Years ago, Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud began to hear about rumblings of a basketball league. That league would become Unrivaled. The 3×3 league, put together by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart has been the talk of the WNBA offseason.

WNBA executives have flocked to Miami for the start of free agency, hoping to open conversations with players taking part in the new Unrivaled league.

It’s unclear whether Diana Taurasi, the face of the Mercury, will play in her 21st season with Phoenix. What lies ahead for the franchise?

The intimate venue in Miami that was created in about six weeks and seats about 850 fans was full. The farthest seat is about 30 feet from the court. Those in attendance cheered virtually on every

Stewie versus Phee was the matchup that fed families during the 2024 WNBA Finals. Two of the league’s best went back and forth, putting their respective teams on their backs and having some fun along the way. (Remember when Stewie asked refs for a tech on Phee? Hilarious stuff.)

Unrivaled is a unique opportunity for both free agents and contracted WNBA players hoping to contend in 2025. Relationships are being built on and off the court. Some players are having brutally honest conversations about their experiences with their teams, while others are actively recruiting people to join theirs.

The WNBA offseason enters its second stage today. After 10 days of extending qualifying offers to retain the rights of their own free agents, teams are now allowed to negotiate with everyone. Contracts cannot officially be finalized until Feb. 1, but deals will be agreed upon before then, if not signed on the dotted line.

Oct 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) shoots against the Minnesota Lynx during the second half of game three of the 2024 WNBA Finals at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Brittney Griner is testing the free agent market for the first time in her career. The All-Star center had meetings Tuesday with multiple teams, according to her agent. WNBA executives were in Miami for the opening of Unrivaled to talk with Griner and other free agents.

WNBA season will already feature a new look from last year with the Golden State Valkyries playing their inaugural season and the schedule being expanded to a new regular-season high of 44 games per team.

Griner has been a free agent before, but always re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury since she was first drafted by the franchise in 2013 as the No. 1 pick.