Unrivaled quickly became a hotbed for WNBA free agency discussions in its first season. Many of the top W players were all in the same place, recruiting each other, connecting with new players, and rehashing old connections. This season, Unrivaled’s impact on WNBA free agency should be even bigger.
Almost every veteran in the league will enter free agency once a new CBA is signed. The majority of Unrivaled players, excluding those still on rookie contracts, will have the opportunity to pursue new options in free agency.
Lynx star Napheesa Collier could recruit a former teammate to rejoin her in Minnesota. Collier will team up with Rachel Banham on the Lunar Owls.
Rachel Banham could bring 3-point shooting and ball handling to Minnesota
Despite the disappointing ending to the 2025 season, it seems reasonable to expect the Lynx to run it back with most of their core players and aim for another finals appearance. Still, the roster could undergo some changes, especially with another expansion draft coming up.
The Lynx have several players set to compete in Unrivaled—Collier, Courtney Williams, Alanna Smith, and Natisha Hiedeman—and they will undoubtedly do a bit of recruiting. Collier’s team, the Lunar Owls, features free agents Rebecca Allen, Skylar Diggins, Rachel Banham, and Marina Mabrey.
Mabrey was already considered a possible target for the Lynx when she requested a trade out of Connecticut before the 2025 season. However, that trade request was never granted, and Mabrey said later on that she wanted to be back with the Sun.
If the Lynx are looking for a veteran reserve guard, a reunion with Rachel Banham could be on the table. Banham played for the Lynx between 2020 and 2023 and is still friends with Collier. The two recently went to a Minnesota Timberwolves game together. Banham spent the last two seasons with the Chicago Sky, but could very well be on her way out given the team’s struggles and uncertain future.
Banham is a proven 3-point threat, regularly shooting between 35 and 40% on a relatively high volume. During the 2025 season, she also proved that she could handle the ball and grew significantly as a passer and playmaker. With Courtney Vandersloot out and Hailey Van Lith stuck at the end of the bench, Banham had to take over as the Sky’s starting point guard.
The Lynx could use another ball handler, and a 3-point threat is always set up well to succeed in Cheryl Reeve’s system. However, at 5’10”, Banham wouldn’t bring much size to a Lynx backcourt that already features two small guards—given that Williams and Hiedeman stick around next season.
For the Sky, losing one of their few consistent, veteran contributors would be a tough blow, especially if they lose her to a Lynx team that already owns their lottery pick.