Welcome! 🎉 In an effort to stop spamming my friends with constant women’s basketball updates, I’ve created this newsletter. I know—so generous of me. No need to thank me! I’m here to keep you informed on most things WBB.

Table of Contents

• WNBA News

• Unrivaled Preview

• Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball

• Hoops & Hype: Media Picks

  • Film Session: WBB Highlights & Insights 📽️

  • On Air: The WBB Podcast Rundown 🎙️

  • Booked & Busy: WBB Reads 👓

  • Drip Report 💧

  • BONUS: Shattered Glass: A WNBPA STORY

WNBA News

Well, folks, free agency is in full swing—and it’s the most exciting it’s been since 2019 (shoutout to the CBA year!). Free agency officially kicked off on January 11, with teams coring star free agents and extending qualifying offers to restricted free agents.

If a restricted free agent accepts their offer they will receive a training camp contract- so not officially on the team- and their salary will not count against the cap until (if) they officially make the team.

If you’d like to learn more about the coring process, check out this article by Her Hoop Stats—it explains it better than I ever could!

Here’s an overview of the teams that have made moves so far.

Unrivaled Preview

From the minds of two WNBA superstars, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, the highly anticipated 3-on-3 ( NOT to be confused with Fiba 3×3) league tips off today, January 17th, at 7 PM on TNT. Don’t miss it!

1. What is it? Unrivaled is a 3-on-3 full-court league where WNBA stars can play as an alternative to playing overseas. The league will be based in Miami for the 2025 season.

2. Who is playing? In an IMPOSSIBLY LONG AND DRAWN OUT REVEAL, Unrirvaled revealed their 36-players, 6 team rosters. https://www.unrivaled.basketball/clubs 

   1. Laces BC:

      • Alyssa Thomas (Capitan) Stefanie Dolson, Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin, Kayla McBride, Jackie Young. Head coach: Andrew Wade

   2. Lunar Owls BC:

      • Napheesa Collier (Capitan), Shakira Austin, Cameron Brink**, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams, Head coach: DJ Sackmann

        ** Cameron Brink tore her ACL during the WNBA season and although she will be on the team and has been involved, she has not yet been cleared for play. She probably won’t play basketball again until the WNBA season

   3. Mist BC:

      • Breanna Stewart (Capitan) DiJonai Carrington, Aaliay Edwards, Rickea Jackson, Jewell Loyd, and Courtney Vandersloot. Head coach: Phil Handy

   4. Phantom BC:  

      • Satou Sabally (Capitan) Natasha Cloud, Brittney Griner, Natisha Hiedeman** Sabrina Ionescu, Marina Mabrey, Katie Lou Samuelson.  Head coach: Adam Harrington

        ** Yesterday (January 16), Marina Mabrey was diagnosed with a calf strain and is expected to be out for two weeks. In response, Natisha Hiedeman (hide-the-man!) was signed as a relief player today (January 17).

   5. Rose BC:

      • Chelsea Gray (Capitan), Kahleah Copper, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese, Azura Stevens, Brittney Sykes. Head coach: Nola Henry

   6. Vinyl BC:

      • Arike Ogunbowale (Capitan), Aliyah Boston, Rae Burrell, Jordin Canada, Dearica Hamby Rhyne Howard, Head coach: Teresa Weatherspoon

Bonus! Learn more about the Unrivaled Coaches HERE and watch the official coach reveal video HERE.

Ways to Watch: TNT Sports has acquired the broadcast rights, and will show Monday and Friday games on TNT and Saturday games on truTV. All games will be available for streaming on Max. 

Check out the full schedule here:

Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball

Founded in 2020, Athletes Unlimited (AU) is a professional sports organization that features basketball, softball, and volleyball.

The inaugural season of AU basketball took place in 2022, with 44 players competing in a five-week winter season. AU has created an incredible opportunity for professional athletes—including WNBA players and those not currently in the league—to play in the U.S., earn money (as all players are also investors in the league), and even secure spots on WNBA rosters.

A perfect example is Sydney Colson: after nearly retiring from the WNBA, she played in AU, got signed by the Aces, and went on to become a two-time WNBA champion—and the face of the league (lol).

This year, AU will be based in Nashville ( HOME OF THE WBB HERO BETTY WISEMAN) with a Tip-off on February 5th at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Tickets are dirt cheap and you can find them HERE.

Here is the full roster for AU

How to watch? FULL SCHEDULE

• 14 games will be broadcast live for FREE on the WNBA APP

• Fanduel Sports Network (formerly Bally Sports) will carry 14 games

• 10 games will be on ESPN+

Hoops & Hype: Media Picks

Check out some of the cool podcasts, videos, reads, and fashion I saw this week.

Film Session: WBB Highlights & Insights 📽️

Kelsey Plum is set to make history as the first Husky to have her jersey, No. 10, retired at her alma mater, the University of Washington! The ceremony will take place on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

Breanna Stewart Opens Up on Unrivaled, Liberty Title Run with Candace Parker | Trophy Room, Ep. 1

Kelsey Plum a FRANCHISE PLAYER for Golden State? I WNBA Free Agency: Predictions, questions + MORE

Angel & Sky Refuse To Travel Overseas, Talk Free Agency, The Infamous Headband & Being A Mom-Athlete

Athletes Unlimted: Alysha Clark Homecoming

Unrivaled's Potential Impact on WNBA Free Agency, CBA Negotiations | On Her Turf | NBC Sports

On Air: The WBB Podcast Rundown 🎙️

• Levels to This with Sheryl Swooped and Terrika Foster-Brasby: High-Level Conversations: Megan Perry the Head of Basketball for Athletes Unlimited

• They’ve Got Now by Mark Schindler: What’s Next for the Las Vegas Aces? w/ Callie Fin

• Pull Up with Myles and Owen:

  • Pull Up with Jonquel Jones 

  • Pull Up with Rae Burrell

Booked & Busy: WBB Reads 👓

Drip Report 💧

BONUS: Shattered Glass: A WNBPA STORY

With WNBA players opting out of the CBA, take a moment to watch this film, available for free on Tubi. It highlights the progress made with the 2020 CBA and sheds light on what players are striving for in the upcoming 2025 CBA negotiations.