Hull to Rose, Boston to Vinyl; Breaking down each team in Unrivaled

The Unrivaled Women's Basketball League announced its rosters on Wednesday, releasing a YouTube video that captured the decision process.

All 34 players, and two wildcard players, were placed into six "pods" of six players apiece. The six head coaches (Teresa Whetherspoon, Nola Henry, Phil Handy, DJ Sackman, Adam Harrington, and Andrew Wade) then went through and assigned each player to a team--without knowing which team they would be assigned to coach.

No two players from the same pod were placed on the same team, but there are stars galore in this 3v3 format league. Let's take a look at how the teams shaped out, and rank them based on how they look on paper.

Mist Basketball Club

Jewell Loyd, Dijonai Carrington, Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot, Rickea Jackson, Aaliyah Edwards

If there's one team you can pick as an early favorite, it might be the Mist.

Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart, two stars that finished in the Top 10 in scoring this past WNBA season, on the same squad. Add 2024 WNBA Most Improved Player DiJonai Carrington, one of the league's best defenders, and all of a sudden you have a starting three with seemingly no holes.

Courtney Vandersloot, one of the greatest facilitators in WNBA history, could be coming off the bench with Aaliyah Edwards and Rickea Jackson. Vandersloot also has a ton of chemistry with Stewart, and the two Liberty stars can provide guidance that would jumpstart the development of Carrington and Edwards.

Vinyl Basketball Club

Arike Ogunbowale, Rhyne Howard, Aliyah Boston, Jordin Canada, Rae Burrell, and Dearica Hamby.

The Vinyl have such an intriguing 1-2 punch in Arike Ogunbowale and Aliyah Boston.

Ogunbowale is such a crafty and shifty scorer, with the ability to score at all three levels. Boston, Indiana's first of two competitors in this league, is a dominant force inside and on the glass. The duo gives off Shaq and Kobe energy, and giving those two Atlanta's Rhyne Howard is like adding Paul George to the 2000 Lakers.

Speaking of shifty, opponents don't get a break when Ogunbowale comes off the floor. Jordin Canada, "The Maestro," joins an already-stacked roster, and we haven't even mentioned Dearica Hamby yet. Scoring, rebounding, and defense, it's all here with the Vinyl.

Rose Basketball Club

Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, Angel Reese, Brittney Sykes, Lexie Hull, and Azura Stevens.

Chelsea Gray is a tough shot-maker, through and through. She's actually just an all-around great player.

Gray is used to playing with a stacked lineup with the Aces, but how about giving her another great shot-maker in Kahleah Copper and this WNBA season's rebound queen in rookie Angel Reese? The Rose could be really, really good-- they can punish you both inside and out.

Brittney Sykes and Lexie Hull are two players that do it all for their respective teams, and Azura Stevens is that big presence inside. The Rose could be a sneaky squad that teams just don't have the defense to account for.

Lunar Owls Basketball Club

Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Napheesa Collier, Natasha Cloud, Shakira Austin, and Wildcard Player #1

We've talked about the intriguing pairings, but the Lunar Owls might just be the most stereotypical 3v3 team out of the six-- in the best way possible.

First, every good three's team needs someone to run point. There aren't many better options in the league than Skylar Diggins-Smith, who has long been one of the league's best facilitators. Then, you need a scorer. How about three-level scorer Allisha Gray to bear most of that load? Last, you need a "Rodman," someone to play lockdown defense and grab rebounds. The WNBA's best defender in Napheesa Collier foots the bill.

Natasha Cloud and Shakira Austin add the depth, but it's the Wildcard player that draws the attention. There are two Wildcards, players that have not been signed by the league yet and will join when they do so. One thing we do know: It will not be Caitlin Clark after ESPN reported that she stated she would not participate in the league.

Phantom Basketball Club

Jackie Young, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally, Tiffany Hayes, Brittney Griner, and Wildcard Player #2

Much like the Lunar Owls, the Phantom club offers a well-rounded, well-constructed roster with players that compliment each other.

Jackie Young, Marina Mabrey, and Satou Sabally are a great three, but who allowed the Phantom to end up with Brittney Griner as well? Griner hasn't scored under 17 PPG since 2016, even while being forced to return to peak form after a 10-month Russian imprisonment. The Phantom have shooting galore, as well as defense provided by Sabally and Griner, and not a single inch given up on the glass.

Everyone is talking about the Mist, but the Phantom are somehow going under the radar. And they have a Wildcard, too. Watch out.

Laces Basketball Club

Kelsey Plum, Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas, Courtney Williams, Kate Martin, and Stephanie Dolson.

When you look at the Laces' roster, one word comes to mind: Hustle.

That's what everyone on this team has in common. It doesn't matter if you're a star like Kelsey Plum or a valuable role player like Kate Martin. Every single player just does what is needed. They are perfect teammates-- they will do whatever it takes, in whatever situation, to get their team a win.

Plum and McBride lead the way for scoring (both also Top 10 this past season in 3-pointers made), the veteran Alyssa Thomas will fill up the stat sheet in every which way, Courtney Williams will provide a spark whether she's a starter or in the second unit. Martin and Stephanie Dolson provide depth in both courts. Yet another team to watch out for, especially in tight games.