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Guide to Becoming A Basketball Girly: 2026 Unrivaled What You Should Be Watching For

VIBRANT BLACK BLOGS 🌐 - Unrivaled is back for its second season, the talent is stacked, the storylines are already brewing, and the league itself keeps growing in ways nobody expected this fast.


Alright, if you read the first article and you’re ready to go a little deeper into Unrivaled, welcome to Part 2. If you didn’t read Part 1, you can run over there real quick, it’ll give you the recap on what Unrivaled is, why it exists, and how or if it mixes with the W.



But if you’re here to catch up on everything new for 2026, who’s playing, who’s not, and the little bits of drama people are whispering about…this is the guide you need.


The 2026 Structure: Old Clubs, New Clubs, Still No City Teams

Unrivaled isn’t based on cities the way the WNBA is. There are no “Miami vs Chicago” rivalries here.These are club names, identities — not geographical franchises.

Returning clubs from Season One

  • Laces BC

  • Lunar Owls BC

  • Mist BC

  • Phantom BC

  • Rose BC

  • Vinyl BC

New clubs added for Season Two

  • Breeze BC

  • Hive BC

That brings us to eight clubs total, all operating from the Unrivaled headquarters in Miami, with a special travel stop in Philadelphia this season.


If you’re new, don’t stress about “who represents my city.” Just pick the club full of your favorite players or maybe, just whatever colors you like best until you find favorite players.


The Stud Budz Era Has Officially Entered Unrivaled


You may have noticed two very familiar names on this year’s Unrivaled rosters: Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman. If you’re a Stud Budz fan, both of them are finally here.


Courtney Williams played in Unrivaled last season, but Natisha Hiedeman didn’t join until this year.


For the 2026 season, Courtney is back with Vinyl BC, and Natisha is stepping in with Hive BC, making this the first time the duo appears in the league together.


StudBudz” is the streaming-and-social identity created by WNBA guards Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman. Through their Twitch channel and off-court content, they give fans a behind-the-scenes look into their lives, locker-room banter, road-trip energy, and unfiltered personality — and that vibe brought a whole new flavor to women’s hoops in 2025.


The “Future Is Unrivaled” Class (For Anyone Wondering About College Players)

There’s also a development pool this season , extra players the league can pull from if needed, but the main spotlight stays on those six-player cores.

And the talent? Fully professional. No college athletes in official roster spots.


The Future Is Unrivaled program exists (NIL deals for college players), but those athletes do NOT play in games. It is simply a pipeline for the future.


Unrivaled did sign a group of 14 elite college players to NIL deals, but let’s be clear:

  • They do NOT play in Unrivaled games

  • They do NOT appear on club rosters

  • They keep their NCAA eligibility

  • They participate in branding, media, and development events

Think of it as a preview of the next generation — not part of the official league yet.


Why Some Big Names Aren’t in Unrivaled This Year -

What They Actually Said


A’ja Wilson — “I like to enjoy my offseason.”


A’ja has never joined Unrivaled, and she told us exactly why last year. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, she explained:


“I like to enjoy my offseason. That’s my time to really just decompress.”


She also said that while she loves what Unrivaled is doing and sees how much her teammates enjoy it, she’s protecting her mental space:


“It seems great… but this is my time to protect my peace.”


So A’ja’s absence? It’s not drama , it is boundaries. She rests in the offseason.


Angel Reese — “Quietly minding my business.”

Angel did play in Unrivaled last season, which is why people expected her again. Not only did she win defensive player of the year, her team Rose BC took home the first ever unrivaled championship.


When fans asked why she wasn’t on the 2026 roster, she didn’t give a full public explanation, but she did post this on X (Twitter):


“That was the goal for this offseason — quietly minding my business so everybody won’t mind MINE.”


She’s choosing a low-profile offseason, and that’s the only statement she’s made. No beef. No issues. Just peace, privacy.


Sabrina Ionescu — No public statement

Sabrina is simply not listed on any 2026 Unrivaled roster.

  • She played last year.

  • She is not rostered this year.

  • She has not released a statement explaining why.

So in her case, all we can say is the truth:She didn’t join this season, and she hasn’t said why, publicly or through the league.


What to Watch For This Season

Here’s what will make 2026 fun to follow:

  • How the two new clubs fit into the league

  • Which veterans take over in the 3-on-3 style

  • Coaching energy — especially T-Spoon

  • Breakout players from the expanded rosters

  • Rivalries that carry over from the WNBA

  • The Philly showcase game

  • And the overall vibe as Unrivaled tries to build its own identity, not copy the W


Overall his season is Unrivaled leveling up new teams, more attention, cleaner production, and a deeper player pool.

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