January’s most anticipated inauguration is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 17 in Miami, FL.

That’s when Unrivaled finally tips off, beginning an eight-week season of 3×3 basketball featuring six teams and 36 of your favorite WNBA players. On opening night, Mist BC and Lunar Owls BC meet at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Rose BC facing off against Vinyl BC at 8 p.m. ET. Both games will be broadcast on TNT.

To prepare for big night, here’s a look at Unrivaled’s rules, as well as the six club rosters:

What to know about Unrivaled’s rules

The court

In contrast to FIBA 3×3 basketball, Unrivaled introduces a full-court 3×3 game. The court is 49.2 feet by 72 feet. As Luke Copper, Unrivaled president of basketball operations, told ESPN:

It feels like you are watching a basketball game and there just happens to be four less players on the court. It’s not a gimmick. It’s basketball with more space to operate with and a little shorter of a court, so the players have the stamina to play.

The quarters

The first three quarters of Unrivaled games will be seven minutes. The fourth quarter will feature a “winning score,” which will be determined by adding 11 points to the leading team’s total after three quarters. Unrivaled’s “winning score” is essentially the Elam Ending, which was used in the NBA All-Star Game from 2020 to 2023.

The clock

Unrivaled games will have an 18-second shot clock, rather than a 24-second clock. Games will have a running clock, which will be stopped only after made baskets in final 30 seconds of quarters.

Fouls and foul shots

In Unrivaled games, players will foul out if they receive a sixth foul, unless their team only has three available players. In that situation, the final player to accrue a sixth foul will remain in game, but her subsequent fouls will become technical fouls.

Throughout Unrivaled games, players will shoot just one foul shot when fouled. If they are fouled on a missed 2-point attempt, the free throw will be worth two points; if the foul was on a missed 3-point attempt, the free throw will be worth three points. Free throws awarded when a foul is committed on a made basketball will be worth one point.

What to know about Unrivaled’s clubs

Laces BC

Roster: Stef Dolson, Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin, Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas (captain), Jackie Young

Head coach: Andrew Wade

Lunar Owls BC

Roster: Shakira Austin, Cameron Brink (out with ACL injury), Napheesa Collier (captain), Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams

Head coach: DJ Sackmann

Mist BC

Roster: DiJonai Carrington, Aaliyah Edwards, Rickea Jackson, Jewell Loyd, Breanna Stewart (captain), Courtney Vandersloot

Head coach: Phil Handy

Phantom BC

Roster: Natasha Cloud, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally (captain), Katie Lou Samuelson

Head coach: Adam Harrington

Rose BC

Roster: Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray (captain), Lexie Hull, Angel Reese, Azurá Stevens, Brittney Sykes

Head coach: Nola Henry

Vinyl BC

Roster: Aliyah Boston, Rae Burrell, Jordin Canada, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, Arike Ogunbowale (captain)

Head coach: Teresa Weatherspoon

Last year, the Seattle Storm arguably won the offseason. Even as the team would finish the 2023 WNBA season with an 11-29 record, the franchise’s fewest wins since 2015, Jewell Loyd signed a two-year extension in September 2023. Then, unrestricted free agents Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith inked one- and two-year deals, respectively, during the 2024 free agency period.

Seattle’s reward for their smart maneuvering, however, was zero playoff wins.

A Storm team on the verge of “superteam” status finished an unremarkable 25-15 and summarily was swept in the first round of the playoffs. Additionally, an investigation into the coaching staff, due to alleged mistreatment of players, occurred after the season. Although no wrongdoing was substantiated, Loyd requested a trade soon thereafter, looking the leave the only WNBA franchise she has ever known a little more than a year after signing an extension. Ogwumike also has the opportunity to depart the Pacific Northwest after a single season, as she is an unrestricted free agent.

If last offseason saw Seattle sail through seemingly clear skies, this one promises a stormier process. Yet, as last year showed, offseason wins aren’t everything. Even if Seattle has to navigate less-than-ideal circumstances this offseason, that doesn’t mean the team is slated for an unpleasant 2025.

Here’s where the Storm stand entering free agency, as well as a consideration of the three big questions facing the team:

Facts and figures*

Players under contract (contract status; 2025 salary)

• Skylar Diggins-Smith (protected veteran; $214,466)
• Jordan Horston (unprotected; $76,630)
• Jewell Loyd (protected veteran; $249,032)
• Ezi Magebegor (protected veteran; $186,000)
• Nika Mühl (unprotected; $68,595)

Free agent (type; 2024 salary)

• Joyner Holmes (unrestricted; $61,380)
• Nneka Ogwumike (unrestricted; $204,500)
• Mercedes Russell (unrestricted; $160,000)
• Victoria Vivians (unrestricted; 76,535)
• Sami Whitcomb (unrestricted; $140,000)
• Gabby Williams (unrestricted; $23,491)

Total salary of free agents: $665,906

Total team salary: $794,723

Cap space: $712,377

Unsigned draftees (2025 salary)

• Mackenzie Holmes ($65,438)

2025 WNBA Draft picks (2025 salary)

• Round 1, No. 9 ($72,455)
• Round 2, No. 21 ($69,267)
• Round 3, No. 29 ($66,079)
• Round 3, No. 34 ($66,079)

1. What’s the move with Jewell?

When speaking at an Unrivaled press conference, Jewell Loyd declined to answer inquiries about her WNBA future. However, the No. 1 pick by the Storm in the 2015 WNBA Draft who has won two titles with the team has given no indication that she has withdrawn her trade request. And no swirling rumors have suggested that Loyd has a target destination.

From the organization’s perspective, Loyd being open to going to several different teams, thus sparking a bidding war, would be preferred, allowing Seattle to maximize their return for the superstar guard. Quite possibly, the Storm could extract a package similar to what the Chicago Sky received in exchange for Kahleah Copper last offseason, which included the No. 3 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. A lottery pick in the forthcoming draft, along with a serviceable player or two, should be what Seattle seeks.

2. Are Nneka and Gabby sticking around?

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

With the CBA expiring after this season, Nneka Ogwumike, president of the WNBPA, is likely to sign another one-year contract. And it would be surprising if she did it somewhere besides Seattle. Based on outside knowledge, it seems Ogwumike was unbothered by the team’s in-season turmoil, with reporting suggesting she had a strong relationship with the coaching staff and fellow imported co-star Skylar Diggins-Smith.

Seattle could not use the core designation to make sure Ogwumike stays in Seattle, as her core eligibility was exhausted during her time with the Los Angeles Sparks. Instead, the team cored Gabby Williams.

The decision is a bit surprising as, noted by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton and Alexa Philippou, as Williams made not being cored a precondition when choosing which team to sign with for the final stretch of the 2024 season, as she did not play in the WNBA before leading France to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. Yet, ESPN further reported that, “Williams and her representatives were not surprised by Seattle’s decision to use the core designation on her and have been working closely with the Storm on determining her next steps.”

Although not a trade request, it appears the prospect of Williams returning to Seattle is far from guaranteed. It is also possible she may again choose to not participate in the WNBA, or at least not for a full season. Currently starring for Fenerbahçe in EuroLeague Women, Williams could choose to focus on preparing for and playing in EuroBasket Women with France, which will run from June 18-29.

3. Can Seattle address lack of depth?

Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images

In 2024, Seattle failed to reach “superteam” status not because of their stars, but because of unreliable depth.

Over the course of the season, the team outscored opponents by more the five points per 36 minutes whenever one of the Storm’s season-long core—Ogwumike, Diggins-Smith, Loyd and Ezi Magbegor—was on the floor. When Ogwumike, Diggins-Smith or Loyd were off the court, the team had a negative point differential. Equipping the presumed returning core of Ogwumike, Diggins-Smith, Magbegor and maybe Williams with a better supporting cast should be one of the organization’s top priorities. Possibly, the players received in the return for Loyd will help Seattle build a more reliable bench.

Instead of re-signing Mercedes Russell, whose effectiveness as a backup big is muted by the significant time Ogwumike and Magebegor will spend on the court, her salary slot could be allocated to fill a greater positional need, ideally a scoring wing. Someone like Tiffany Hayes, the 2024 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year with the Las Vegas Aces, would be a great fit, either as a starter or reserve. Plundering the Minnesota Lynx of Natisha Hiedeman and/or Myisha Hines-Allen could be an option, as well as Shatori Walker-Kimbrough from the Washington Mystics; all three of those players are unrestricted free agents.

As she did last season, Ogwumike could also take less than her maximum salary to try to help Seattle field a roster with stronger depth. Or, to help the team replace Loyd. An interesting name on that front would be the Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell.

*Thanks to Her Hoop Stats for all roster information and salary numbers.

Many would understandably expect the No. 23 Iowa Hawkeyes to be in a foul mood after sustaining a 74-67 loss to the visiting Indiana Hoosiers on Sunday afternoon, their third-straight Big Ten loss in a span of two weeks.

It was a game in which the Hawkeyes played from behind, as they never led nor tied the game at any point. The Hawkeyes shot a meager 33 percent from the field, 31 percent from the 3-point line, turned the ball over 14 times and couldn’t sustain a run.

On the opposite side, the Hoosiers shot 49 percent from the field, 41 percent from beyond the arc and were a perfect 12-for-12 at the foul line. They had three players—Yarden Garzon, Chloe Moore-McNeil and Sydney Parrish—score in double figures. Garzon scored a game-high 21 points, shot 7-for-8 from the field, grabbed five rebounds and exuded perfection at the 3-point line, going 5-for-5. Moore-McNeil finished with 18 points, while Parrish came away with 15 points, including three 3-pointers.

The Hawkeyes managed to find a few moments where they would come back and cut into the Hoosiers’ double-digit lead, but they couldn’t contain the visitors at the 3-point line. As a result, the Hawkeyes now find themselves in a difficult bind.

However, in spite of all the evident struggles in a competitive conference, head coach Jan Jensen remains steadfast in her belief her team can overcome this challenge. After the game, she asserted:

It might be a little tough to believe, I think we did a lot of things better. I love their efforts at the end. We’re not giving up, all’s not lost in the locker room. I understand fans were all disappointed, but I think we are getting some progress….My eye is always on the next, and it’s on this particular season. It’s not where we were, it’s not where I want to be in a year from now, it’s where I want to be when we play Nebraska.

This is a different role for me, obviously, but young teams—I’ve been there. All of us together have been in this room for about four or five years, so I stay steady by remembering when you have a lot of young [players], it’s a roller coaster. I know what’s coming, I see the camraderie, and I see their fight….Illinois was a little bit of an exception, we had some flatness I was surprised about. So I’m encouraged with that, and I think we just need to find a way to make shots. We make some shots and it will be a whole different deal.

During the game, Jensen was more heated than usual, particularly after a technical foul was leveled against Sydney Affolter for swatting the ball out of the hands of an Indiana player after scoring a layup with under two minutes remaining in the first quarter. The official’s response drew the ire of Jensen and the crowd. It also caught the eye of Caitlin Clark, who took to X/Twitter to share her perspective.

There were some bright spots for the Hawkeyes, especially with their bench. Taylor McCabe had the best performance of her career. She finished with a team-high 15 points, including four 3-pointers. The biggest one came with 1:56 left in the game, when she hit the 3 after she came away with a steal to put the Hawkeyes down 66-62.

The other Taylor, Stremlow, provided excitement at both ends of the floor. She scored seven points, grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, dished out four assists and had five steals. Aaliyah Guyton had nine points playing against the alma mater of her father A.J. Ava Heiden scored eight points, grabbed five rebounds and had three blocks. In all, the Hawkeyes outscored the Hoosiers 24-10 in bench points.

Iowa also out rebounded Indiana 38-31, outscored them in points off turnovers 24-9 and dramatically improved at the free throw line, going 19-for-23, a far cry from their performance against Illinois last Thursday when they shot 8-for-17 at the stripe.

After the game, McCabe reflected on the team’s recent losses, sharing:

All of our losses were very different and we put together things from each of them. So now we just have to find a missing piece and then go to it at the end. We really have to be gritty and put some extra heart and soul into these games because they tend to be so competitive. We’re gonna have so many more close games and it could USC, it could be Northwestern, it could be anybody. We need to be ready to battle every single night. That’s what we’re gonna work toward and we’re gonna bounce back.

As for the starters, Addison O’Grady finished with 11 points and three rebounds. Lucy Olsen finished with eight points and four rebounds. Hannah Stuelke had five points and three rebounds. Affolter had four points and five rebounds.

No. 23 Iowa (14-5, 2-4) will play at home against Nebraska (13-4, 4-2) on Thursday Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. ET.

Since their 2024 season ended with a loss to the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the semifinals, the Connecticut Sun have experienced significant change.

Head coach Stephanie White, the 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year who complied a 55-25 record across two seasons in Connecticut, was lured to the Indiana Fever, returning to her home state. The Sun subsequently hired Rachid Meziane, bringing the experienced European coach to Uncasville.

More change is coming to Connecticut during free agency. And as with White’s move, the organization might not have much control over what unfolds. While they can hope that the members of the team’s title-contending core choose to stay in Connecticut, they have to be prepared for an alternative future for the franchise. In short, new general manger Morgan Tuck does not have any easy job in her first offseason at the helm.

Here’s where the Sun stand entering free agency, followed by three big questions facing Connecticut:

Facts and figures*

Players under contract (contract status; 2025 salary)

• Tyasha Harris (unprotected; $100,013)
• Marina Mabrey (protected veteran; $210,000)
• Olivia Nelson-Ododa (protected rookie scale; $80,823)

Free agent (type; 2024 salary)

• Caitlin Bickle (reserved; $22,231)
• DeWanna Bonner (unrestricted; $209,593)
• DiJonai Carrington (restricted; $78,469)
• Brionna Jones (unrestricted; $212,000)
• Tiffany Mitchell (unrestricted; $139,050)
• Astou Ndour-Fall (unrestricted; $125,000)
• Alyssa Thomas (unrestricted; $218,000)

Total salary of free agents: $1,004,343

Total team salary: $390,836

Cap space: $1,116,264

Unsigned draftees (2025 salary)

• LeÏla Lacan ($71,753)
• Abbey Hsu ($65,438)

2025 WNBA Draft picks (2025 salary)

• Round 2, No. 25 ($69,267)

1. What happens with AT and DB?

Is “The Engine” revving up for her 12th season with Sun? Or, is she ready to motor away to a new location?

When asked about her impending WNBA free agency decision in an Unrivaled press conference, Alyssa Thomas offered little indication of her leanings. Her noncommittal response shouldn’t provide much comfort for Connecticut.

The Sun could choose to core Thomas, although doing so still would not guarantee that she stays in Connecticut. The core designation traditionally served as way for organizations to retain talent and prevent players from exercising their free agency. But in this rising moment of empowerment, players have increasingly blunted the intended purpose of the core designation. Rather than a means of player retention, coring now serves as a last resort for organizations, allowing them to get something in return for a star player who seeks a new WNBA home. This is what happened with Jordin Canada last season, with the Los Angeles Sparks coring her before trading her to the Atlanta Dream. It also seems to be unfolding with Satou Sabally and the Dallas Wings, and, possibly, with Kelsey Plum and the Las Vegas Aces and Gabby Williams of the the Seattle Storm.

So, whether the organization cores her or not, Thomas likely still controls her free agency. She can choose to stay with the only WNBA franchise she has ever played for, or she can maneuver her way to a new destination of her choice. Presumably, Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, partners on and off the court, are a package deal. Either both unrestricted free agents are back in Connecticut, or the Sun will have set on the Thomas-Bonner era.

2. What about DiJonai, Breezy?

Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images

A restricted free agent, DiJonai Carrington has less control over her future. Maybe.

The same spirit of player empowerment that has zapped the core designation could also trickle down to restricted free agency. The ongoing negotiations for a new CBA between the WNBA and WNBPA, the implicit pressure applied by Unrivaled’s player-first ethos and players’ ability to use social media platforms to amplify their intentions combine to reduce organizations’ leverage over their players. If a restricted free agent wants to go somewhere else, she’ll probably get her way. While that may or may not be the case with Carrington, it would be unwise to assume that her restricted status assures that she will be a Sun in 2025.

Twice cored by the Sun, Brionna Jones, an unrestricted free agent, is ineligible to have the designation applied to her once again. So, she will not have to engage in any behind-the-scenes machinations if she wishes to join another team.

Whether or not Connecticut chooses to try to retain her services, however, might depend on the decision of the Thomas-Bonner duo. The Sun have made a frontcourt featuring Thomas and Jones work better than should be possible, as both players are severely limited shooters. Through Thomas’ effectiveness in transition and Jones’ efficiency as a post scorer, the Sun have found enough offensive success, despite a lack of spacing. That said, it has been the offensive end of the floor that has prevented Connecticut from breaking through and winning a championship. And as Beckett Harrison has analyzed, the WNBA’s best teams are beginning to eschew two-big alignments and embrace four-out or five-out offensive systems.

If Thomas stays, Connecticut might need to say goodbye to Jones, even though she is a reliable, All-Star-level player. Alternatively, if Thomas departs, the Sun can choose to build around Jones as their single big, as long as she is amenable to remaining in Uncasville.

3. Is Emma an option?

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Connecticut’s hiring of Meziane, who has served as the head coach of the Belgium National Team since late 2022, surely sparked dreams of a certain former WNBA Finals MVP returning to the league and suiting up for the Sun. Hello, Emma Meesseman?

Meesseman last played in the WNBA in 2022, since choosing to prioritize playing for Belgium, as well as Fenerbahçe in EuroLeague Women. Possibly, the opportunity to play for a coach with whom she is familiar could entice her back to the W? Connecticut certainly should gauge her interest, especially if the Thomas-Bonner tandem returns. The 6-foot-4 Meesseman’s ability to operate as a true stretch 5 would make her an amazing frontcourt partner for the shooting-limited Thomas, while the team would have enough defensive length elsewhere to guard against Messseman’s shortcomings as a traditional rim protector. Even if Thomas and Bonner go elsewhere, Meesseman would offer Connecticut a high-level offensive hub around which to begin building a new era of Sun basketball.

While fun to envision, those Emma imaginings might be a bit farfetched. More realistically, a Sun team that loses the services of Thomas, Bonner and/or Jones will have to work hard to convince free agents to give Uncasville a try. In a world where players increasingly eye markets considered more glamorous, that might require Connecticut overpaying prospective free agents. Maybe Tuck could leverage her UConn connections to convince Tiffany Hayes, most recently of the Las Vegas Aces, to come back to Connecticut? Could another Husky, Tina Charles, close out her career with a full-circle moment and suit up again for the Sun?

Otherwise, targeting younger players by offering them a path to playing time, allowing them to increase their value before, in all likelihood, they hit the market again after the 2025 season and the ratification of the league’s next CBA, could be the Sun’s surest free agency strategy.

*Thanks to Her Hoop Stats for all roster information and salary numbers.