Day Three of Unrivaled featured Vinyl versus Phantom and Laces versus Mist. In the first match, Vinyl was looking for their second win, and Phantom was their first. On day one, Vinyl won a tight contest against Rose, and Laces pummeled Phantom. In this game, both teams got off to a slow start, without a lot of rhythm and many missed shots. It was Arike Ogunbowale who put Vinyl on the scoreboard first with a bucket and a free throw. Sabrina Ionescu followed for Phantom with a two-point shot.
Then, Vinyl slowly started to build a lead but Ionescu tied the game at 13-13 with another two-pointer. Rae Burrell then scored a two, and Brittney Griner followed with a two for Phantom. The game was then tied at 17 all until Aliyah Boston made a 2-point free throw, making it 19-17, but then Natisha Hiedeman hit a buzzer-beater three to put Phantom up 20-19.
The second quarter started close, but Vinyl began to pull away and ended the quarter up 49-38. The third quarter saw Vinyl maintain their lead and at the end were up 73-61. This meant the winning score would be 84. The closest Phantom got was 77-69, but Vinyl kept the pressure on and won their game 84-71. Four Vinyl players hit double figures; Dearica Hamby with 22, Ogunbowale with 21, Rhyne Howard with 14, and Aliyah Boston with 11.
Five Phantom players were in doubles, with Ionescu leading the way with 16, Griner with 13, Satou Sabally with 12, and Natasha Cloud and Katie Lou Samuelson with 11. This game didn’t have quite the pop and the opening day, and at times dragged. However, the real fun is watching these players have fun, which is abundantly apparent.
😤😤 For the win! Eeereigh eeereigh… or how ever you spell it.. 🎶 pic.twitter.com/ctpVCsYU8V
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) January 21, 2025
Game Two of Unrivaled Doubleheader was Dominated by the Laces
In the second game, Laces beat Mist 63 – 43. Mist is now 0 – 2, scoring only 43 in this game instead of 80 points in their first matchup with Lunar Owls. Breanna Stewart had a much better game this time, scoring 17 points. Jewel Loyd scored 10, and the rest of the team only scored in single digits. Kayla McBride hit a game-high 21 points for Laces. with Tiffany Hayes scoring 16, Alyssa Thomas 12, and Kate Martin 10.
It was a lot of fun watching Thomas play. There was a relaxed yet intense quality to her game. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her smile that much on the court. While not a high-scoring game, the teams played hard and with the pace we’d seen on day one. As their season goes on and all the players become more used to the format, I think we’re going to see crisper and higher-scoring games. While these players all have experience either playing with or against each other, there is a marked difference in the atmosphere.
AT'S GAME FINISHING PUT-BACK 🏀 pic.twitter.com/gRJ4822otz
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) January 21, 2025
Yes, they’re having fun, but they also seem to be taking this opportunity very seriously. There is so much potential here that a few hiccups early on are really of no consequence. Yes, there was a different energy on the first day, but what we’re going to see in the following weeks will be a more determined and focused style of play. There is a lot at stake, and every athlete on the court is more than up for the challenge.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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