In Medley, Florida, Los Angeles Sparks guard Rae Burrell has been sharpening her skills in the new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, Unrivaled, during the WNBA offseason. Burrell, entering her fourth WNBA season, has made significant strides in various aspects such as defense, court vision, passing, and confidence.
Burrell’s team, Vinyl, is set to face Rose BC in Monday’s Unrivaled title game. “I’m able to take back a lot of new information about the game, about me as a person,” Burrell commented. The league has provided a platform for Burrell to improve, playing alongside All-Stars and top players, offering her the challenges she felt necessary.
Unrivaled, co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, was created to offer superstar players a competitive and developmental off-season environment while also ensuring good earnings. Its inaugural season saw veterans like Collier, Chelsea Gray, and Kayla McBride shine with exceptional performances. However, its true success lies in its impact on emerging stars who have honed their skills and gained confidence for their forthcoming WNBA seasons.
Stewart expressed that the primary objective of Unrivaled is player development. “Before Unrivaled happened, it would be, you play in the W, you go overseas. There’s not time to really like work on your game or figure out what you did right or wrong in one season to the next.” The league provides young players a space to get comfortable, receive crucial feedback, and apply it effectively.
Monday’s championship clash will showcase some electrifying rising talents from the WNBA who have distinguished themselves in Unrivaled’s eight-week regular season. Angel Reese, following a stellar rookie season with the Chicago Sky, was pivotal for Rose BC, securing the No. 2 seed in Unrivaled’s playoffs. Reese, named Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year, led the league with 12.1 rebounds per game and played a key role on defense.
Reese’s overall game has expanded as a facilitator, earning commendations for her leadership and basketball intellect. Although sidelined for the final due to a hand injury, she remains a crucial player for Rose BC. Her growth, assisted by working with legends such as Lisa Leslie, signifies just the beginning of a promising trajectory.
Unrivaled games are known for their brisk, physical style and comprise some of the finest basketball talents globally, coached by professionals with extensive WNBA and NBA experience. Rhyne Howard, gearing up for her fourth season with the Atlanta Dream, leveraged insights from her coach Teresa Weatherspoon and veteran teammate Dearica Hamby.
Howard has consistently performed well in Unrivaled, excelling on both offense and defense. She scored a team-high 20.5 points per game and led Vinyl in 3-pointers. Howard stated, “For me, it’s just been about being able to not only continue to create an open space, but still being able to make everybody better in such a short game.”
Aaliyah Edwards, one of Unrivaled’s youngest participants at 22, emerged as a star in the midseason 1-on-1 tournament. Playing alongside seasoned players like Stewart and Jewell Loyd on Mist BC, Edwards has elevated her performance significantly. Advancing to the runner-up position in the tournament gave Edwards a confidence boost ahead of her second WNBA season with the Washington Mystics.
Reflecting on her experience, Edwards mentioned, “This is the first time I really got the chance to just be in the gym each and every day and work on my game.” She plans to carry over her experiences from the 1-on-1 tournament to excel as a three-level scorer in the traditional 5-on-5 matches during the upcoming WNBA season.
