Unrivaled announces its six teams with two spots still open as wild cards

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Unrivaled announces its six teams with two spots still open as wild cards

2024-11-21 00:20 Last Updated At：00:40

Unrivaled finally has its teams set.

The league divided the players into six pods of wings, guards and forwards. The six coaches then put the names on a board and drafted teams with the main idea being that the squads would be as equal as possible. The twist was that none of the coaches knew which team they would be coaching until after the squads for the 3-on-3 league were made.

Co-founders Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier are on different teams. Stewart's squad includes former Seattle Storm teammate Jewell Loyd as well as current New York Liberty one Courtney Vandersloot. Dijonai Carrington, Rickea Jackson and Aaliyah Edwards round out Team Mist.

Collier's Lunar Owls squad has Skylar Diggins-Smith, Natasha Cloud, Allisha Gray, Shakira Austin and one of the two wild card spots. The league has only announced 34 of the 36 players on the team, allowing for two more player signings. Unrivaled has been in talks with WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark.

The other team with a wild card is Phantom. Jackie Young, Marina Mabrey, Tiffany Hayes, Satou Sabally and Brittney Griner are the other five members of that squad.

Team Vinyl consists of Arike Ogunbowale, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, Rae Burrell, Dearica Hamby and Aliyah Boston. Team Rose has Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, Brittney Sykes, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese and Azura Stevens.

Team Laces has Kelsey Plum, Courtney Williams Kayla McBride, Kate Martin, Alyssa Thomas and Stefanie Dolson.

The games will begin on Jan. 17 and be played in Miami. The total salary pool for the 36 players is more than $8 million, with players receiving equity in the league.

The league recently announced a multiyear partnership with TNT and its sports platforms to show more than 45 games. Matchups will be shown three nights a week, with twice-weekly games on TNT on Mondays and Fridays. The games on Saturday will be shown on truTV.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Bride and groom among 8 killed in gas cylinder blast at wedding in Pakistan’s capital

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A gas cylinder explosion early Sunday after a wedding reception at a home in Pakistan’s capital killed at least eight people, including the bride and groom, police and officials said.

The blast occurred as guests who had gathered to celebrate the couple were sleeping at the house, causing part of the house to collapse, according to the Islamabad police. Seven people were injured.

In a statement, police said the explosion occurred in a residential area in the heart of the city. A government administrator, Sahibzada Yousaf, said authorities were alerted about the blast early Sunday and officers are still investigating. He said some nearby homes were also damaged.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the victims’ families, according to a statement from his office. He directed health authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible treatment and ordered a full investigation.

Many Pakistani households rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders because of low natural gas pressure, and such cylinders have been linked to deadly accidents caused by gas leaks. Police said investigations were ongoing.