{"id":384891,"date":"2026-01-03T05:26:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T05:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/384891\/"},"modified":"2026-01-03T05:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T05:26:12","slug":"lynx-players-preparing-for-start-of-unrivaled-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/384891\/","title":{"rendered":"Lynx Players Preparing for Start of Unrivaled Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the start of the new year, that means its time for the start of another Unrivaled season in Miami.<\/p>\n

Unrivaled, which was co-founded by Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier and New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart, will tip off its second season on Jan. 5 after a successful inaugural season last offseason.<\/p>\n

The 3-on-3 league, which features a faster and unique style of play with an entertaining format during the WNBA offseason, is expanding from six teams to eight in 2026 and will feature even more star power on the court in Florida.<\/p>\n

For the Lynx, four players were initially announced to take part in the second Unrivaled season, though three of those four players will be playing when the games begin. Alanna Smith and the StudBudz of Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman will take part in the Unrivaled season. Collier, one of the four Lynx players who were originally supposed to take part, was hoping to play in the league she co-founded but will be sitting the season out due to surgery recovery (more on that below).<\/p>\n

As we prepare for the Unrivaled season, let\u2019s look at the Lynx part of it and where we can see them over the next few months.<\/p>\n

For the first time as a professional player, Smith is spending her offseason playing the United States rather than overseas like she has always done. Over her career, Smith has played in her home country of Australia, China, Poland and Turkey. But this year, she is joining Unrivaled for the first time.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo by Tim Clayton\/Corbis via Getty Images Corbis via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Smith will be on The Mist to start the Unrivaled season, joining Allisha Gray, Breanna Stewart, Veronica Burton, Arike Ogunbowale and Li Yueru. The Mist will play one of Unrivaled\u2019s new teams, The Hive, in the first game of the season on Jan. 5.<\/p>\n

One half of StudBudz, Williams, is returning to Unrivaled for the second season after being one of the first 32 players to make up the inaugural season a year ago.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo by Megan Briggs\/Getty Images Getty Images<\/p>\n

After spending last season with the Lunar Owls, Williams is on a new squad this season while suiting up for Team Vinyl alongside Rhyne Howard, Dearica Hamby, Erica Wheeler, Rae Burrell and Brittney Griner. Williams and Team Vinyl will take the court against Laces in the second of four games on opening night on Jan. 5.<\/p>\n

In 14 games in 2025, Williams averaged 9.4 points, 4.6 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 0.4 steals over 9.8 minutes per game with the Lunar Owls.<\/p>\n

Like her fellow StudBudz partner, Hiedeman is also returning to Unrivaled for the second straight season after bouncing around to three different teams \u2014 Phantom, Laces and Rose, during the inaugural season. Hiedeman concluded the year with Rose and helped them to an Unrivaled Championship.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo by Megan Briggs\/Getty Images Getty Images<\/p>\n

To start the 2026 season, Hiedeman is on one of the two newest teams in Unrivaled this season, The Hive, alongside Kelsey Mitchell, Sonia Citron, Ezi Magbegor, Saniya Rivers and Monique Billings. The Hive will face Smith and The Mist in the first game on the opening night slate Jan. 5.<\/p>\n

With Phantom, Laces and Rose last season, Hiedeman took the floor in 12 games, averaging 7.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists over 9.8 minutes per game.<\/p>\n

As was mentioned earlier, Collier won\u2019t be taking part in the 2026 Unrivaled season, though she initially hoped to take part with her Lunar Owls team. Collier announced on New Year\u2019s Day that she will miss the season due to having surgery on both of her ankles.<\/p>\n

With the surgery on both ankles, which will take place in New York City the first week of January, Collier will be sidelined for four to six months.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am heartbroken to share that I will miss this Unrivaled season,\u201d Collier said on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cI have fought hard over the last few months to be back with my Owls and was devastated to be told by my team of doctors that surgery was the best path forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo by Rich Storry\/Getty Images Getty Images<\/p>\n

During the 2025 WNBA season, Collier suffered injuries to both of her ankles. She sprained her right ankle in early August and missed three weeks, then tore three ligaments in her left ankle in Game 3 of the semifinals.<\/p>\n

The news of surgery is a tough blow for Collier, but one that appears to be necessary for her long-term health. And though the surgery might ultimately interfere with the start of the WNBA season to some extent, this surgery should limit similar injuries from happening in the future and is something that will likely help both Collier and the Lynx moving forward.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for updates on every Lynx player and where they are playing this offseason, make sure you check back every Monday with our Lynx Offseason Update series<\/a>.<\/p>\n