Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women’s basketball development league founded by WNBA All-Stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, is back for season three.
Intended to give the WNBA’s brightest stars a place to grow their games in the offseason while allowing them to stay in North America, the league also boasts salaries above $250,000.
Teams in the league play a 14-game season, with six players on each team. It’s full-court 3-on-3, but the court is condensed from a standard WNBA playing surface. Teams play 7-minute quarters, with a target score in the fourth quarter, allowing each game to have a big game-winning shot. The result is a fast-paced game that allows players to work on their quick decision-making, shot form, passing, communication, and one-on-one defence, among other skills.
On top of all of that, the league also prioritizes development in their coaching hires, and also has a six-player development pool ready to replace injured players on rosters as needed.
For the first time, the Toronto Tempo will have representation at Unrivaled, which plays out of a home base in Miami, Florida. While players on the Tempo roster in 2026 had played in Unrivaled before, it’s the first offseason since the Tempo actually had players on their roster to be represented.
Six players from the Tempo’s inaugural roster will be heading to Miami this winter. On Wednesday, Unrivaled revealed the rosters for the upcoming season.
Where the Tempo players landed
Marina Mabrey will be back with the Lunar Owls BC this season, returning to the team where she scored 47 points in one game last season. Joining her are Temi Fagbenle, as well as league founder Collier, Courtney Williams, Sydney Taylor, and Skylar Diggins.
“One of the things that excites me about Unrivaled is the freedom the format gives great players to be themselves. Our Lunar Owls group brings an elite skill set, high basketball IQ, a championship mindset and no shortage of personality.” Lunar Owls head coach Pokey Chapman said via press release. “They know the rhythm of this league, and having their experience alongside me is a great way to step into my first season. I want us to play with a clear sense of who we are, bring out the best in each other and have fun doing it.”
Tempo rookie Kiki Rice and Isabelle Harrison are teaming up once again on Mist BC, along with Canadian Bridget Carleton. The trio are joined by Breanna Stewart, Veronica Burton, and Arike Ogunbowale.
Aneesah Morrow landed on Vinyl BC along with Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Dearica Hamby, Jordin Canada, and Flau’jae Johnson.
Rounding out the Tempo players is Brittney Sykes, who will play on Rose BC with Chelsea Gray, Shakira Austin, Aziaha James, Lexie Hull and Kayla Thornton.
Developmental possibilities for Toronto
Tempo fans likely eagerly awaited to see where Rice in particular would end up, given the possibilities for the young franchise centrepiece to develop. Rice not only gets to continue playing with her veteran in Harrison, but also gets to learn from guards Burton (who just won a WNBA championship with the Valkyries) and Ogunbowale. Also, for a player who wants to shoot more threes next season, having Carleton as a teammate will be great. The cherry on top is getting to play with a career-long winner in Stewart. The newly minted All-Rookie member will be in good hands as she develops her game ahead of her second season in Toronto.
Harrison has played with Stewart and Ogunbowale, and Stewart especially, is a great player for Harrison to play with and around. Getting the extra time in with Rice, though, will only help the pair build their on-court relationship in hopes that Harrison will sign with Tempo again next season.
Mabrey gets the established chemistry of playing with a lot of former teammates and friends on her roster. The load will be less on her this season, but that will only help her continue to build her leadership skills, provide depth, and be open to make her big shots.
Funny enough, Sykes being on Rose BC means that fans will get a look at the on-court game she and Austin could have had in Toronto. Yet, this roster also gives Sykes a chance to continue building herself as an on and off-court leader.
“I’m excited about the group we’ve put together. We have a great mix of experience, toughness, versatility, and competitiveness,” Rose BC head coach Nola Henry said in a press release. “My focus is on establishing our identity early, maximizing everyone’s strengths, and building the chemistry needed to compete for a championship. That’s always our standard.”
Morrow is another Tempo player on her own on a roster, but she has some heavy hitters playing alongside her. Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, and Jordin Canada all have chemistry from the Atlanta Dream, on top of being great players individually.
Morrow will also have Hamby to learn from in the backcourt, and is reuniting with her LSU teammate in Johnson. For a player who will be working on her defence, and continuing to grow as the star rebounder she is, Morrow has been put in a place to learn a lot ahead of her first full season with the Tempo.
Impact on free agency
While this part of Unrivaled was slightly muted last season due to the ongoing WNBA collective bargaining agreement negotiations, free agency is going to be impacted by this league. With all of these talented WNBA players in one spot, there is no doubt front offices and coaches will be making the trip South to see them play and have… unofficial contact with them. Players also talk with each other quite a lot, and the comparisons on coaching staff, team amenities, and other things have had huge repercussions on free agency in the past.
For the Tempo, their free agency needs are very clear, which general manager Monica Wright Rogers stated as a benefit in her exit interview in late September. They need front court depth, and Unrivaled is a great environment to judge and scout that out.
With half of the Tempo’s 2026 roster heading down to play in Unrivaled in a few months, Tempo fans have a lot to watch as the league tips off on January 8, 2027.