Unrivaled, the brand new 3-on-3 ladies’s professional basketball league, made its debut Friday. Co-founded by Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier and two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty, the six-team league runs two months earlier than a March 17 championship recreation.
In the primary recreation, Collier’s Lunar Owls took down Stewart’s Mist, staging a fourth-quarter comeback that was sealed by two 3’s by Skylar Diggins-Smith. Then Arike Ogunbowale’s Vinyl gained Game 2 over Angel Reese‘s Rose.
There are two extra video games tomorrow: Phantom vs. Laces at 2 p.m. ET and Lunar Owls vs. Rose at 3 p.m.
Game 1 takeaways: Lunar Owls 84, Mist 80
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Skylar Diggins-Smith sinks rainbow 3 to win first Unrivaled recreation
Skylar Diggins-Smith struts after sinking a 3-pointer at hand the Lunar Owls the primary win in Unrivaled historical past.
Unrivaled’s inaugural recreation delivered — dwelling as much as and perhaps even surpassing the hype. The fast-paced play might need been tiring for gamers — who’re enjoying on a condensed full courtroom, not a halfcourt like FIBA 3×3 — however was a lot entertaining for spectators.
It’s a lot tougher to defend as a group in 3-on-3, and this model lends itself to a number of gamers occurring heaters all through the sport. In Game 1, that was Jewell Loyd and Rickea Jackson for the Mist and Allisha Gray, Napheesa Collier and Skylar-Diggins Smith for the Lunar Owls. There had been few lulls in motion, with the variety of free throws minimize down and, accessible for followers watching from house, coaches mic’d up throughout timeouts.
The league could not have requested for a greater ending to the primary recreation, with Diggins-Smith’s large fourth quarter and game-winner serving to the Lunar Owls come from behind to win 84-80. I used to be (and nonetheless am) intrigued to see how the “successful rating” format labored in observe; it allowed a memorable finish to Game 1 and, mimicking the essence of street-ball, will assure every recreation ends on a game-winning shot — a intelligent invention to additional differentiate Unrivaled from the WNBA, NBA and different leagues. — ESPN’s Alexa Philippou
Unrivaled got down to produce a fast-paced, intense model of basketball. They received that in Game 1.
In the Lunar Owls’ win, transition play was virtually unstoppable. Shots went up throughout the first 5 seconds of the 18-second shot clock. And if a defender was beat, it was nearly a assured bucket.
The fourth quarter produced probably the most intense basketball of the sport. The pace picked up much more, the contact received extra bodily.
The Mist wanted to attain 11 factors to win, however the Lunar Owls weren’t far behind, needing 17. Skylar Diggins-Smith hit the game-winning 3 for the Lunar Owls. Her teammates stormed the courtroom, and he or she shouted out a “Hooty hoo” earlier than exiting the ground. — ESPN’s Kendra Andrews
Game 2 takeaways: Vinyl 79, Rose 73
Game 2 felt like extra of a slog (and extra bodily) in comparison with Game 1. But it nonetheless provided large particular person performances — 33 factors from Rhyne Howard, 24 from Kahleah Copper and 21 from Chelsea Gray — in addition to an thrilling ending. Rose erased a double-digit deficit to come back inside two earlier than Vinyl pulled away for the 79-73 victory courtesy of a Dearica Hamby layup.
Some issues I’ll be watching shifting ahead: How does every of the six groups develop its group identification over the course of the season as gamers get acclimated to their teammates and to this distinctive format of 3-on-3? Will we see extra differentiated play kinds because the winter progresses? And will we proceed to see a variety of iso play, or will groups share the ball extra and run extra units as chemistry develops?
Based on the setting in Miami and the way spectators consumed it elsewhere, Day One of Unrivaled was a powerful success. All eyes will probably be on what Day Two has in retailer. — Alexa Philippou
Unrivaled’s opening evening would possibly show as impactful off the courtroom as on it: As WNBA free company looms, Miami has change into the go-to location for participant pitches. The gamers themselves have acted as group proxies by means of coaching camp and the preseason, shopping for coffees for pending free brokers, promoting them on their respective groups and portray an image of what it may very well be wish to group up within the W.
Opening evening was suffering from WNBA group executives, together with Dallas Wings coach Chris Koclans and assistant basic supervisor Jazmine Thomas, Phoenix Mercury‘s Nate Tibbetts and Nick U’Ren, and Seattle Storm assistant coach Pokey Chatman. WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike was additionally in attendance. Multiple gamers have likened being at Unrivaled to being part of Team USA or within the WNBA bubble, the place ladies from all completely different groups are put into tight quarters and may one, study from one another, however two attempt to get them to group up.
Satou Sabally, who introduced she has performed her final recreation in Dallas, stated a number of gamers have purchased her cups of espresso, and Breanna Stewart instructed her she would look good in New York seafoam. I’m curious to see if the time spent at Unrivaled actually will influence free company and the place a few of these gamers land subsequent season. — Kendra Andrews
