Meghan Townsley breaks down the 2026 Unrivaled season with a look at key dates, expanded format, and the league’s jam-packed talent.
The New Year is getting closer, and with the change in the calendar comes a fresh, expanded version of the professional women’s 3-on-3 basketball league taking the sporting calendar by storm. On January 5, 2026, Unrivaled returns for its sophomore season, boasting more talent and stronger competition than before. WNBA stars such as Napheesa Collier, Paige Bueckers, Alyssa Thomas, and more will compete in Miami from early January to early March, setting up for an electric second season for hoops fans everywhere.
Plus, DraftKings Sportsbook is offering a handle of markets to make the action even more exciting. Let’s break down the format of the league, the schedule, and some of the key players hitting the Miami courts to kick off 2026.
Format
In its sophomore season, Unrivaled is expanding from six teams to eight: Breeze, Hive, Laces, Lunar Owls, Mist, Phantom, Rose, and Vinyl. The upcoming season stretches across four straight nights of basketball each week, running Friday through Monday with doubleheaders every night. The league has eliminated back-to-backs for players, while still delivering a full weekend of nonstop action across TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. Each club will face every opponent twice during a 56-game regular season in total, setting up high-stakes matchups from start to finish. After the finale on February 27, the expanded six-team playoff format tips off, with the top two seeds earning byes into the semifinals. Everything builds toward Championship night on March 4, capping an action-packed second season.
Key Dates
Season 2 Opening Day: January 5, 2026
1-on-1 Tournament Presented by Sprite: February 11, 13 & 14, 2026
Playoffs Begin: February 28, 2026
Semifinals: March 2, 2026
Season 2 Championship: March 4, 2026
Returning & Fresh Faces
Season 2’s expansion introduces two brand-new clubs, each building its roster through the league’s internal draft. The Breeze put together an exciting mix of talent with Paige Bueckers, Rickea Jackson, Dominique Malonga, Aari McDonald, Kate Martin, and Cameron Brink. The Hive countered with an equally strong foundation, selecting Kelsey Mitchell, Sonia Citron, Ezi Magbegor, Natisha Hiedeman, Saniya Rivers, and Monique Billings. Together, the two expansion teams bring a fresh surge of star power and depth to an already loaded league.
Plus, familiar stars are returning across the league! Rhyne Howard and Dearica Hamby are back with the Vinyl, while Jackie Young and Alyssa Thomas return for the Laces. Satou Sabally is back with the Phantom, and league co-founder Breanna Stewart returns to lead the Mist. As for the new faces, Kelsey Plum and Kiki Iriafen head to the Phantom, while Alanna Smith and Veronica Burton join the Mist. Erica Wheeler arrives for the Vinyl, along with a handful of rising players rounding out one of the most talented pools Unrivaled has fielded to date.
DraftKings Sportsbook will offer markets for the upcoming season of Unrivaled, giving fans plenty of opportunities to get in on the action. Currently, you can place a future on the Championship Winner, with the Mist and Lunar Owls both tied with the lowest odds at +300. The latter is no shocker, with 2025’s 1v1 Tournament winner Napheesa Collier leading the team alongside veteran Skylar Diggins of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. The Mist bring plenty of talent too, with 3x WNBA champion Breanna Stewart and 3x All-Star Allisha Gray in the mix.
Soon, League MVP markets will also be live! As individual matchups approach, bettors can expect full game lines (spreads, moneylines, and totals) to post roughly a week before the January 5 opener. Closer to tipoff, additional options like First Point Scorer and Leading Scorer will go live, giving fans more ways to zero in on their favorite stars. Once games begin, DraftKings Sportsbook will also offer live betting, including updated spreads, moneylines, and totals throughout play. More markets may be added as the season approaches, but for now, bettors can look forward to a steady rollout of odds leading into opening night.
Stay tuned all Unrivaled season long here at DraftKings Network for game predictions, picks, storylines, and more!