Brittney Griner lands unique role ahead of Unrivaled’s third season

Brittney Griner lands unique role ahead of Unrivaled’s third season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Brittney Griner's legendary WNBA career is winding down.Sure, Griner is still capable of dropping 25 points on any given night, and she's still capable of dominating defensively as the WNBA's active leader in blocks per game.But the fact is, Griner turned 36 last month, and the forthcoming 2027 season -- where she will return home to Texas as a member of the rebooted Houston Comets -- is almost certain to be her last in The W.MORE: Olivia Miles brings buzz to Unrivaled amid Hive roster revealGriner's role in Unrivaled for the upcoming season serves as some confirmation that the nine-time All-Star is actively preparing for the next phase of her career in basketball.Griner has been named as one of six players in Unrivaled's six-player development pool for the 2027 season, which begins Jan. 8 with four games in Boston and Inglewood, Calif.The Player Pool has entered the chat. 👀 https://t.co/GwQkEbJapa— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) November 4, 2026But critically, Griner will have a special role within the Player Pool.Unrivaled has named Griner as the head of the 3-on-3 league's new Player Coach Development Program, where the two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year "will develop her leadership and coaching skills while continuing to compete on the court."Griner will receive mentorship in this department from Unrivaled's head coaches, as well as "hands-on" coaching experience.The wheels were put in motion for Griner's transition into coaching during the 2026 season in Connecticut, where Griner sat in on film sessions in a sort of "coaching internship" role.That role will be expanded in Unrivaled, as Griner continues laying the groundwork for her post-playing career.More WNBA news:Gabby Williams, four other Valkyries discover Unrivaled fate as rosters revealedChris DeMarco firing brings down the curtain on Liberty's tumultuous 2026Atlanta Dream core reunited in Unrivaled amid roster revealFever's Stephanie White could get fresh start amid WNBA coaching shakeup