, it was broader and applied across multiple sports, but I liked the idea and decided to run with it.
A guide for which team you should root for based on different aspects.
The example that he gave to me was about being into pop culture but not caring about the score, the team you should root for is the Kansas City Chiefs because of Taylor Swift and all of that.
It makes sense, and we may revisit it at a larger scale.
But since we are coming off of Unrivaled media days this week, and with Season 2 kicking off on January 5, I'm going to focus this on Unrivaled since the rosters switch up year to year.
Let's set the stage real quick and then we can get into the teams.
Unrivaled is a 3-on-3 women's (duh) basketball league in Miami, founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. Year 1 was wildly successful – critically and financially – and the league is back for its second season.
There were six teams in Year 1, and this year, they added two new teams: Breeze BC and Hive BC. The league also added a supplemental pool this year, having players in the facility who are able to join teams as needed in case injuries pop up.
The teams that made the playoffs last year were able to protect two players to retain this season, while the teams that didn't could protect one. Everyone else went into a distribution draft and the new teams were formed.
We met the coaches a couple of weeks ago via different media sessions, and this week, on Monday and Tuesday (and Stewart on Wednesday), we chatted with the players.
I couldn't attend all of them (I have a job that pays the bills, after all) but I was able to join half of them. The rest, I have the recordings of, and I watched them all throughout for multiple reasons.
- I'll be covering Unrivaled again this year for Winsidr, and I'm putting together a full primer over there.
- I wanted to get a feel for the constructed rosters.
- I wanted to get a sense of the vibes for this newsletter.
So let's meet the teams and get an idea of which ones fit your vibe.
If you like off-the-court antics, you should root for...
Hive BC
Hive are one of the two new teams in the league, along with Breeze BC. The first reaction I had to seeing the final roster is that Natisha Hiedeman and Saniya Rivers on the same team is going to feed families on social media.
Hideman, one-half of the Stud Budz, made waves throughout 2025 on the court and off. Her and Courtney Williams together took over the league – especially at the All-Star Game – and if there's anyone who can match that energy in Unrivaled, it's Rivers.
Rivers and Maria Mabrey took over Tik-Tok throughout the season. I can't wait to see what Rivers and T do.
Full roster: Natisha Hiedeman, Saniya Rivers, Sonia Citron, Ezi Magbegor, Monique Billings, Kelsey Mitchell
If your Spotify wrapped age was under 24, you should root for...
Breeze BC
The Breeze are the most exciting team in the league. Full stop. There's a reason that their jerseys sold out immediately. They'll have the biggest fanbase this year, and it's because they are loaded with stars – especially young stars.
During media day, Aari McDonald and Rickea Jackson were in one group. Rickea was talking about Teyana Taylor being her fashion icon, while saying if she could play anyone one-on-one, it would be the weakest defender because she wants that money.
Cam Brink and Paige Bueckers were up next. Cam was highlighting Paige's defense and her excitement to play together. Bueckers was talking about the importance of having everyone in person at Team USA camp with the ongoing CBA negotiations.
Rickea, Cam, and Paige have three of the biggest followings in the WNBA, and when you include Kate Martin and Dominique Malonga as the final two players on the Breeze, it really is a star studded young team with some of the biggest fanbases around.
This is like if Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Reneé Rapp teamed up.
Full roster: Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Aari McDonald, Dominique Malonga, Kate Martin
If you prefer to let your actions do the talking, you should root for...
Laces BC
The team has two of the best women's players in the world on it with Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Young.
It also has two players who would rather allow their game to speak for them and not social media and interviews in Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Young.
It's the truth, but it's also a bit.
There's a reason that AT is nicknamed The Engine and Jackie is The Silent Assassin.
But make no mistake, the Laces are going to be tough each and every night. They were among the favorites last year until the injuries became too much to shake off.
Coach Andrew Wade built a team filled with unselfish players who care about winning and winning only. They are all very nice people (AT is the only one that I haven't spoken to before) but they are there to win the game.
Well, except Slim. Slim is there to win, of course, but she is always cracking jokes. Each team needs a Slim.
Full roster: Alyssa Thomas, Jackie Young, Naz Hillmon, Brittney Sykes, Maddy Siegrist, Jordin Canada
If you prefer to be in on the drama instead of avoiding it, you should root for...
Lunar Owls BC
Everyone – and I do mean everyone – was hootie hooing last year with the Owls.
They weren't just a vibe, they were the vibe of the entire league.
And they are running it back with a little extra flavor this year.
Not only are Phee and Skylar Diggins running it back for the Lunar Owls, but the crash out queen Marina Mabrey joins the squad this year. Mabrey only played in a couple of games for Phantom last year due to injury, so we haven't seen the full Mabrey effect on Unrivaled yet.
But with Mabrey and Skylar on the same team? Fingers are going to be wiggling and we'll hopefully get more Marina gold.
Full roster: Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins, Marina Mabrey, Aaliyah Edwards, Rebecca Allen, Rachel Banham
If you like an underdog story, you should root for...
Phantom BC
I was team Phantom last year. That should be no surprise since Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally were on the squad (Go Oregon Ducks).
They ... weren't good. A lot it had to do (respectfully) with Brittney Griner being exposed in the format.
The Phantom were able to protect one player this year, and with Ionescu not playing in Season 2, the clear option to protect was Sabally. But Sabally is still recovering from her concussion that she suffered during the WNBA Finals (the WNBA should still be ashamed of the way that they handled that, by the way), and will miss significant time in Unrivaled.
So, suffice it to say, the Phantom's outlook isn't the best. They'll be underdogs each game, but I do like pieces of their roster, especially with their guard play. I worry about how they'll space the floor with Aliyah Boston and Kiki Iriafen serving as their two bigs without Sabally.
Coach Roneeka Hodges told me that their plan is to push the pace nonstop with their guards leading the way.
Full roster: Satou Sabally (injured), Natasha Cloud, Kelsey Plum, Dana Evans, Tiffany Hayes, Kiki Iriafen, Aliyah Boston
If you like to root for the frontrunner, you should root for...
Rose BC
Rose took home the inaugural title last year, which was not fully a shock, but it was a surprise with Lunar Owls pulling ahead of the competition all season.
Rose protected Chelsea Gray and Kahleah Copper in an attempt to run it back. While they'll be missing Angel Reese this season, Rose did draft Shakira Austin, who played for the Lunar Owls last season.
Austin can fill the role that Reese played last year nearly perfectly.
What's more, the Rose are also returning Lexie Hull and Azurá Stevens from last season, giving them four returning players.
If it's not broken, don't fix it. Coach Nola Henry must agree.
Full roster: Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, Lexie Hull, Azurá Stevens, Shakira Austin, Sug Sutton
If you're just here for a good time, you should root for...
Vinyl BC
You can be here for a good time and also be here because you're really fucking good. That's what Vinyl brings to Unrivaled.
They have a ton of personalities on this team, headlined by Rae Burrell and Courtney Williams.
We already saw a video where Rae is scrambling to find her teammates because she's the only one in glam.
Then we saw another with Rae and Dearica Hamby in front with the "studs" in the back dancing.
Vinyl was one of my favorite teams to watch last year, and it looks like it'll be that way again this year.
Full roster: Rhyne Howard, Rae Burrell, Dearica Hamby, Courtney Williams, Erica Wheeler, Brittney Griner
If you're the "trust me bro" person of the group, you should root for...
Mist BC
I was struggling with a category for Mist. Mist was the team I was convinced was going to be elite last year. I loved the makeup of their team with Courtney Vandersloot, Rickea Jackson, Breanna Stewart, Jewell Loyd, DiJonai Carrington, and Aaliyah Edwards.
That's elite, right? I have no idea how they struggled so much to this day.
So I'm going back to the drawing board here. I look at their roster, and I see a lot that I like. Am I picking them to be a top four team again? I don't know if I'm there, but I do see a top-five team here.
If you like to be that person that heard Fall Out Boy's EP and told your friends about this new band before they hit the mainstream, I have a feeling that you'll like Mist.
Full roster: Breanna Stewart, Arike Ogunbowale, Veronica Burton, Allisha Gray, Alanna Smith, Li Yueru
The Next Woman Up
Have you subscribed to my podcast yet? It's a women's college hoops podcast with Winsidr where we talk to – and about – the best players throughout the game as they look to build their case for the WNBA.
On Episode 1, Oregon's Mia Jacobs joined the program to talk about transferring from Fresno State, playing at Oregon, her professional goals, and more. We chatted in Auburn's gym after the Ducks defeated the Tigers.
On Episode 2, we were joined by TCU's Donovyn Hunter. The junior is an elite defender, and she's rising up the draft boards for the 2027 class. She's enjoying a career-best season offensively, too.
We'll drop Episode 3 next week, and in that episode, we chatted with Jordan Lee, a projected 2028 first-round pick, out of the University of Texas. This interview was fantastic. Jordan talks about playing with Rori Harmon and Madison Booker, her growth as a spot-up shooter, her unfiltered thoughts on Texas BBQ, and more.
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4PuhVfk...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Winsidr
Until Next Time
I'll see you all here on Monday. Will I be back Friday or take a holiday break? Not too sure yet.
But Monday, we'll see you here.
I love you awesome nerds.
