Courtney Williams, Saniya Rivers, and Azura Stevens are currently active players in the league. On Monday morning, Unrivaled revealed that it had completed only the second trade in its history, involving three teams: Williams moved from Vinyl BC to Brees BC, Rivers transferred from Hibs BC to Vinyl, and Stevens went from Rose BC to Hibs. However, the league’s social media announcement did not clarify whether Rose BC received a player in return or what Brees BC gave up to acquire Williams.
This trade followed the news that Aari McDonald will miss the rest of the season due to a “lower right leg injury.” McDonald has had limited time on the court this season for Brees BC, participating in just one game while still recovering from a foot injury sustained with the Fever during the WNBA season.
Williams now joins Brees BC, managed by former Seattle Storm head coach Noel Quinn, currently holding fourth place with a 5-5 record. As the oldest player on the roster, Williams will bring experience to a squad featuring rising talents like Paige Backers, Cameron Brink, Rikea Jackson, Kate Martin, and Dominic Malonga.
Vinyl BC, ranked sixth and coached by Teresa Weatherspoon, gains Rivers—a North Carolina native who recently finished her rookie WNBA campaign with the Connecticut Sun. Rivers will be the youngest player on a team that includes veterans such as Dearika Hamby and Brittney Greiner.
Stevens is heading to Hibs BC, which sits seventh in the league standings.
Unrivaled’s very first trade took place before the league’s launch in December 2024 and also involved Williams. In that deal, the Rays sent Williams to the Lunar Owls for Natasha Cloud, who was then traded by the Rays to the Phantoms in exchange for a wild card spot, bringing in Jackie Young and Tiffany Hayes.
Currently starring for the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, Williams averages 4.1 assists per game this Unrivaled season, ranking fifth in the league in that category.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Courtney Williams, Saniyah Rivers traded in three-team unrivaled deal
Fan Take: This three-team trade signals a growing strategic complexity within Unrivaled and highlights how WNBA talent continues to influence emerging leagues. For fans, it’s exciting to see key players like Williams, Rivers, and Stevens shifting teams, which could shake up the competition and boost the sport’s visibility and appeal beyond the WNBA.
