Guard duo should give Mist BC a game-changing boost in second Unrivaled season

Unrivaled’s rosters underwent a lot of changes ahead of the league’s second season. For Mist BC, only one player from last season remains on the roster. Mist was one of the teams that didn’t make the playoffs in Unrivaled’s inaugural season and was thus only allowed to protect one player. They chose Breanna Stewart. Rickea Jackson moved on to Breeze BC, and Aaliyah Edwards joined the Lunar Owls. DiJonai Carrington, Courtney Vandersloot, and Jewell Loyd won’t be competing in Unrivaled this time around. 

So, Stewart has a completely new roster around her, teaming up with Arike Ogunbowale, Veronica Burton, Alanna Smith, Li Yueru, and Allisha Gray. Such a significant shakeup might not have been the worst thing for Stewart’s team, given its lack of success in the 2025 season. The new roster includes a lot of defensive talent and versatility, star power, and scoring. 

It also includes two of the four members of the 3×3 AmeriCup gold medal team. Allisha Gray and Veronica Burton are fresh off a 3×3 victory with Team USA. The experience they gathered during the tournament and the chemistry they built should help Mist BC get off to a better start. 

Gray and Burton played well at the AmeriCup

Burton and Gray teamed up with Shakira Austin and Naz Hillmon at the 3×3 AmeriCup. The four didn’t lose a single game, beating Brazil, Jamaica, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, and Canada on their way to a gold medal. Canada was the only team that could keep the game close, losing 19-21 in the finals. 

All four Team USA players finished in the top ten in total points scored across the tournament. Gray finished with 25 points, including a clutch nine-point performance to seal the win in the finals, and took home the tournament MVP award. Burton scored 23 points and shot well from long range. 

3×3 is different from Unrivaled 

While Burton and Gray gained valuable three-on-three experience at the AmeriCup and performed well in the format, it’s important to note that 3×3 is very different from the way Unrivaled approached three-on-three basketball. 3×3 is played in the half-court and with a 12-second shot clock. The game always resets behind the 3-point line, but shots from long range are only worth two points, while every other basket is awarded one point. 

Unrivaled, meanwhile, uses two baskets and a regular full-court setup, even though the court is smaller than the regular WNBA courts. The game is fast and includes a lot of running up and down the court, especially in fast-break situations which 3×3 doesn’t really feature. 

Nevertheless, the principles are very similar once a team gets into the halfcourt against a set defense. Gray and Burton know how to succeed together in such a setting.