The third season of Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 professional women’s basketball league, starts in January.
Since its inaugural season in 2025, Unrivaled has attracted numerous WNBA players, including former league MVPs and perennial All-Stars. The 3-on-3 league gives players a chance to earn in the offseason.
Just like its second season earlier this year, Unrivaled’s 2027 season will feature eight teams with six players each. The league has already announced the 48-player roster but has yet to reveal its development pool, comprising players who can immediately fill temporary roster spots due to injuries or absences.
With the WNBA Finals beginning this weekend, we look at the 10 players who may not participate in the 2027 season of Unrivaled.
#1 Kelsey Mitchell
Indiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell starred for the expansion team, Hive BC, during the 2026 Unrivaled season. In 14 games, she averaged 17.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
Many predicted Mitchell would return to Unrivaled in 2027 to build on her strong campaign early this year. However, she may choose to focus on her upcoming free agency.
#2 Alyssa Thomas
Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas is among the biggest names excluded from Unrivaled’s player pool for the 2027 season. She has played for Laces BC since the league’s inaugural season. She averaged 11.3 ppg, 11.5 rpg and 4.5 apg in 2025 and 11.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 3.4 apg last season.
Thomas, 34, may have elected to rest this offseason after a dismal 16-28 campaign for the Mercury.
#3 Angel Reese
Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese helped Rose BC win Unrivaled’s inaugural championship in 2025. She was named the Defensive Player of the Year and was selected to the All-Unrivaled Second Team. She also led the league with 173 rebounds.
Reese played just three games in 2026 after sitting out initially. Her absence from the third season of Unrivaled could be attributed to the Dream’s run to the 2026 WNBA Finals.
#4 Kiki Iriafen
Washington Mystics star Kiki Iriafen made her Unrivaled debut last season for the Phantom BC. She averaged 11.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg in 14 games.
In her exit interview on Oct. 1, Iriafen said she would be skipping Unrivaled to prioritize healing her body “from head to toe” after various injuries this season in the WNBA. However, she hinted she might join the league late.
#5 Azura Stevens
Chicago Sky center Azura Stevens was part of the 2025 Unrivaled champion, Rose BC, averaging 11.7 ppg and 7.2 rpg. Last season, she was part of the 3-on-3 league’s first-ever in-season trade, landing with Hive BC.
However, a bone bruise in her left knee cut short her 2026 Unrivaled season and delayed her debut with Chicago in the 2026 WNBA season.
#6 Alanna Smith
Dallas Wings forward Alanna Smith sustained a lower leg injury while playing for Australia in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup last month. She eventually missed the remainder of the Wings’ regular season and the first round of the playoffs.
She made her Unrivaled debut in 2026 and helped Mist BC win the championship.
#7 Rebecca Allen
New York Liberty veteran Rebecca Allen played for the Lunar Owls BC last season and averaged 3.8 ppg and 2.7 rpg off the bench. She is not on the 48-player roster for 2027, but could still be tapped up from the yet-to-be-announced development pool.
Allen, 33, will also become an unrestricted WNBA free agent as her one-year, $350,000 contract expires this offseason.
#8 Rachel Banham
Similar to Allen, veteran guard Rachel Banham also made her debut for Lunar Owls BC last season. She averaged 4.4 ppg off the bench in 14 games. She is not on the 48-player roster and will become an unrestricted WNBA free agent this offseason.
The 33-year-old Banham signed a one-year, $425,000 contract with the Chicago Sky in April.
#9 Sug Sutton
Sug Sutton, who signed a one-year, $277,500 rest-of-season contract with the Dallas Wings for the 2026 season, might also miss the 2027 Unrivaled season. She debuted for Rose BC last season and averaged 4.9 ppg off the bench in 10 games.
Sutton is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the WNBA.
#10 Brittney Griner
Connecticut Sun star Brittney Griner played in Unrivaled’s first two seasons. In 2025, she played for Phantom BC, averaging 16.7 ppg and 5.7 rpg; in 2026, she suited up for Vinyl BC, averaging 9.0 ppg and 4.2 rpg.
Griner is set to skip the 2027 Unrivaled season, potentially due to her upcoming free agency. The 35-year-old’s one-year, $1.2 million contract with Connecticut expires this offseason.
Edited by Arvind Sriram