Liberty star Breanna Stewart is about to affix forces with a teammate of previous and certainly one of now throughout Unequalled’s debut season.
Stewart, a co-founder of Unequalled, was drafted to the Mist on Wednesday together with Liberty guard Courtney Vandersloot and Storm guard Jewell Loyd.
Solar guard Dijonai Carrington, Sparks ahead Rickea Jackson and Mystics ahead Aaliyah Edwards spherical out the Mist, certainly one of six six-player groups which might be set to play within the new 3-on-3 basketball league, beginning early subsequent 12 months.
Stewart, who was reacting dwell to the YouTube broadcast of the membership choice, appeared fairly happy along with her grouping.
“Oh my team is good,” Stewart wrote on X.
The Mist shall be coached by longtime NBA assistant coach Phil Useful, who most just lately labored on the Lakers bench.
All through the 22-minute YouTube broadcast of the membership choice — a particular run time that some speculated may trace that Caitlin Clark could quickly be a part of the league — Useful was certainly one of six coaches who debated on which participant ought to go to which workforce. There was a transparent emphasis on pairing gamers who is not going to solely complement each other’s type however assist with additional growing every gamers’ abilities.
The truth is, a part of the explanation Stewart and Napheesa Collier teamed as much as launch Unequalled Basketball was to present WNBA gamers a chance to not solely earn cash however proceed to develop their video games within the U.S., somewhat than having to spend their offseason enjoying abroad to complement their incomes.
All six coaches — Useful, Teresa Weatherspoon, Adam Harrington, DJ Sackmann, Nola Henry and Andrew Wade — have backgrounds in participant improvement.
Unequalled’s eight-week season is scheduled to tip off Jan. 17 in Miami and is loaded with All-Stars, together with Angel Reese, Brittney Griner, Arike Ogunbowale and Chelsea Grey.
The rosters have been set, and coaches assigned, for the inaugural Unequalled Basketball season.
Right here’s a full breakdown of every workforce:
Vinyl
Coached by former Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon
Arike Ogunbowale, G, Dallas Wings; Rhyne Howard, G, Atlanta Dream; Aliyah Boston, F, Indiana Fever; Rae Burrell, G, Los Angeles Sparks; Jordin Canada, G, Seattle Storm; Dearica Hamby, F, Los Angeles Sparks
Rose
Coached by former Sparks participant improvement coach Nola Henry
Chelsea Grey, G, Las Vegas Aces; Kahleah Copper, G, Phoenix Mercury; Angel Reese, F, Chicago Sky; Lexie Hull, G, Indiana Fever; Brittney Sykes, G, Washington Mystics; Azura Stevens, F, Los Angeles Sparks
Mist
Coached by longtime NBA assistant coach Phil Useful
Jewell Loyd, G, Seattle Storm; Dijonai Carrington, G, Connecticut Solar; Breanna Stewart, F, New York Liberty; Courtney Vandersloot, G, New York Liberty; Rickea Jackson, F, Los Angeles Sparks; Aaliyah Edwards, F, Washington Mystics
Lunar Owls
Coached by NBA/WNBA abilities coach DJ Sackmann
Skylar Diggins-Smith, G, Seattle Storm; Allisha Grey, G, Atlanta Dream; Napheesa Collier, F, Minnesota Lynx; Natasha Cloud, G, Phoenix Mercury; Shakira Austin, F, Washington Mystics; Wild card*
Phantom
Coached by former Nets assistant and director of participant improvement Adam Harrington
Jackie Younger, G, Las Vegas Aces; Marina Mabrey, G, Connecticut Solar; Satou Sabally, F, Dallas Wings; Tiffany Hayes, G, Las Vegas Aces; Brittney Griner, F, Phoenix Mercury; Wild card*
Laces
Coached by Mystics participant improvement assistant coach Andrew Wade
Kelsey Plum, G, Las Vegas Aces; Kayla McBride, G, Minnesota Lynx; Alyssa Thomas, F, Connecticut Solar; Courtney Williams, G, Minnesota Lynx; Kate Martin, G, Las Vegas Aces; Stefanie Dolson, F, Washington Mystics
* The 2 wild playing cards are open roster spots which might be anticipated to be stuffed at a later date.
