The early-season showdown between Laces and Mist promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with Alyssa Thomas and her team looking to make a statement. But who will be the difference-makers when these two powerhouses collide? And what about the Lunar Owls' chances against Phantom? Let's dive into the details and uncover the key players and strategies that could shape these Unrivaled games.
The Laces vs. Mist Showdown
In the first game, Alyssa Thomas of Laces had a quiet start, with three missed shots, five rebounds, two assists, two turnovers, and one foul in the first 21 minutes. Her team took a four-point lead into the final quarter, thanks to Brittney Sykes' 15-point outburst. But Thomas' performance took a turn as soon as the fourth quarter began, scoring six straight points and propelling Laces past the target in just over two minutes. This was the aggressive, relentless, and unflinching AT we've come to know and love.
Laces' late domination of Vinyl showcased their upside, with Jackie Young also raising her level when the target was in sight. Thomas scored Laces' first six points in the fourth, and Young scored the final six, including the game-winning free throw. Mist, on the other hand, can match Laces' two-way excellence, as Allisha Gray demonstrated in their opening win over Hive. Gray wasted no time in showing what she can do on the Unrivaled court, starting the season with two triples on her way to a game-high 21 points.
Mist's supporting cast, led by captain Breanna Stewart, has been renewed with the addition of Allisha Gray, Veronica Burton, and Alanna Smith. This trio provides Stewie with the support she needs, but Mist also has Arike Ogunbowale and Li Yueru, who looks ready to give good minutes as a more mobile-than-expected big. Laces, however, will make things more difficult on Mist than unseasoned Hive, as Thomas and Young are similarly surrounded with a strong supporting cast. Sykes injected her new squad with scoring and competitive spirit in the opener, while Jordin Canada flashed her off-the-dribble zip, Naz Hillmon was all over the glass, and Maddy Siegrist contributed timely buckets and boards.
Lunar Owls vs. Phantom
The first game of the night, however, might not be that exciting. The Lunar Owls, last season's regular-season juggernaut, are already looking like a lost season after being upset in the semifinal round of the playoffs. With reigning Unrivaled MVP Napheesa Collier sidelined for the season due to ankle surgeries, the Owls are without their offensive and defensive fulcrum. Collier's absence, plus returning Owl Skylar Diggins missing the opener due to injury, resulted in a very different and very underwhelming Owls squad getting blown out.
It's hard to see that changing anytime soon, even when Diggins returns to the court. While Owls certainly will miss Collier's consistent offensive production, as the likes of Diggins, Marina Mabrey, and Rachel Banham tend to be streaky shooters, her absence might be more glaring on the other end of the floor, as Collier will not be there to cover for Lunar Owls' more limited defenders. Phantom, last season's cellar dweller, should find their way to a fairly easy first win.
Encouragingly for Phantom, Aliyah Boston might have had her best-ever Unrivaled game in their opener, even though her improved effort came in a loss. She not only scored 18 points, her Unrivaled career high, and grabbed seven boards, but also resembled her more confident, assured self in the 3x3 setting, something that was not the case last season. Tiffany Hayes' game continued to seem well-suited for Unrivaled, with Tip putting in 20 points. Although her shot was not falling, Kelsey Plum looked comfortable in her Unrivaled debut. That trio can be a winning combination, as long as foul trouble does not disrupt their rhythm. Hayes and Plum each had four fouls in their first game, while Boston committed five.
