Kayla McBride has had a incredible Unmatched season. She’s the league’s second-leading scorer (averaging 24.7 factors per sport) and has performed a significant position within the Laces’ success to this point.
And, whereas Unmatched nonetheless has just a few weeks to go — the skilled 3-on-3 basketball league wraps up on March 17 — most collaborating gamers will relaxation and get better between then and the start of the WNBA season in Could.
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 significantly 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.
Kayla McBride yeniden evinde!
Kulübümüz 2020-24 yılları arasında Çubuklu formamızı giyen, bu süreçte kazandığımız tarihi zaferlerimizde büyük pay sahibi olan Amerikalı yıldız oyuncu Kayla McBride ile sezon sonuna dek anlaşmaya varmıştır.
Son olarak Amerika’da bu yıl… pic.twitter.com/Mx01668AHO
— Fenerbahçe Opet (@fbkadinbasket) February 14, 2025
This 12 months, she’ll hope to have the identical degree of success, however in a way more restricted stint in Turkey.
McBride has had a protracted 12 months — her Minnesota Lynx group made it to the WNBA Finals, and he or she was a important a part of the roster that misplaced to the Liberty in 5 video games in October. She subsequently had just a few months off between the top of the WNBA playoffs and the start of the Unmatched 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 lengthen her offseason into March and April and as an alternative return to Turkey for a playoff run. The membership shared on social media that she’s going to rejoin Fenerbahce in March, and The Subsequent Hoops’ Jackie Powell reported that that may occur after the conclusion of the Unmatched season.
On Fenerbahce, she’s going to be 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 group’s main scorer to this point this season, averaging 16.9 factors and 6.1 rebounds. per sport.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25874634/2147746527.jpg)
Photograph by OZAN KOSE/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
McBride’s resolution significantly elevates Fenerbahce’s probabilities to three-peat. At her finest, she’s probably the most prolific scorers within the sport.
The transfer additionally displays the versatile nature of Unmatched. Gamers like NaLyssa Smith and Natisha Hiedeman performed abroad for a number of months earlier than becoming a member of Unmatched, whereas gamers like McBride will play in Unmatched whereas nonetheless getting the possibility to spend most of her offseason within the U.S. enjoying alongside and in opposition to her WNBA teammates.
