Unrivaled's inaugural weekend was a historic affair, packed with thrilling moments and record-breaking performances. The extended four-day schedule, a departure from the previous season's three days, showcased eight captivating matchups, each leaving its mark on the league.
Let's delve into the highlights of these games:
Friday, January 9th:
- Rose BC vs. Vinyl BC: Rose emerged victorious, 69-67, with Chelsea Gray hitting the game-winning shot. Despite trailing by 10 points at halftime, Rose's unwavering determination and team spirit, as emphasized by head coach Nola Henry, secured their 3-0 season start.
- Breeze BC vs. Hive BC: Breeze BC dominated Hive BC, 73-62, with all five Breeze players scoring in double digits. Paige Bueckers, a standout player, hit the game-winning shot.
Saturday, January 10th:
- Phantom BC vs. Lunar Owls BC: Phantom BC's Kiki Iriafen hit the game-winner in their 94-60 victory. Kelsey Plum, with 38 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds, showcased her versatility.
- Mist BC vs. Laces BC: Mist BC secured a tight 83-81 win over Laces BC, with Breanna Stewart hitting the game-winning shot.
Sunday, January 11th:
- Rose BC vs. Breeze BC: Rose BC, led by Chelsea Gray's 37 points, defeated Breeze BC, 73-69. Shakira Austin's game-winning shot sealed the deal.
- Hive BC vs. Vinyl BC: Vinyl BC, with Dearica Hamby's dominant double-double (40 points and 10 rebounds), beat Hive BC, 89-66, setting a new single-game Unrivaled scoring record.
Monday, January 12th:
- Mist BC vs. Phantom BC: Phantom BC, with Kelsey Plum's game-winning shot, defeated Mist BC, 64-61.
- Laces BC vs. Lunar Owls BC: Laces BC, led by Brittney Sykes' game-winner, beat Lunar Owls BC, 84-72.
CBA Negotiations:
The WNBA's CBA negotiations remain unresolved, with the January 9th deadline passing without a response from the WNBA to the WNBPA's proposal. This has led to a 'Status Quo' period, followed by a moratorium on free agency.
Free-Throw Challenge:
Unrivaled introduced a unique free-throw challenge for the sophomore season. Paige Bueckers currently leads with a perfect 100% free-throw percentage, making all eight attempts.
Record-Breaking Performances:
- Saniya Rivers, Hive BC, set a new single-game block record with six blocks against Breeze BC on January 9th.
- Dearica Hamby broke the single-game scoring record with 40 points.
- Kelsey Plum tied Napheesa Collier's single-game scoring record with 38 points.
- Dearica Hamby then broke Collier's record with 40 points.
Unrivaled's second full slate of games is scheduled for this weekend into Monday, with all games streaming on truTV and HBO Max, and Friday's games also on TNT. The league continues to captivate fans with its competitive spirit and record-breaking achievements.
