Prior to the start of Unrivaled, team Rose was considered the underdog to win it all. I even predicted that they would finish fourth overall of the six teams. Proving doubters wrong, Rose captured the first-ever Unrivaled Championship with a 62-54 victory over Vinyl.
Capturing the first-ever Unrivaled Championship was personal for Rose. Shorthanded, team Rose defeated the odds without two-star players, Angel Reese, and Kahleah Copper. It all came to an end when Rose guard Brittney Sykes blew past a smaller Jordin Canada for the layup and one.
Underdogs and all, they were motivated all season long by the pre-season rankings. Similar to how the Minnesota Lynx felt last WNBA season, Rose were projected to finish last by several outlets. As soon as Kahleah Copper caught wind of the rankings, she sent them straight away to head coach Nola Henry.
Team Rose used the rankings as motivation, hanging them in the locker room as a friendly reminder. Keeping receipts close by, Rose never counted themselves out.
“Everybody in our locker room, we know what we are capable of and we know what we could do,” said Kahleah Copper post game. “What we do!?”
With the first ever Championship victory, each player of team rose was awarded $50,000. This team had a chip on their shoulder from day one, and let their play speak for itself. Some of this is pride, everyone wants to win. However, it’s a wake up call to the WNBA. A league that will pay a minimum of $66,079 in 2025, the maximum salary is $249,244 this upcoming season.
Unrivaled Rewarded Each Member Of Team Rose With $50k
No wonder why the Rose are ecstatic. Unrivaled has set the bar for women’s professional sports, and some players are getting nearly 25 percent of their WNBA salaries. I would be popping the champagne all night too. Not everything in life is about money, it’s about getting paid what you are worth and what’s deserved. For these women, $50,000 could be life changing.
After a dreadful 1-4 start to the season, the criticism kept stacking up. Especially against Rose guard Chelsey Gray, who missed a majority of last year’s WNBA season with an injury. Not making the WNBA Finals, the Aces were cut short of a potential three-peat.
“Yeah there was motivation”, said Chelsea Gray post game. “Yeah last year was hard man. It was rough. When I came back I still wasn’t100 percent and a lot of people understood that.”
“I just put the work in and do my job and I talk after winning. I don’t talk before then, just do my job and want to compete. That’s always been my goal and I was able to do that. I had a little chip on my shoulder with that extra 50k on the line.”
Chelsea Gray Keeps Proving The Doubters Wrong
To the new fans of women’s basketball, welcome! With that, let me introduce you to Gray, who remains one of the most elite players and playmakers in Women’s Basketball. Her nickname isn’t the “Point Gawd” for nothing!
Named the first Finals MVP, Grey finished with 18 points, three rebounds, and eight assists against Vinyl. In 25 minutes, the guard shot 7-22 (31.8 %) from the field, and 2-8 ( 5 %) from three.
Gray singlehandedly put the Rose are her back the entire season, and that’s a fact. Unrivaled’s leader in assists (5.43 APG), and total field goal attempts (454), Gray finished top five in several statistical categories. One of the most clutch players in the league, Gray led all teams with seven game winners.
It’s not all about Gray. However, her unprecedented 39 points against the Laces sent team Rose to the finals. 5-8 from three-point range, Gray scored 24 of her team’s 36 second half points. The fact Gray went on a 20-1 run by her self was remarkable. Named to Unrivaled’s All First-Team, Gray was third in the league with 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.1 steals.
It’s Time To Give Nola Henry Her Flowers
Rose BC coach Nola Henry speaks pic.twitter.com/1KGODQzh4Z
— Shabazz 💫 (@ShowCaseShabazz) March 18, 2025
Chelsea Gray was unequivocally Rose’s anchor, however, Henry needs to be given her roses (no pun intended). Although Henry didn’t win the Unrivaled Coach of the Year Award, she was a strong candidate for the Award.
Recently named an assistant coach of the Dallas Wings, Henry rejoins Curt Miller back from her days with the Connecticut Sun and University of Hartford. Having previously worked with the Los Angeles Sparks as an assistant coach, Henry is the first ever coach Championship coach in the history of Unrivaled!
Was the Rose the most talented team on paper? The simple is is no. They were overlooked by powerhouse teams such as the Laces and Lunar Owls. It was Henry’s innate ability to find chemistry after a disastrous start. It’s how she created a game plan that fits the 3-on-3 scheme.
Although team Rose dropped three of their first games, they weren’t getting blown out by teams. With a negative point differential of -34 over that span, the Rose kept the first two games within single digits. From there, the energy shifted in which Henry led team Rose to five straight wins.
Why Rose’s Close Bond Helped Them Win the Championship
THE ROSE DID IT! Congratulations to the first ever Unrivaled Champions Rose BC pic.twitter.com/qtlLTZ3qcI
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) March 18, 2025
Victories over Laces and Lunar Owls were most impressive. Crushing two of the top teams in the lead with a point differential +11.5 point differential should have put the league on notice then.
Coach Henry, take a bow. What makes her unique is her ability to connect with the players. Her mantra since day one has been “every pedal makes a rose.” Counted out when healthy and when injury riddled, Nola Henry never once doubted her team. The passion, the preparation, coach Henry has all the attributes that a Championship winning coach possesses.
“A team full of relentless dogs that refused to be denied,” Henry told Taylor Rooks. “Thanks to Chelsea. Carried us on her back all season long. Chelsea is our real MVP. This group has so much love and respect for her.”
“Unbelievably proud the way they embraced the underdog mentality and went out there and fought for what they deserved.”
Let’s talk about a coach that’s not only developed her players, but brought out the best in them. Although out for the championship game, Angel Reese was a crucial piece to the teams success. Unable to suit up for the playoffs, Reese made history as the first player to win Unrivaled’s Defensive Player of the Year award. With a record setting 21 high rebounds against the Lunar Owls, Reese was Unrivaled’s leader in total rebounds (170). Averaging 12.15 rebounds per game, her eight double-doubles on the season ranked second behind Breanna Stewart.
Rose Had The Next Player Up Mentality
Team Rose may not have been the fanciest three-pointing team, but they led the league in Rebounds. Yes, Reese couldn’t suit up, however, let’s not forget about Azurà Stevens unforgettable night. 19 points and 18 rebounds says it all. As much as Reese and Gray anchored this team, it was truly about every single player.
This was obvious, given Brittney Sykes led all Rose scorers with 21 points. In fact, both Sykes and Stevens scored the first 12 points for the Rose. Players such Lexie Hull may not impact the boxscore much, however her defensive prowess was on display all season long. It’s the next player up mentality.
Overall, team Vinyl fell short of their goal, despite 22 points from Rhyne Howard. With nine lead changes, team Vinyl left four points alone on the board from missed three-throws. Shooting an abysmal 35.2 percent from the field and 4-18 from three-point shows the minimal room for error in this league. For Vinyl, Aliyah Boston and Jordin Canada added 10 points a piece.
The Future Of Unrivaled Is Bright!
A successful season, the basketball world had the opportunity to witness 36 players compete in the first Inaugural season of Unrivaled. A players first type of league, Unrivaled President Alex Bazzell and Commissioner Mickey Lawler shed light on the future of the league.
Lawler expects the league to remain at six teams. With this, she hopes to grow into markets outside of Miami while focusing on improvements following the first season. Bazzell sees the future as a “fine balance,” prioritizing players without reducing their salaries through expansion.
With at least 20 players under contract for the next two seasons, the future is bright for Unrivaled.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator, and Manager for Ballislife Bets. She has a focus on Women’s Basketball and the NBA. Sara Jane currently resides in the Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Connecticut.
