Liberty Stars Stewart and Cloud to Return to Unrivaled Offseason League

New York Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Natasha Cloud will participate in the upcoming season of Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 offseason league co-founded by Stewart and Napheesha Collier, despite a demanding WNBA schedule and ongoing player free agency concerns.

The league, which debuted last year in Miami, is expanding with new teams and players. However, Liberty teammates Sabrina Ionescu and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton will not return; Laney-Hamilton is likely prioritizing her health after an injury that impacted her availability during the 2025 WNBA season, while Ionescu had prior scheduling conflicts preventing her participation in the Unrivaled postseason last year. The announcement of two games at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 30th, 2026, was made yesterday by the league while Cloud was at an Unrivaled event in Philadelphia.

Stewart’s return is notable as she played through an MCL injury during the Unrivaled postseason last year. The league was created to provide players with a competitive domestic option during the WNBA offseason. With current collective bargaining agreement negotiations ongoing, the WNBA faces potential disruption, and Unrivaled could become a more prominent fixture in the women’s basketball landscape. The Liberty currently have nine players entering free agency, adding another layer of complexity to the offseason.

Stewart has publicly expressed her desire to remain with the Liberty and to see Ionescu return to Barclays Center next season, hoping a fully healthy roster and a new coach can propel the team back to championship contention after a first-round playoff exit. ESPN’s coverage of the WNBA highlights the importance of retaining key players for a successful 2026 campaign.

League officials stated they are focused on continued growth and providing a high-level competitive environment for WNBA players during the offseason.