Paige Bueckers joins Unrivaled’s expansion Breeze for 2026

Celebrated basketball star Paige Bueckers, the top choice in the 2025 WNBA Draft, made it a two-fer on Wednesday, becoming the first selection of the expansion Breeze in Unrivaled's own draft.

Unrivaled, the professional 3×3 basketball league for women, announced in September that it is adding two teams to the league in 2026. Bueckers made headlines by inking a three-year deal with the league in April, despite her status as the Dallas Wings' top selection in the WNBA.

The other Unrivaled expansion team, the Hive, made Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, an All-WNBA player, its top choice.

The upstart league announced a slew of player additions in the 2025 calendar year, necessitating a shakeup in rosters. Playoff teams were allowed to retain two players, while non-playoff teams could keep one.

That left the league in the unique position of being able to announce virtually brand-new rosters for all of its teams on Wednesday, with the exception of a short list of holdovers.

The holdovers are Napheesa Collier and Skylar Diggins (Lunar Owls), Kahleah Copper and Chelsea Gray (Rose), Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard (Vinyl), Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Young (Laces), Satou Sabally (Phantom) and Breanna Stewart (Mist).

Joining Bueckers on the Breeze will be Rickea Jackson, Dominique Malonga, Aari McDonald, Kate Martin and Cameron Brink. Playing alongside Mitchell with the Hive will be Sonia Citron, Ezi Magbegor, Natisha Hiedeman, Saniya Rivers and Mo Billings.

Collier and Diggins will suit up alongside Marina Mabrey, Rachel Banham, Rebecca Allen and Aaliyah Edwards on the Lunar Owls.

The Mist will feature Allisha Gray, Alanna Smith, Veronica Burton, Arike Ogunbowale and Li Yueru playing with Stewart.

Teaming up with Copper and Gray for the Rose will be Azura Stevens, Sug Sutton, Lexie Hull and Shakira Austin.

The Laces have Brittney Sykes, Jordin Canada, Maddy Siegrist and Naz Hillmon playing alongside Thomas and Young.

Suiting up for the Phantom along with Sabally will be Kelsey Plum, Aliyah Boston, Dana Evans, Natasha Cloud and Kiki Iriafen.

The Vinyl will showcase Courtney Williams, Erica Wheeler, Rae Burrell and Brittney Griner playing with Hamby and Howard.

--Field Level Media