Unrivaled Strengthens with WNBA Stars for the 2026 Season
Unrivaled announced the addition of the WNBA’s Most Improved Player, Veronica Burton, and standout rookie Sonia Citron, along with four other returning players for the 2026 season. Since its launch in January, Unrivaled has established itself as a development hub for players at the beginning of their careers, seeking to boost their growth. Burton, after his impressive season, will seek to continue his development.Citron, who finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting, averaged 14.9 points per game, with 47.0% field goal percentage, 44.5% from the three-point line, and 87.2% from the free-throw line. She was named a WNBA All-Star for the first time in July. For her part, Burton, in her fourth year in the WNBA and first with the expansion team 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 U.S. Women’s U23 3×3 Basketball World Cup team that won the silver medal in 2022. The Unrivaled format and its notable differences, such as playing on a smaller court, intrigued her.It’s a great opportunity. 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 it.
Veronica Burton
During the WNBA season, Burton consulted with her Golden State teammates, Kate Martin and Tiffany Hayes, who played in the first season of Unrivaled, about their experience, which increased her interest in joining the league. Burton and Citron join Paige Bueckers, Saniya Rivers, and Erica Wheeler as players debuting in Unrivaled. Breanna Stewart, one of the co-founders of Unrivaled, Azura Stevens, Lexie Hull, and Jackie Young were also announced as returning players on Monday.The super-fast pace challenges people to be aggressive on both sides of the court, and you really can’t hide there. You have to be involved and committed.
Veronica Burton
