A method performed by a first sidelink (SL) user equipment (UE) includes receiving a downlink control information (DCI) from a number of coupled DCIs. The DCI grants reception of a number of scheduled physical SL shared channels (PSSCHs) over an unlicensed SL carrier, and requests a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) response for the scheduled PSSCHs. The method also includes receiving at least one of the PSSCHs from a second SL UE. The method further includes transmitting the HARQ response based on the at least one received PSSCH.