Two new expansion teams are coming to Unrivaled ahead of its second season. On Wednesday, the league announced Breeze BC and Hive BC, both of which will tip off when the league’s second year gets underway in January.
In addition to the Breeze and Hive, Unrivaled also announced the formation of a dedicated developmental player pool. All three entities will employ six players apiece, bringing the league total up to 54 players next season.
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The league announced both teams in a video on X on Wednesday.
To accommodate the addition of the two expansion teams, Unrivaled will add a fourth night of games to its schedule, which has yet to be released. Each team is expected to play two games per week under the new schedule, which will look to eliminate back-to-back games.
Unrivaled president of basketball Luke Cooper said in a statement that the addition of both the Breeze and Hive spoke to the league’s “strong business model.”
“Expanding a year earlier than planned is a testament to the strong business model we’ve built and the potential Unrivaled has for long-term success,” Cooper said. “We outperformed every goal we set for the league in year one, and with the incredible talent we have returning paired with the influx of new stars, it was a no brainer to add two more clubs this season.”
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The league also provided details on how its developmental pool will work. Six players will practice and train daily with league staff to hone their skills. If an injury occurs to a player on one of Unrivaled’s teams, a player from the developmental pool will be called up to fill in. Once the injured player returns, their replacement will return to the developmental pool. Players who are part of the development pool will have access to the same resources and amenities as rostered players, per the league’s release.
Unrivaled kicked off its first season in January and saw a number of WNBA stars compete in its unique 3-on-3 format. Games are played on a compressed full court and are comprised of seven-minute quarters. All games are played at a venue in Miami specifically built for Unrivaled.
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The league was formed to give WNBA players a way to play basketball in the offseason without having to go overseas. It also serves as a way for players to continue to gain experience and develop outside of the WNBA season.
Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier co-founded the league and played in the inaugural season. Dallas Wings rookie star Paige Bueckers will join Unrivaled this season. The league is also expected to make a push to sign Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, who played in just 13 games in her second season in the WNBA due to various injuries.
The Rose, which were led by Brittney Sykes and Chelsea Gray, took home the title during Unrivaled’s first season. They defeated the Vinyl in the league’s single-elimination championship.