Overview
- The Breeze won a coin toss for the No. 1 pick and selected Paige Bueckers, while the Hive opened with Kelsey Mitchell before adding Sonia Citron, Ezi Magbegor, Natisha Hiedeman, Saniya Rivers and Monique Billings.
- Defending champion Rose returns Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, Azurá Stevens and Lexie Hull, with Shakira Austin and Sug Sutton completing the roster, and Angel Reese not participating this season.
- Unrivaled added a six-player development pool — Hailey Van Lith, Aziaha James, Haley Jones, Emily Engstler, Laeticia Amihere and Makayla Timpson — to provide trained call-ups during the season.
- The season opens in Miami on Jan. 5 with a Philadelphia tour stop on Jan. 30, and a fourth night of games is being added to target two games per team each week and cut back-to-backs.
- Four new head coaches were named — Noelle Quinn (Breeze), Rena Wakama (Hive), Zach O’Brien (Mist) and Roneeka Hodges (Phantom) — with previous coaches Phil Handy and Adam Harrington not returning.