Yahoo Sports Sabrina Ionescu joins Unrivaled as league's 36th and final player
The New York Liberty star will team up with Brittney Griner on the Phantom
Sabrina Ionescu is joining Unrivaled and will take one of the open wild-card spots with the Phantom, the league announced on Monday.
The New York Liberty star, who is a three-time WNBA All-Star and 2024 WNBA champion, is the 36th and final player who will participate in the 3-on-3 league tipping off in January in Miami.
SABRINA is UNRIVALED 👑 Filling the last wildcard spot ✅ SHE'S A PHANTOM 👻 pic.twitter.com/kShoP3rcY2
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) December 23, 2024
The 2024 season was a big one for the 27-year-old Oregon product. She helped the Liberty to the first WNBA title in franchise history after being part of the U.S. team that captured its eighth straight Olympic gold medal.
There was some question about whether Ionescu would join Unrivaled after she underwent surgery to repair a ulnar collateral ligament tear in her right thumb earlier this month. She's expected to return to the court in early January. Unrivaled's season begins on Jan. 17.
The league was initially set to include just 30 WNBA players, but it expanded and added six more roster spots in October. The six teams will play 14 games each, and the season will end with a single-elimination four-team tournament to determine the champion. Games will be played on a 70-foot court with an 18-second shot clock and three seven-minute periods. There will also be an All-Star event and a one-on-one tournament.
TNT struck a media rights deal with the league to broadcast 45 games, and players will receive a minimum of $100,000 for the season. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was long rumored to be involved, but won’t play in the first season.
Unrivaled inaugural season rosters
Laces Basketball Club
Head coach: Andrew Wade
Players: Jackie Young, Tiffany Hayes, Kayla McBride, Kate Martin, Alyssa Thomas, Stefanie Dolson
Mist Basketball Club
Head coach: Phil Handy
Players: Jewell Loyd, Courtney Vandersloot, DiJonai Carrington, Rickea Jackson, Breanna Stewart, Aaliyah Edwards
Rose Basketball Club
Head coach: Nola Henry
Players: Chelsea Gray, Brittney Sykes, Kahleah Copper, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese, Azurá Stevens
Lunar Owls Basketball Club
Head coach: DJ Sackmann
Players: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Courtney Williams, Allisha Gray, Napheesa Collier, Shakira Austin, Cameron Brink* (*will not play until 2026)
Phantom Basketball Club
Head coach: Adam Harrington
Players: Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Cloud, Marina Mabrey, Katie Lou Samuelson, Satou Sabally, Brittney Griner
Vinyl Basketball Club
Head coach: Teresa Weatherspoon
Players: Arike Ogunbowale, Jordin Canada, Rhyne Howard, Rae Burrell, Aliyah Boston, Dearica Hamby
Key Dates
Jan. 17, 2025: Regular season tips off in Miami (7 p.m. ET & 8:15 p.m. ET, TNT)
Feb. 10, 2025: 1-on-1 tournament (7 p.m. ET)
Feb 13, 2025: 1-on-1 tournament (6:30 p.m. ET)
Feb 14, 2025: 1-on-1 tournament (7:30 p.m. ET)
March 10, 2025: Regular season concludes (7 p.m. ET & 8:15 p.m. ET, TNT)
March 16, 2025: League semifinals (7 p.m. ET, 8:15 p.m. ET)
March 17, 2025: League championship (7:30 p.m. ET)
