The race is heating up at Unrivaled. Lunar Owls are undefeated and were looking to stay that way against a Phantom team in search of win No. 3. While the teams each boast rosters of talent that combined would make a definite WNBA championship team, there is something that separates Lunar Owls from everyone else. They are 100% in synch with each other, playing a tight, well-coached, and disciplined game.
Phantom has no talent shortage, but they have yet to click together fully. Talent like Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, and Satou Sabally are all scoring machines, but something isn’t working.
The first half of the game was kept fairly close. While Phantom never had the lead they were never more than a few points behind, keeping the game within reach. The first quarter ended with Phantom behind only six points, and with some back-and-forth play, they managed to make it a one-point game at the half, 53 – 52.
Lunar Owls Seized Control In The Second Half
The third quarter started out evenly, but within a couple of minutes, Lunar Owls began to pull away. By the end of the quarter, the lead ballooned their lead to 15 points, 83 – 68, making the winning score 84 points. The untimed fourth quarter saw Lunar Owls play with increased determination, and Phantom never got closer than 13 points. The game ended on a two-point shot by Napheesa Collier, with a score of 94 – 76, the highest winning score so far.
UNDE-PHEE-TED 7-0 🌕
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) February 8, 2025
Phee gets her first game-winner in the highest-scoring game yet 🦉 pic.twitter.com/n6yDgHeJy2
Allisha Gray led the Owls with 23 points and Griner led the Phantom with 23 points. Everyone contributed to their team’s effort, and everyone was in double figures. What it comes down to, is the chemistry. Lunar Owls play like a team that has been together for more than a few weeks.
Why is anyone’s guess. Perhaps just the right personalities in the right situation. They are having a lot of fun, not simply because they are winning, but you get a sense that they enjoy playing together. It isn’t that other teams don’t, but for Owls, it is just that much more.
Game Two Of Unrivaled Doubleheader Saw A Competitive Matchup
The second game saw Rose take on Mist in what was by comparison a less entertaining game than the first one. Again, each lineup features high-powered talent, but the sense of a unified team isn’t nearly as pronounced as in the previous two teams. Kahleah Copper led the way for Rose, scoring 21 points, and showed the kind of hustle we’re used to seeing from her.
Both Azurá Stevens and Chelsea Gray had good games, but they were good technical games. Angel Reese played a little more of a subdued game than her last one. She managed a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Rickea Jackson led Mist with 17 points, followed by Aaliyah Edwards and Breanna Stewart with 12 each. DiJonai Carrington scored 10 points in eight minutes.
Jewell Loyd, who has left Seattle for Las Vegas, scored only eight points on 4 – 11 shooting, also playing only eight minutes. Both these teams look imbalanced and not at all cohesive. Stewart, co-founder of Unrivaled and a highly decorated athlete, looks tired. And slow. Of course, that is what I see, and that’s all I can go by. I might say the same thing for Gray, who still has the shooting skills, but the on-court presence seems to be lacking the fierceness we’ve seen in the past.
A Back-And Forth Contest
Rose jumped out to a nine-point lead to end the first quarter at 23 – 14 and extended their lead in the second. However, Mist managed to go toe to toe and ultimately traded buckets to end the half with Rose still up nine at 40 – 31. Rose upped their lead to 15 points a couple of times in the third. They concluded the quarter up 13 at 60 – 47. The fourth quarter saw Mist make a push, but couldn’t get any closer than six points. Stevens hit the winning two-point shot, giving Rose a 71 – 63 win, their third.
Z GETS ROSE THE GAME WINNER 🔥🌹 pic.twitter.com/fdlsYoYUgh
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) February 8, 2025
Once again, there is no shortage of talent on Mist. They play hard, but something isn’t working. It is not all on Stewart’s shoulders either. Since the playoffs will only include the top four teams, they are going to have to find a way to break through and start playing more efficient basketball. The experience is there with vets like Stewart, Loyd, and Courtney Vandersloot. Now they need that to translate into points.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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