Multiple Celebrities Confirmed for Elite League, Excluding Caitlin Clark
Despite reports that Caitlin Clark has not officially signed, Unrivaled, a new 3-on-3 winter women's basketball league, revealed star-studded rosters on Wednesday.
Co-founded by WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the league boasts top players such as Angel Reese, Arike Ogunbowale, and Aliyah Boston. Other notable names include Jewell Loyd, Dearica Hamby, and Brittney Griner.
According to ESPN, Clark will not be participating in the league's inaugural season.
The league features six teams and 34 players, with two wild-card roster spots yet to be filled. Players were divided into six pods based on position, and coaches were tasked with selecting one player from each pod to join their team.
Unrivaled aims to provide additional income for players during the WNBA off-season and boasts the highest average salary in women's professional sports history. The league has attracted investors such as Megan Rapinoe, Carmelo Anthony, and Alex Morgan.
Notable players who have yet to join the league include A'ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu, while UConn star Paige Bueckers has signed an NIL deal with the league but will not play this season. She is the first NCAA athlete to have a stake in the ownership equity of a professional league.
The league's opening game on Jan. 17 will feature teams led by Collier and Stewart. The season will last eight weeks and culminate in a championship game on March 17. Games will be broadcasted on TNT, TruTV, and Max.
Unrivaled rosters:
Vinyl (head coach Teresa Weatherspoon):
Arike Ogunbowale, guard, Dallas Wings
Rhyne Howard, wing, Atlanta Dream
Aliyah Boston, big, Indiana Fever
Jordin Canada, guard, Dream
Rae Burrell, wing, Los Angeles Sparks
Dearica Hamby, big, Sparks
Rose (head coach Nola Henry):
Chelsea Gray, guard, Las Vegas Aces
Kahleah Copper, wing, Phoenix Mercury
Angel Reese, forward, Chicago Sky
Brittney Sykes, guard, Washington Mystics
Lexie Hull, wing, Fever
Azura Stevens, big, Sparks
Mist (head coach Phil Handy)
Jewell Loyd, guard, Seattle Storm
DiJonai Carrington, wing, Connecticut Sun
Breanna Stewart, big, New York Liberty
Courtney Vandersloot, guard, Liberty
Rickea Jackson, wing, Sparks
Aaliyah Edwards, big, Mystics
Lunar Owls (head coach DJ Sackmann)
Skylar Diggins-Smith, guard, Storm
Allisha Gray, wing, Dream
Napheesa Collier, big, Minnesota Lynx
Natasha Cloud, guard, Mercury
Shakira Austin, big, Mystics
Wild-card roster spot
Phantom (head coach Adam Harrington):
Jackie Young, guard, Aces
Marina Mabrey, wing, Sun
Satou Sabally, big, Wings
Tiffany Hayes, guard, Aces
Brittney Griner, big, Mercury
Wild-card roster spot
Laces (head coach Andrew Wade):
Kelsey Plum, guard, Aces
Kayla McBride, wing, Lynx
Alyssa Thomas, big, Sun
Courtney Williams, guard, Lynx
Kate Martin, wing, Aces
Stefanie Dolson, big, Mystics
