Unrivaled Bolsters Roster with WNBA Stars for the 2026 Season
Unrivaled has announced the addition of the WNBA’s Most Improved Player (MIP), Veronica Burton, along with standout rookie Sonia Citron and four other returning players for the 2026 season. Since its launch in January, Unrivaled has established itself as a development hub for players looking to advance their professional careers. Burton, after his outstanding season, will seek to continue growing in this environment.Citron, who finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting, averaged 14.9 points per game with shooting percentages of 47.0% from the field, 44.5% from the three-point line, and 87.2% from the free-throw line. In July, she was named a WNBA All-Star for the first time. Burton, in her fourth year in the WNBA and her first with the Golden State Valkyries, reached a new level in her game. The point guard averaged career highs of 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 44 games, becoming the first player in WNBA history to increase her averages by at least five points, two rebounds and two assists per game from one season to the next (with a minimum of 30 games played in each season). Burton was part of the USA’s U23 Women’s 3×3 World Cup team in 2022, but the Unrivaled format and its differences, particularly playing on a smaller court, intrigued her.“It’s a great opportunity,” Burton commented. “Many of the best players in the league compete in Unrivaled, so any chance to compete against the best is where I want to be. I’m excited to be a part of this and grateful for the opportunity.”
Veronica Burton
During the WNBA season, Burton consulted with her Golden State Valkyries teammates, Kate Martin and Tiffany Hayes, who played in Unrivaled’s first season, which increased her interest in joining the league. Burton and Citron join Paige Bueckers, Saniya Rivers, and Erica Wheeler as players who will participate in Unrivaled for the first time. Breanna Stewart, one of the co-founders of Unrivaled, Azura Stevens, Lexie Hull, and Jackie Young were also announced as returning players.“The super-fast pace challenges people to be aggressive on both sides of the court, and you really can’t hide out there,” Burton said. “You have to be involved and engaged.”
Veronica Burton
