The upcoming 3×3 Unrivaled Basketball League have is not expected to make any further trades this season after a four-player, three-team preseason deal involving Natasha Cloud, Courtney Williams, Jackie Young, and Tiffany Hayes sent shockwaves through the basketball community.

With Sabrina Ionescu recently announced as the league’s final roster addition, questions ensued about the stability of its six teams.

The Unrivaled League hasn’t even started, but it’s already making headlines following its first unexpected trade in history. Just weeks before its Jan. 17 debut in Miami, Unrivaled announced that Cloud, initially assigned to the Laces BC, was first dealt to the Lunar Owls and then again to Phantom BC. Phantom also gained an additional wild-card slot, which turned out to be Ionescu following her WNBA championship season with the New York Liberty.

In return, the Lunar Owls received Williams, while Young and Hayes, both WNBA teammates on the Las Vegas Aces, joined the Laces roster. The trade shocked league supporters, especially fans who had grown attached to rosters meticulously curated during the league’s inaugural announcement. Sources close to the league explained a commitment to maintaining competitive balance across all clubs was the reasoning behind the shakeup.

“The trades were made to ensure the same level of parity across the league that was established during club selection in light of player updates post-club assignments,” an insider told Mirror Sport US. While no official details were given, Kelsey Plum’s unexpected departure from the Laces appears to have been a significant factor in maintaining guard-play balance and triggering the need to bring in Ionecu.

For fans, the announcement raised questions about roster stability. Many had already declared allegiance to certain clubs based on their favorite players, only to see them moved before a single game was played. A source close to the league said: “Barring an outlier situation, Unrivaled does not anticipate additional trades this season.” Further, “coaches and league basketball operations will continue to manage the competitive balance in the league.

“While contracts vary in length, the goal is to build solid foundations for each club and limit player movement. But like any professional league, teams and players are subject to transactions.”

Sabrina Ionescu celebrates after winning the WNBA title

Sabrina Ionescu was the last name announced to finalize Unrivaled League rosters ( 

Image:

Getty)

Unrivaled is already shaping up to be an exciting venture, featuring 36 players, six clubs, and significant backing from high-profile investors like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michael Phelps. Players in the league will be outfitted in Under Armour as an official apparel sponsor, with games expected to appear on TNT and TruTV in prime time slots from January 17 to the championship game on March 17.

With Ionescu rounding out the rosters and trades now reportedly off the table, fans can focus on a brand new 3×3 basketball competition and a chance to see some of the WNBA’s brightest stars shine in a new format. Here are the final rosters for Unrivaled Basketball’s first season:

Laces BC

Head Coach: Andrew Wade

Lunar Owls BC

Head Coach: DJ Sackmann

Mist BC

Head Coach: Phil Handy

  • Breanna Stewart [New York Liberty]
  • DiJonai Carrington [Connecticut Sun]
  • Courtney Vandersloot [New York Liberty]
  • Jewell Loyd [Seattle Storm]
  • Aaliyah Edwards [Washington Mystics]
  • Rickea Jackson [Los Angeles Sparks]

Phantom BC

Head Coach: Adam Harrington

  • Satou Sabally [Dallas Wings]
  • Marina Mabrey [Connecticut Sun]
  • Brittney Griner [Phoenix Mercury]
  • Natasha Cloud [Phoenix Mercury]
  • Katie Lou Samuelson [Indiana Fever]
  • Sabrina Ionescu [New York Liberty]

Rose BC

Head Coach: Nola Henry

  • Angel Reese [Chicago Sky]
  • Chelsea Gray [Las Vegas Aces]
  • Brittney Sykes [Washington Mystics]
  • Kahleah Copper [Phoenix Mercury]
  • Azurá Stevens [Los Angeles Sparks]
  • Lexie Hull [Indiana Fever]

Vinyl BC

Head Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon

  • Arike Ogunbowale [Dallas Wings]
  • Rae Burrell [Los Angeles Sparks]
  • Rhyne Howard [Atlanta Dream]
  • Aliyah Boston [Indiana Fever]
  • Jordin Canada [Atlanta Dream]
  • Dearica Hamby [Los Angeles Sparks]