Unequalled star is heading abroad to proceed jam-packed WNBA offseason

Kayla McBride has had a implausible Unequalled season. She’s the league’s second-leading scorer (averaging 24.7 factors per recreation) and has performed a serious function within the Laces’ success to date.

And, whereas Unequalled nonetheless has a number of weeks to go — the skilled 3-on-3 basketball league wraps up on March 17 — most taking part gamers will relaxation and get better between then and the start of the WNBA season in Might.

However, as soon as issues wrap up, McBride is returning to the Turkish skilled membership Fenerbahce, with whom she’s spent her WNBA offseasons since 2020. The membership introduced the transfer on Friday morning, and it’s one which vastly elevates their possibilities of three-peating heading into the playoffs. Final season, the veteran guard gained the Remaining 4 MVP as Fenerbahce secured its second consecutive title.

This 12 months, she’ll hope to have the identical stage of success, however in a way more restricted stint in Turkey.

McBride has had an extended 12 months — her Minnesota Lynx workforce made it to the WNBA Finals, and she or he was a crucial a part of the roster that misplaced to the Liberty in 5 video games in October. She subsequently had a number of months off between the top of the WNBA playoffs and the start of the Unequalled season in January. However, she’s been enjoying heavy minutes this previous month whereas main the Laces Membership to a 4-2 file.

McBride opted to not prolong her offseason into March and April and as a substitute return to Turkey for a playoff run. The membership shared on social media that she is going to rejoin Fenerbahce in March, and The Subsequent Hoops’ Jackie Powell reported that that can occur after the conclusion of the Unequalled season.

On Fenerbahce, she is going to be a part of a number of different present (and former) WNBA gamers, together with Gabby Williams, Tina Charles, Emma Meesseman, Nyara Sabally, and Sevgi Uzun. Meesseman has been the workforce’s main scorer to this point this season, averaging 16.9 factors and 6.1 rebounds. per recreation.

Photograph by OZAN KOSE/AFP through Getty Photographs

McBride’s determination vastly elevates Fenerbahce’s probabilities to three-peat. At her greatest, she’s one of the prolific scorers within the recreation.

The transfer additionally displays the versatile nature of Unequalled. Gamers like NaLyssa Smith and Natisha Hiedeman performed abroad for a number of months earlier than becoming a member of Unequalled, whereas gamers like McBride will play in Unequalled whereas nonetheless getting the prospect to spend most of her offseason within the U.S. enjoying alongside and towards her WNBA teammates.