It’s crunch time in Miami, and every game in Unrivaled counts—no margins for error, no games to give. Monday night was no exception, as Rose met Laces and Phantom met Lunar Owls in what proved to be two exciting and highly charged games.
Looking to clinch a playoff spot, Rose had their hands full with Laces, who were trying to stop a three-game losing streak. At the start of the game, Laces got off to a good start, holding Rose to just two points for the first three minutes. After a Rose time out, the juice started to flow, headed by who else but Chelsea Gray. There has been some talk about Gray getting a little old. Well, doesn’t everyone? Maybe Gray doesn’t get up and down the court as fast as she used to, but her accuracy hasn’t lost a step.
The precision in shooting is remarkable. After sinking a three, Rose looked revitalized and started getting more shots, with Angel Reese and Lexie Hull making some key buckets. From being down 11 – 2, Rose managed to end the quarter tied at 17 all on a last second shot by Ariel Atkins. The second quarter was a tight seven minutes, with both teams trading buckets and the temperatures rising.
A Close Game Throughout Between the Rose and Laces
While not a high scoring quarter, each team amped up the determination, fought through several missed shots and fouls, and ended the quarter with Rose up by one, 31 – 30. After the half, the slugfest continued, not losing a second of intensity. Brittney Sykes scored the first bucket for Rose, and then it took another two minutes for Alyssa Thomas to shoot a two for Laces. Then Kayla McBride made a three to put Laces up 35 – 33. Thomas added two points, countered by Angel Reese‘s two for Rose.
By the end of the quarter, Rose held a three-point lead at 47 – 44, making the winning score 58. Tiffany Hayes brought Laces to within one point immediately, and then put Laces up with another. Chelsea Gray countered immediately, as did Hayes, and back and forth the game went. Then Gray hit another two, putting Rose ahead for good, winning the game 58 – 53. Rose secured a playoff spot, and Laces, who had begun the season so strongly, went down to 5th place, having lost their fourth game in a row.
What can't Point Gawd do? CG clinches Rose BC a playoff spot with another Game Winner 🌹👑 pic.twitter.com/VSILNQOBdl
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) March 4, 2025
Rose has certainly gelled at the right time, and being the only team so far to beat league-leading Lunar Owls, are a serious contender for the championship. Vinyl, Mist, and Laces are all tied at 5 – 7, so the fight for the fourth playoff spot will be intense.
Game Two of Unrivaled was Very Offensive
In the second game, Phantom, in desperate need of a win, started on a tear against the Lunar Owls. The first quarter saw a much more efficient Phantom team, with Satou Sabally and Brittney Griner looking much stronger. Recently reassigned Natisha Hiedeman made the first of her six three-point shots in the quarter, which ended with Phantom up 26 – 18 over the Owls, who were not able to get much of a flow. Then, in the second quarter, things changed.
Marina Mabrey made her very first appearance for Phantom, which brought another level of fight and competitive energy to the squad. After an initial bucket by Katie Lou Samuelson for Phantom and a counter by Allisha Gray for Owls, Napheesa Collier and Skylar Diggins-Smith turned on the gas and started scoring. Phantom kept their diminishing lead until Diggins-Smith tied the game at 34 all and then traded buckets with Griner and Natasha Cloud to 38 all.
A Game-Changing Second Half
Gray then hit a three and the Owls began to find some separation. The half ended with Owls holding a nine-point advantage at 52 – 43. Things just went downhill for Phantom after the break, and even with Hiedeman’s continuing three point quest for Phantom, the Owls kept the pressure on in what was becoming a chippy game, part desperation for Phantom and part unbridled will for Owls.
Owls were just clicking, and ended the third quarter leading 80 – 61, with an end score of 91 to win. Phantom tried to chip away at the lead, getting as close as 12 on a Sabally three pointer. Cloud made a three to get Phantom to an 11-point margin, but Diggins-Smith sealed the deal for Owls with a two, giving them the 92 – 79 win.
Skylar off the glass to close the game 🦉Hooty Hoo if you are 11-1 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/z1xPPoXJuu
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) March 4, 2025
With two games left, the Phantom can play spoiler but are effectively out of the race. Losing Sabrina Ionescu for the remaining games doesn’t help. The last two games for Lunar Owls are against Rose and Mist. Owls have beaten Mist, but the one loss to Rose will most likely be on their minds for their meeting on Friday. Rose is playing great ball now. Owls are going to have to be relentless to secure that win.
It’s getting tight, chippy, and is a whole lot of fun to watch.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
Follow Beyond Women’s Sports for more from the world of sports.
