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The Basketball Podcast: EP368 with Andrew Wade on Coaching Lessons from Unrivaled 3-on-3
In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, New York Liberty Director of Player Development and Unrivaled Laces head coach Andrew Wade joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on coaching lessons from Unrivaled 3-on-3.
Andrew Wade is currently the Director of Player Development for the New York Liberty, the reigning WNBA champions. In 2024, Wade took on the role of head coach for the Laces in Unrivaled, the professional 3-on-3 women’s basketball league. The team finished the regular season standings in third place.
In 2019, Wade joined the Washington Wizards’ G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, as a video coordinator. His role expanded to include player development responsibilities with the Washington Mystics, where he served as a player development assistant coach. During his tenure, he was instrumental in implementing “vitamins,” a practice routine focusing on intentional skill development.
Wade’s journey in basketball began at the Catholic University of America, where he played collegiate basketball. His passion for the game led him to establish Prism Basketball, a consulting firm aimed at simplifying basketball analytics for teams and players. He also contributed as a sports blogger, analyzing NBA strategies and trades.
If you have not had the opportunity yet be sure to check Coach Wade’s excellent masterclass excerpt presentation available on our Basketball Immersion YouTube channel called “Using Video for Basketball Teaching Success with Andrew Wade.” The full video is available on demand to all members of our community inside the membership portal.
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Andrew Wade Quotes:
“And for us, we use the term basket – ball – player. That was our transition defense principles. So first of all, we’re protecting the basket. Everyone’s sprinting back loading to the paint. Building our wall from there, of course. From there we get to identify the ball. Someone declares the, initial ball handler. We pick that up and then we’re fanning out to shooters who are spaced. So the priority, of course, still was to sprint back, and then you’re trying to build out from there.”
“The Elam ending essentially is playing to a Target score after the end of the third quarter, and so once the third quarter would finish the winning team score. You would add 11 points to that score, basically. And say the score is 70 to 68, after the third we’re playing to 81.”
“ Of course when you become a first time head coach you wanna try out everything. But I wanted to stick to our principles of play, and that’s getting out and running, playing fast in transition, putting pressure on the paint or driving kick for our shooters.”
“I wanted the players to, play as free as possible and not think about, okay, what action do I need to get into? Where am I screening next? Where am I running to next? Just play free and take the thinking outta the offensive side of the ball.”
“And a lot of that of course goes into closeout defense. Can you close out with a stick hand? And then when they put the ball on the floor, when our airplane defense, our arms are out, we’re being vertical as possible, not putting our hands in the mix. And again, just being able to guard with our chest absorb bumps.”
“ The players want to be heard. They want to have a hand in their development. And I think when they’ve got that ownership in their own development, it just brings another level of commitment to the court.”
“ It’s much easier to be firm and, steadfast in, in your beliefs, principles of play to start versus trying to walk it back later in the season when you need it.”
Andrew Wade Breakdown:
Andrew Wade Selected Links from the Podcast:
Kate Martin
Tiffany Hayes
Alyssa Thomas
Kayla McBride
Stefanie Dolson
Jackie Young
Unrivaled 3-on-3
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