Bird’s Eye View with Sue Bird

Episode: "Sue Bird's 2026 Unrivaled Season Preview"

Release Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Sue Bird (absent this episode; Jason Gallagher and Tommy Alter lead the discussion)

Overview

This episode provides an in-depth preview and analysis of the second season of Unrivaled, the groundbreaking, player-led women’s basketball league featuring a three-on-three full-court format. Fresh off a dynamic inaugural season, Jason Gallagher and Tommy Alter break down the unique style of play, team compositions, player storylines, and what makes this league a magnetic offseason destination for both players and fans.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Unique Gameplay Format and Strategic Elements

• Elam Ending & Excitement:

  • The Elam ending ensures each game concludes with a game-winning shot, maintaining high excitement throughout every matchup.
  • “With each game, you know you were going to get something exciting at the end no matter what... it was really interesting to see which player skill sets were going to come out.” — Jason Gallagher (03:00)

• Skillset Translation from 5-on-5 to 3-on-3:

  • Players who function as "Swiss army knives"—versatile, multidimensional athletes—thrive in Unrivaled’s open space.
  • • “When you had players on your team, regardless of position, that could do multiple things... those teams did well.” — Jason (03:50)
  • Standout examples: Nafeesa Collier, Alyssa Thomas, Jackie Young.

2. Spotlight on Breakout and Impact Players

• Jackie Young:
  • Seen as a potential breakout, having played limited minutes last season due to injury.
• Aaliyah Edwards:
  • Emerged as a breakout last season; her size is a key advantage in one-on-one situations (05:08).
• Nas Hillmon & Veronica Burton:
  • Identified as under-the-radar names to watch, both with proven versatility and defensive grit.
• Alicia Gray:
  • Not a “breakout” so much as a continuation of her impact, having performed well in the first season.

3. Team-By-Team Previews and Roster Chemistry

Breeze

• Young but very high upside roster: Paige Bueckers, Rekia Jackson, Cameron Brink, Arie McDonald, Kate Martin.
• “At first glance this team, I was like, oof, they’re kind of young... then you pull back and you kind of let it settle in and you’re like, wait a minute. This might, this team might be a problem.” — Jason (07:46)

Lunar Owls

• Veteran-heavy: Nafeesa Collier, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Aaliyah Edwards, Rebecca Allen, Marina Mabry, Rachel Banham.
• “On paper, this is the strongest team. It’s the most well-balanced... They added Marina Mabry who’s just like, she doesn’t give a fuck, she’s going out there to win.” — Jason (09:18)

Hive

• Least Unrivaled experience, featuring Mo Billings, Saniya Rivers, Natisha Heideman, Ezi Magbegor, Sonya Citron, Kelsey Mitchell.
• Kelsey Mitchell singled out for her pace and influence on team tempo.

Other Notables

• Phantom: Features Kelsey Plum, Aaliyah Boston, Tiffany Hayes, Natasha Cloud; brings together “weird combos and grab bags” of stars, highlighting the unique opportunities in Unrivaled (26:41).
• Laces: After a promising but injury-plagued first season, now add Nas Hillmon and Brittany Sykes alongside mainstays Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Young.

4. Three-on-Three Dynamics vs. Five-on-Five

• Scoring Runs & Playmaking:

  • “Hot” scorers (e.g., Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi) can take over more directly; less hiding spots for defenders.
  • • “In three on three, if someone’s hot, you cannot ignore it. It’s easier to put them on an island.” — Jason (12:26)

• Conditioning & Versatility:

  • “You are literally in every single play: offense, defense, there is no ‘get a breath.’ So, who’s in shape? Who plays well when they’re tired?” — Jason (18:30)

5. Coaching & Preparation

• In-Game Strategy:

  • Coaches find limited strategic windows; game speed requires “letting go and letting God” once it begins.
  • • “A large part of your impact as a coach is just trying to find moments to steal possessions... The reality is, I’m not religious, but I know this is a saying. I bet those coaches are just like letting go and let God.” — Jason (19:42, 20:35)

• Player Development & Risk-Taking:

  • Unrivaled provides a rare chance for players (especially post players) to expand their skill set in game settings without derailing team structure.
  • • “So much of this is just confidence and seeing the ball go in. If you start to see the ball go in... maybe I should just start shooting for real, you know.” — Tommy (31:24)

6. Roster Construction & Injury Management

• Deep rosters are critical—only six players per team, so injuries (common in this high-intensity, high-movement format) can be devastating.
• Unrivaled added standby replacement players to help manage mid-season changes.
• • “It happened to the Laces... two injuries and then you’re down to one sub, which is not easy.” — Jason (24:48)

7. Season Structure and What’s New

• Expanded to more teams, more games, no more back-to-backs for better player health.
• Four consecutive game nights each weekend (Friday–Monday).
• Games televised on TNT, TruTV, and HBO Max.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Versatility Wins:
  “When you could do multiple things, when one player could do multiple things, those teams did well. It didn’t really matter, guard or forward.”
  — Jason Gallagher (03:50)

• Leadership Leverage:
  “What I like about [Kelsey Mitchell] in this style, first of all, it translates, she’s going to be running teams off the court on her own, she’s gonna set the tone, set the pace.”
  — Jason (25:10)

• On Taking Over in 3-on-3:
  “In three on three, if someone’s hot, you cannot ignore it... It’s easier to put them on an island.”
  — Jason (12:26)

• Coaching Reality:
  “A large part of your impact as a coach is just trying to find moments to steal possessions... Let go and let God.”
  — Jason (19:42, 20:35)

• Player Growth Opportunities:
  “What three on three and Unrivaled provides is these natural opportunities to get you out of your comfort zone.”
  — Jason (33:26)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:40–03:50: What made Season 1 of Unrivaled unique; the Elam ending and standout skills.
• 03:50–06:38: How versatility outguns position-specific skills; teams/players who adapt.
• 07:16–08:41: Team Breeze deep dive; youth vs. experience debate.
• 08:41–10:51: Lunar Owls preview; experience vs. upside, team chemistry talk.
• 11:40–13:27: Three-on-three “take over” dynamic; legendary players who’d thrive.
• 16:54–18:30: Ideal historical Unrivaled teams and the unique requirements of 3x3 success.
• 19:29–21:35: Coaching, prep, and the chaos of 3x3 game strategy.
• 22:32–24:48: Injury risks and new roster rules.
• 25:04–27:22: Team Hive’s rawness; the Phantom roster’s wild combinations.
• 29:04–33:26: Unrivaled as a platform for skill experimentation and confidence-building.
• 33:31–34:06: Final thoughts: the Laces, first weeks to watch, and uniform favorites.

Engaging Takeaways

• Unrivaled is a testing ground for versatility, resilience, and skill experimentation, offering a refreshing change of pace from traditional WNBA play.
• Roster depth and chemistry are unpredictable factors, and teams with a mix of Swiss army knives and intelligent vets may have the edge.
• Condensed format keeps everyone guessing—nothing is static from one week to the next; teams can get “March Madness hot” and ride momentum.
• Player development runs parallel to competition:
  • Expect to see more post players take threes, guards break down defenders, and unexpected stars emerge.

Next episode drops next Friday. Games begin January 5th. Stay locked in for the action and inside coverage!