Unrivaled: What to watch as the games begin for Season 2

The 2026 Unrivaled season tips off with a double double-header.

On Monday, Jan. 5, the second season of the 3×3 league begins with Mist BC taking on newcomer Hive BC at 1 p.m. ET, followed by Vinyl BC meeting Laces BC at 2:15 p.m. ET. The opening set of games will be broadcast on truTV.

The evening double-header opens with Lunars Owls BC and Rose BC at 8 p.m. ET, before Phantom BC faces the league’s other newcomer, Breeze BC, at 9:15 p.m. ET. The latter two games will be shown on TNT and truTV.

Here’s what to watch for during the quartet of Unrivaled openers:

Mist BC vs. Hive BC (1 p.m. ET, truTV)

Mist BC: Breanna Stewart (captain), Arike Ogunbowale, Veronica Burton, Alanna Smith, Li Yueru, Allisha Gray

Hive BC: Sonia Citron (captain), Kelsey Mitchell, Monique Billings, Saniya Rivers, Natisha Hiedeman, Ezi Magbegor

Hive might be in for a rude welcome to Unrivaled.

With Breanna Stewart, Alanna Smith, Allisha Gray and Veronica Burton, Mist can deploy defensive lineups that envelop in Hive an offensive fog. On the other end, the star-level gravity of Stewart combined with the 3-point shooting of Gray and Burton, plus the potential of an Arike Ogunbowale explosion, could likewise overwhelm Hive.

But if there’s any player immune to defensive attention, it’s Kelsey Mitchell, the super scorer who can get Hive buzzing.

Add the sweet shooting of Sonia Citron, defensive playmaking of Saniya Rivers and rim protection of Ezi Magbegor to Mitchell’s mastery, and Hive has enough three-player lineup optionality that could help them compete with Mist.

Vinyl BC vs. Laces BC (2:15 p.m. ET, truTV)

Vinyl BC: Dearica Hamby (captain), Rhyne Howard, Courtney Williams, Erica Wheeler, Rae Burrell, Brittney Griner

Laces BC: Jackie Young (captain), Alyssa Thomas, Naz Hillmon, Maddy Siegrist, Jordin Canada, Brittney Sykes

Entering the season, Vinyl and Laces both profile as championship contenders.

Led by Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Young, look for Laces to establish their physicality on both ends of the floor. Defensively, they’ll play with an aggression that all of Naz Hillmon, Brittney Sykes and Jordin Canada will amplify. Offensively, Thomas and Young lead an attack that can beat opponents just about any way. While AT will be looking for the likes of Naz and Slim on cuts to the basket, Jack will get to her spot and score, unbothered any defense.

For Vinyl, Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell will be ready for such a physical battle, while the trio of Rhyne Howard, Courtney Williams and Erica Wheeler all possess the kind tough shotmaking panache that could prove impervious to Laces’ best defensive efforts.

Lunar Owls BC vs. Rose BC (8 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV)

Lunar Owls BC: Napheesa Collier (captain; out for season), Skylar Diggins, Marina Mabrey, Rachel Banham, Aaliyah Edwards, Rebecca Allen, Temi Fagbenle

Rose BC: Kahleah Copper (captain), Chelsea Gray, Azurá Stevens, Sug Sutton, Lexie Hull, Shakira Austin

Without Napheesa Collier, it’s going to be an uphill battle for Lunar Owls this season, beginning with their opener against Rose.

However, Owls have enough players, headlined by the Notre Dame duo of Skylar Diggins and Marina Mabrey, who would love nothing more than to prove doubters wrong—and let everyone know about it. It’s probably unwise to write them off. That’s especially true if Aaliyah Edwards, after an uninspiring sophomore season in the WNBA, again discovers the best version of herself.

But Rose just has to keep this one close to be confident that they can open their title defense with a win. That’s all because of Chelsea Gray, who epitomized her Point Gawd moniker with her clutch play last season. There’s no reason not to expect more of the same this season.

In addition to dropping in absurdly difficult jumpers, Gray can work in two-woman actions with Azurá Stevens or Shakira Austin, set up Lexie Hull for a 3 or find a streaking Kahleah Copper for easy transition scores.

Phantom BC vs. Breeze BC (9:15 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV)

Phantom BC: Kelsey Plum (captain), Natasha Cloud, Dana Evans, Aliyah Boston, Kiki Iriafen, Tiffany Hayes, Satou Sabally (out indefinitely)

Breeze BC: Paige Bueckers (captain), Rickea Jackson, Dominique Malonga, Cameron Brink, Kate Martin, Aari McDonald

The fourth and final game is the Paige Bueckers feature, as all eyes will be on the WNBA Rookie of the Year as she and Breeze make their Unrivaled debut.

If Bueckers often was overburdened as the Dallas Wings’ sole source of reliable offense, she’s blessed with a talented, versatile supporting cast with Breeze. The purity of Rickea Jackson’s midranger rivals that of Bueckers, while Dominique Malonga and Cameron Brink give her two threatening pick-and-roll partners. While a Dom dunk off a pass from Paige might be the most anticipated action, Brink’s three-level scoring will also be a weapon for Breeze.

The Dom-Cam duo can also be the foundation of a Breeze defense that denies opponents any opportunity at the rim. Their presence could be particularly problematic for a Phantom side that seems likely to prioritize points around the basket, whether that’s drives from Natasha Cloud, Tiffany Hayes and Kelsey Plum or post ups from Aliyah Boston and Kiki Iriafen.

How the foul game shakes out for Malonga, Brink, Boston and Iriafen could swing the outcome of this one.