Former South Carolina star joins Unrivaled Basketball League

08/22/2024 11:37 AM

Allisha Gray is the latest WNBA star to commit to playing in the new offseason 3x3 basketball league set to launch in Miami in January.

The Dream's Allisha Gray is the latest WNBA star to join the Unrivaled Basketball League, a new three-on-three basketball league slated to take place during the WNBA offseason. Unrivaled is set to take launch in Miami in January and will feature 30 of the top players in the WNBA.

Who is Allisha Gray?

Allisha Gray, the 2017 Rookie of the Year, is no stranger to 3x3 basketball. She was a member of the U.S. women's 3x3 basketball team that won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, and has consistently been one of the more effective guards in the WNBA throughout her 8-year professional career.

Gray, a guard on the Atlanta Dream, is a two-time WNBA All-Star (2023, 2024). She won an NCAA national championship at the University of South Carolina. She joins Rhyne Howard as the second Dream player to commit to playing in Unrivaled.

This season, Gray is averaging 15.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Though the Dream had a disappointing beginning to the season, they have rattled off three straight wins since the Olympic break and now sit just one game out of the playoff picture.

What is the Unrivaled Basketball League?

The league — founded by Lynx's Napheesa Collier and the Liberty's Breanna Stewart — will give WNBA players an opportunity to stay in the U.S. during the offseason rather than play overseas. Notably, it will be player-owned and boast a minimum salary of $100,000, the highest of any women's professional sports league.

For Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey, playing in Unrivaled meant that she won't have to play in Turkey or China in the offseason, something she's long wanted.

"I've wanted to stay in America for a couple years now, and I haven't stayed home since I graduated college," Mabrey said. "So it felt like it was an opportunity. And then also, just being able to play with the top players in the world — and be considered that — is an honor. And then, also just want to help grow the league. Stewie and Phee spent a lot of time putting this together... I want to help be a part of that."

15 WNBA stars have committed to playing in Unrivaled

With Gray's addition, the list of WNBA basketball players committed to Unrivaled has grown to include 15 players:

1. Allisha Gray (Dream)
2. Angel Reese (Sky)
3. Arike Ogunbowale (Wings)
4. Breanna Stewart (Liberty)
5. Chelsea Gray (Aces)
6. Dearica Hamby (Sparks)
7. Jackie Young (Aces)
8. Jewell Loyd (Storm)
9. Kahleah Copper (Mercury)
10. Kayla McBride (Lynx)
11. Kelsey Plum (Aces)
12. Marina Mabrey (Sun)
13. Napheesa Collier (Lynx)
14. Rhyne Howard (Dream)
15. Satou Sabally (Wings)

Over the coming weeks, 15 more players will be revealed as the league gears up to commence in January.

Only 12 of the 2024 WNBA All-Stars have not yet committed to joining Unrivaled, though some of them will likely be announced in the coming weeks. That list includes:

1. DeWanna Bonner (Sun)
2. Brionna Jones (Sun)
3. Jonquel Jones (Liberty)
4. Kelsey Mitchell (Fever)
5. Nneka Ogwumike (Storm)
6. Brittney Griner (Mercury)
7. Sabrina Ionescu (Liberty)
8. Diana Taurasi (Mercury)
9. Alyssa Thomas (Sun)
10. A'ja Wilson (Aces)
11. Caitlin Clark (Fever)
12. Aliyah Boston (Fever)

Napheesa Collier has also already confirmed four rookies will be participating — only Angel Reese has been announced so far, leaving the door open for Clark or other top rookies to be announced.