Season Starts Jan. 5: Meet the 5 Black Women Head Coaches Leading Unrivaled Season 2
As the Unrivaled basketball league prepares to tip off its highly anticipated second season on Monday, Jan. 5, the focus is not just on the elite talent on the court, but on the historic leadership on the sidelines.
While the WNBA has recently seen a trend toward hiring male head coaches, Unrivaled is making a definitive statement by entering its 2026 season with five Black women at the helm of its eight clubs. This roster of coaching talent features a mix of legends, defensive specialists, and international history-makers.
“We’re thrilled to add such exceptional talent to our head coaching roster in our second season, elevating the strong foundation established by our inaugural coaching staffs,” Unrivaled GM Clare Duwelius said in a statement.
Here are the five women leading the charge for Unrivaled Season 2.
Teresa Weatherspoon – Vinyl BC
A name synonymous with basketball excellence, Teresa Weatherspoon returns to lead Vinyl BC after a thrilling inaugural season. A Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and two-time Olympic medalist, Weatherspoon’s coaching pedigree includes a recent stint as head coach of the Chicago Sky and years as an assistant with the New Orleans Pelicans. Last season, she led Vinyl BC to an upset of the top-seeded Lunar Owls, reaching the championship game and proving her "Spoon" brand of intensity translates perfectly to the 3-on-3 stage.
Nola Henry – Rose BC
The reigning champion returns to defend her crown. Nola Henry led Rose BC to the first-ever Unrivaled title last year, orchestrating a dramatic turnaround that saw the team go from a 1-4 start to clinching the league's second-best record. Henry brings over six years of WNBA experience, including her most recent role as an assistant for the Dallas Wings. Her ability to navigate high-pressure postseason environments makes Rose BC the team to beat once again.
Noelle Quinn – Breeze BC
Making her Unrivaled debut, Noelle Quinn takes the reins as the first-ever head coach of the expansion team Breeze BC. Quinn is a proven winner, having transitioned from a 12-year WNBA playing career into a coaching powerhouse. She led the Seattle Storm to the 2020 WNBA Championship as an associate head coach and later served as the franchise’s head coach, guiding them to multiple playoff appearances. Her veteran poise is expected to give the expansion Breeze an immediate identity.
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Rena Wakama – Hive BC
Rena Wakama joins Unrivaled to lead the league’s second expansion team, Hive BC. Wakama is a rising star in the international coaching ranks, famously making history in 2024 as the head coach of the Nigerian Women’s National Team. Under her leadership, D’Tigress became the first African team—men’s or women’s—to reach an Olympic quarterfinal. The 2023 and 2025 AfroBasket champion and Chicago Sky assistant brings a global perspective and a defensive-minded grit to the Hive.
Roneeka Hodges – Phantom BC
A veteran of 11 WNBA seasons, Roneeka Hodges steps in as head coach for Phantom BC. Hodges joins the league after her tenure as an associate head coach with the Connecticut Sun. She is also a 2024 WNBA Champion, having served on the coaching staff that led the New York Liberty to their first-ever title. Her extensive experience as both a player and a special advisor at LSU gives her a unique advantage in developing the elite roster of Phantom BC.
