How Unrivaled became the WNBA free agency hub of all chatter, gossip and deal-making

MEDLEY, Fla. — On the eve of WNBA free agency beginning last Tuesday, several league decision-makers gathered under the same roof.

Inside Unrivaled’s Wayfair Arena, Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon sat next to a basket stanchion with team president Nikki Fargas to her left, watching the end of the 3×3 league’s opening weekend. Dallas Wings front office members observed the action across the court from them. Seattle Storm brass sat off the floor in one corner of the show court, and the Los Angeles Sparks representation was a few rows up. The Atlanta Dream contingent watched closer to center court.

WNBA teams attended to support their players as well as the launch of a new league that could shift historic offseason routines and keep more star players in the U.S. during the offseason. But there was other work in Florida: Free agency negotiations officially began Tuesday.

With some convenient scheduling, Unrivaled became the epicenter of all the chatter, gossip and deal-making.

“This is the best place to be able to recruit free agents,” said Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud, who is playing on Unrivaled’s Phantom Basketball Club.

The beginning stages of Unrivaled overlapping with WNBA free agency wasn’t one of the league’s original goals, co-founder Napheesa Collier said. But it’s undoubtedly added to early buzz — Satou Sabally, for instance, used her first Unrivaled media availability to share with reporters that she had told the Wings she wanted to be traded — and it’s increased convenience for free agents, coaches and GMs.

Courtney Vandersloot is an unrestricted WNBA free agent, playing with Unrivaled Mist Basketball Club. Her first true free agency experience came after the Chicago Sky’s 2021 title. That offseason, she was playing in Russia, at UMMC Ekaterinburg, taking remote evening meetings after long practice days. “It was late nights. You’re relying on technology, hoping that the internet works,” Vandersloot said. “It doesn’t feel very personable.”

Now?

WNBA teams have posted up at hotels across the Miami area, squeezing in meetings after Unrivaled practices and around players’ schedules.

Eight WNBA free agents, including those who are cored and restricted, are on Unrivaled rosters. Sabally, Vandersloot, Alyssa Thomas, DiJonai Carrington and Brittney Griner highlight the list. Others could potentially be on the move via trade, too. Jewell Loyd, a member of Unrivaled’s Mist Basketball Club, is on the move to the Aces, in a deal that seems likely to have a domino effect throughout the league.

Leading into Unrivaled’s opening weekend, multiple players were light-hearted about the implications of being together in one place during free agency. Vandersloot said anyone who gave her a pack of IPAs “might have a head start” in recruiting her. Sabally joked that she had already received a few cups of coffee.

Cloud said she wants what’s best for Sabally. But she added: “If that is Phoenix, I will literally tell her I will give up my apartment if she wants that too.”

As Feb. 1, the date deals can be announced, approaches, the reality of negotiations looms larger, and the quips have dissipated.

“It was a total shift. People are lingering in the hallways, having full-blown conversations,” one player granted anonymity to speak freely about the recruiting process said. “We’re not joking anymore.”

The WNBA is preparing to enter its 28th season, but robust free-agency recruiting is still a relatively new part of the winter. Aces guard Chelsea Gray said in an Uninterrupted mini-documentary about her 2020 free agency: “You hear about it happening on the men’s side. Why not have it happen on the women’s side? Why not have people be like, ‘You need to fly her out?’”

Two offseasons ago, Istanbul, Turkey, became the crossroads of the cycle as the New York Liberty, Washington Mystics, Minnesota Lynx and Storm tried figuring into the Breanna Stewart sweepstakes. A team traveling abroad demonstrated interest in building a relationship.

Now, Unrivaled is that crossroads of the free agency world, and players can conveniently build relationships with each other. Peer connections are the benefits of everyone gathering in one place.

“You’re able to talk to other players directly, and you can figure out what type of resources, how important is their team to the owners? If you have an owner of a team that doesn’t prioritize the women’s team, they’re going to talk about it, and that’s a place where I would (be) less likely to go,” Sabally said.

Players can cross-pollinate their thoughts on facilities. Multiple players at Unrivaled, both free agents and players signed to deals, said that topic had come up in the meal room, sauna and weight room.

“It’s been fun hearing players trying to get certain players to join teams. You’re kind of just able to hear other people’s experiences as well,” New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu said.

Not every franchise flocked to Florida right away. Minnesota Lynx head coach and president of basketball Cheryl Reeve and assistant coach Eric Thibault were spotted at last Wednesday’s EuroLeague game between Fenerbahçe and Umana Reyer Venezia. Free agent bigs Emma Meesseman and Tina Charles play for the Turkish club as does Minnesota forward Nina Milić.

But by Friday night’s Unrivaled action, they had arrived in Florida.

Lynx guard Courtney Williams said she wasn’t planning to recruit free agents. But Williams admitted that could change in an instant.

“If (Cheryl) gives me a call,” Williams said, “I’m gonna start chatting.”

(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)