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Curious about Unrivaled? Our guide to why you should watch the 3-on-3 league will help you get the most out of season two.
Good morning! âď¸
If youâre in the path of this weekendâs winter storm, stay safe out there. And if youâre planning to hunker down, thereâs plenty of hoops to keep you company. Unrivaled runs Friday through Monday, plus a big SEC showdown on Sunday with No. 2 South Carolina hosting No. 5 Vanderbilt at 3:00 PM ET on ESPN. Hope you all have a great weekend.
What to Know About Womenâs Basketball Today
1. The 2026 WNBA Season Will Pause for FIBA đ
When the 2026 WNBA schedule dropped yesterday, there was one change that stood out right away. The league confirmed it will pause games from Sept. 1â16 to make room for the FIBA Womenâs World Cup. This is the first time the WNBA has built a break into its schedule for the tournament.
WHY IT MATTERS: The Womenâs World Cup is the biggest international competition in the sport outside the Olympics, and this break means players wonât have to choose between the WNBA and their national teams. In past years, the league didnât need to pause because the season wrapped up just before the tournament. But with the longer 44-game season that began in 2025, that timing no longer works. This is also a short-term change. Starting in 2030, FIBA will move the tournament to late November.
2. Kayla McBride Injury Update Brings Relief đ¤đ
A little scary at first, but ultimately good news for Minnesota fans. Kayla McBride suffered a soft-tissue injury while training overseas with Fenerbahçe Opet, though early reports made it sound much worse than it actually is. (The Athletic)
WHY IT MATTERS: Initial reports suggested a torn quad, which understandably sent fans and the womenâs basketball internet into panic mode. Thankfully, thatâs not the case. McBride is expected to need just 7â10 days of rehab, and the confusion came down to a translation error in a Turkish-language social media post. For the Minnesota Lynx and their fans, this update is a big sigh of relief.
3. Sydney Colson Joins the AU Broadcast Team đď¸
Expect plenty of laughs in Nashville next month. Funny WNBA vet Sydney Colson has been named to Athletes Unlimitedâs broadcast team for the 2026 season, adding another chapter to her long history with the league. (Athletes Unlimited)
WHY IT MATTERS: At 36 and coming off an ACL injury last season, Colson is clearly starting to think about what comes next, and broadcasting feels like a natural fit. Like Candace Parker and Sue Bird before her, sheâs carving out a post-playing path while staying close to the game. And with her sharp wit and perfect comedic timing, donât be surprised if she quickly becomes one of the gameâs most entertaining voices.
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OVERTIME âąď¸
Giving Back: Paige Bueckers pledged her $50,000 Unrivaled Free Throw Contest winnings to support kids and families in her Minnesota hometown.
Schedule Shift: The UConn vs. Seton Hall weekend matchup has been moved from Sunday to Saturday due to Winter Storm Benjamin.
CBA Watch: Breanna Stewart recently shared that sheâs optimistic thereâs âlight at the end of the tunnelâ in ongoing WNBA CBA negotiations.
đłď¸ Poll Results from Yesterday: Safe to say Unrivaled has your attention. We asked if youâre watching this season, and 78% of you are tuning in.
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