The best players never take a play off. In Unrivaled, you don’t even get the choice. The league’s unique style of play forces all six players on the court to be active participants in every action on both ends of the floor. Everyone has to defend, often in one-on-one situations, and no one can pass up shots on offense. The latter can be a challenge, but it also creates additional attempts and touches for players who don’t get the same opportunities in the WNBA.
Rae Burrell is one of those players. Burrell has been with the Sparks since 2022 when the team drafted her ninth overall. Over that time, the Sparks have had their fair share of stars, like Nneka Ogwumike, Brittney Sykes, Liz Cambage, Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, and Kelsey Plum. So, while Burrell is an interesting young player, she has never been much of a focal point for the Sparks. Last season, she averaged a career-high 18.4 minutes and 6.4 field-goal attempts per game.
In Unrivaled, Burrell is also surrounded by veteran teammates, but the smaller roster sizes, fewer players on the court, and increased spacing still create opportunities for her to get more touches and shot attempts than in the W. And that is exactly what a young guard like her needs to develop.
Rae Burrell is an integral part of Teresa Weatherspoon’s rotation
Vinyl’s roster is stacked with veteran talent. Burrell is the youngest player on a roster that also features Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, Courtney Williams, Brittney Griner, and Erica Wheeler. As a result, Burrell has had to earn every single minute on the court. She only averages 8.8 minutes per game at this point, but played 12.9 minutes in the rematch against the Laces and worked her way into the starting lineup.
Despite the limited minutes, Burrell is averaging 6.9 field-goal attempts—more than her career high in the WNBA. She has taken at least ten shots in three games so far. In her most recent WNBA season with the Sparks, she reached that number five times over 28 games.
Those extra attempts and opportunities to handle the ball allow Burrell to try things in games against top competition she can’t try in the W. It also builds up confidence.
Burrell just continues to get better every year, and it seems that all she really needs to truly break out in the WNBA is a healthy season. 2024 was the only year she played over 30 games. She had to miss the majority of her rookie season due to a knee surgery. Then, she didn’t make the Sparks’ initial 2023 roster and only played 29 games after joining the team on a hardship contract. Her performance earned her a regular contract for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Last year, she suffered a leg injury in the season opener that kept her out until early July.