4x WNBA All-Star Ready to Abandon Unrivaled Race After Receiving Homecoming Call from Overseas

One of Unrivaled’s biggest names just made a move that raised eyebrows, just months before the WNBA’s reopening. A former Minnesota Lynx star has announced an overseas return, sending fans scrambling for answers. With four All-Star selections, a deadly 3-point shot, and a near-90% free throw conversion rate, she’s long been one of the league’s most reliable scorers. But now, she’s heading back to familiar territory.

Current league leaders with a 15-3 record in the Turkish Women’s Super League have come calling. And Kayla McBride has answered Fenerbhache Opet’s calls. The Turkish giants announced McBride’s shock return to the Ülker Sports Arena and Unrivaled fans have been trying to gather whether the Laces BC superstar would stay through the duration of the season. Fenerbahce’s tweet yesterday featured phrasing that didn’t reflect when exactly McBride would join their ranks.

“Our club has reached an agreement with American star player Kayla McBride, who played for Çubuklu between 2020-24 and had a major share in our historical victories during this period, until the end of the season. ” stated the Fenerbahce tweet. What about Unrivaled, Kayla?

McBride might have to don the Laces BC colors until mid-March if the team makes it to the playoffs. Unrivaled playoffs are set to go on till March 17. Having already made the announcement, many believe that McBride is set to abandon Unrivaled mid-season for the Istanbul-based franchise. Amid growing speculation, basketball journalist Jackie Powell provided much-needed clarity.

“I can report via a source close to the situation that McBride will report to Fener following the Unrivaled Season,” stated Powell. Based on this, most information points to how McBride isn’t one to jump ship. Despite her immense success, the 32-year-old remains fully committed to Laces BC and will join the Yellow Canaries only after finishing her time at Unrivaled.

Fenerbahce Opet and Kayla McBride: A match made in heaven

For McBride, Fenerbahce Opet is home. The former Ekaterinburg forward helped Fenerbahce win back-to-back EuroLeague titles, solidifying their claim as one of the best in Europe. McBride was electric in the 2024 Final Four, earning her the 2024 Final Four MVP award in the EuroLeague. She scored 25 points in Fenerbahce Opet’s 89-80 win over nemesis, Cukurova. Following that the forward turned all-rounder, scoring 17, rebounding 7, and assisting 7 in a comfortable 106-73 win over Villeneuve d’Ascq LM.

What does this mean for Unrivaled? The league set out to directly challenge overseas competitions. It sought to offer key WNBA players enough financial incentives to help them stay during the off-season period. Despite that, McBride, one of the league’s most prized players, decided to ply her trade abroad. Does this indicate a deeper flaw in Unrivaled’s structure, or is it simply a matter of top players maximizing opportunities?

Having the Unrivaled season end in mid-March, do the players still feel the need for competition in the months leading up to the WNBA season? McBride’s move suggests that sentiment. If Napheesa Collier’s exclusive league begins to be viewed as a short-term stop rather than a viable off-season competition, top-tier talent may decide to skip it altogether. While this might turn into a long-term problem, Collier and Stewart already have immediate concerns to attend to.

For now, McBride’s immediate focus is clear. She’s returning to Fenerbahce to chase more silverware. If the Turkish powerhouse secures another domestic title, she’ll stand on the EuroLeague winner’s podium for the fourth time, adding to her 2019 gold medal with UMMC Ekaterinburg. With two EuroLeague titles already under her belt at Fenerbahce, she now looks to cement her legacy with a third before returning stateside to take on whatever comes next