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Aces star Kelsey Plum backs out of inaugural Unrivaled season

Plum was set to play on the Laces, one of six teams in the new Unrivaled league

ryan young
Staff writer
·2-min read

Kelsey Plum won’t be playing in the new Unrivaled league this offseason after all.

The Las Vegas Aces star shared on her Instagram story on Wednesday night that she has opted out of the new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, which is set to start in Miami in January.

“I’ve decided to not take part in the inaugural season of Unrivaled in order to take some more time for myself this offseason,” she said. “I appreciate the league understanding and being so accommodating. I wish the league and all of the players nothing but the best and I’m excited to watch.”

Plum was going to play on the Laces with Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas, Stefanie Dolson and Kate Martin. Andrew Wade is the team’s coach. It’s unclear who will fill Plum’s spot on their roster, or who will fill the other two open spots in the 36-player league.

Fellow Aces players Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Tiffany Hayes, along with Martin, are also in the league.

Unrivaled will officially open play in January in Miami. The league was initially set to include just 30 WNBA players, but it expanded and added six more roster spots in October. The six teams will play 14 games each, and the season will end with a single-elimination Final Four tournament to determine the champion. Games will be played on a 70-foot court with an 18-second shot clock and three seven-minute periods. There will also be an All-Star event and a one-on-one tournament.

TNT struck a media rights deal with the league to broadcast 45 games, and players will receive a minimum of $100,000 for the season. Plum is the latest WNBA star to either back out or opt not to participate. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was long rumored to be involved, but she won’t play in the first season.

Plum, a three-time WNBA All-Star, averaged 17.8 points and 4.2 assists with the Aces last season. The 30-year-old was first selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the San Antonio Stars in 2017. She has helped lead the franchise to a pair of WNBA titles, though they were knocked out in the semifinals of the playoffs last season while attempting to win what would’ve been a historic third straight championship.

Unrivaled will officially start on Jan. 17.