Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner is embracing the opportunity to play again during the WNBA offseason without having to go overseas, as the league starts on Friday

“It would be a hard sell,” said Kayla McBride, who has spent many years playing professionally in Turkey in the WNBA offseason. “But, you know, especially with Fenerbahce, it’s always been a really, really big part of my life in my career.”

Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart's Unrivaled League will tip off its inaugural season with two games on TNT on Friday.

Six teams will compete for the inaugural 3-on-3 Unrivaled title. Which one is projected to have the strongest roster?

While seven of the league's 36 players once heard their name called first in the WNBA Draft, the star power doesn't stop there. Unrivaled co-founder and reigning Defensive Player

The new league boasts 36 WNBA stars, including high-profile names like Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, and Brittney Griner, and promises players equity and an average salary of more than $220,000 — more than double the average WNBA salary.

Connecticut Sun star Marina Mabrey has suffered a right calf injury just hours before the launch of the new Unrivaled league, which is set to get underway on Friday

The league will officially begin play on Friday, Jan. 18. The first game will be Collier's Lunar Owls BC against Stewart's Mist BC. It will start at 6 p.m. CT, followed by a second game at 7 p.m. CT. The Finals are scheduled to take place on Monday, March 17. The entire league season will be broadcast on TNT. TruTV and Max.

Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner will return to action this offseason with Unrivaled, and she praised the new league while also throwing a subtle shade to the WNBA.