Phantom BC Season 2 Preview: Kelsey Plum is Unequalled!

It is déjà vu within the worst method doable for Phantom BC, which can start one other Unequalled season with a significant contributor lacking.

“Bienvenidos a Miami,” girls’s basketball.

Photograph courtesy of Unequalled

A number of the recreation’s best are taking their skills (again) to South Seashore because the second season of Unequalled is ready to tip off on Jan. 5.

Co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart and backed by a lauded group of buyers, Unequalled is a home three-on-three league that may and is supposed to host extra localized offseason endeavors for gamers who’ve made their names within the WNBA. Many acquainted faces are making their method again to the motion, which can briefly make its option to Philadelphia, whereas others will be part of the fray for the primary time.

In anticipation of tip-off, Ballislife takes a take a look at every of the eight squads in a devoted evaluation. Haunting us subsequent is the return of Phantom BC…

The Group: Phantom BCThe Debut: 4-10 (missed playoffs)The Coach: Roneeka Hodges (1st season)

Phantom BC: The Group

—Aliyah Boston—Natasha Cloud*—Dana Evans—Tiffany Hayes—Kiki Iriafen—Kelsey Plum—Satou Sabally* (injured)

(*returning to workforce)

It is déjà vu yet again for Phantom, however sadly, they’re those left spooked.

For the second consecutive season, Phantom is left reeling from an damage to one in every of its headliners. Final time round, it was Marina Mabrey, who was unable to match up her return timeline with Sabrina Ionescu’s availability (a lot to the presumed aid of the scoreboard operators at Wayfair Area).

This time round, Phantom was in a position to convey again Satou Sabally, however the multi-faceted risk continues to be working off aftershocks from a head damage endured in the course of the Phoenix Mercury’s WNBA Finals run. That is a large loss for a bunch that hoped to run off her two-way recreation, because it partly stuffed her void with put up savants Boston and Iriafen.

Tenured veteran and up to date prime WNBA sixth girl Tiffany Hayes is the de facto substitute for Sabally after a robust displaying in Golden State’s authentic beginning 5. It is encouraging to see Hayes, 36, rejoin the hardwood fray so shortly after a actually painful WNBA season, and she or he has intensive three-on-three expertise with Azerbaijan’s nationwide program.

Stacked Frontcourt with Boston, Iriafen

Aliyah Boston, after all, helped maintain the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark-less momentum, however struggled within the three-on-three recreation as a reserve for authentic finalist Vinyl. Pairing her with the similarly-skilled Kiki Iriafen might be seen as a threat in a recreation that depends a lot on open area, however the alternative to develop such a promising rookie was in all probability terribly tantalizing for Hodges, who gained a 2024 WNBA title with New York (working carefully with Unequalled founder Breanna Stewart) into the lieutenant function with the Connecticut Solar.

Familiarity nonetheless surfaces within the type of Natasha Cloud, who performed her chemistry with Ionescu right into a spot within the Liberty’s championship protection. Cloud will probably be joined by current and future backcourt threats Evans and Plum, who in all probability stand as those most able to elevating the Phantom’s inventory on the leaderboard. Kelsey Plum is contemporary off a sterling debut in her native California, whereas Dana Evans turned one in every of her successors in a championship sequel in Sin Metropolis.

The Highlight’s On: Kelsey Plum

Unequalled is a recreation plum-made for Plum.

A free shooter like Plum, who has made a residing off a way of wholesome reckless abandon from past the arc, is made to thrive within the open flooring of three-on-three ball and now she will get to take action with Evans, who stuffed her function from a second unit standpoint in Las Vegas upon transferring from Chicago.

By her personal admission, Plum was very intrigued by the trios of Unequalled in its debut season however had private points to take care of. Now, she’s thrown into an instantaneous alternative to play the heroine, one she has fortunately embraced and cashed in upon in her prior skilled endeavors.

One factor that ought to be significantly intriguing is seeing Plum play in an untimed fourth quarter that targets a rating. Nobody within the WNBA scored extra interval factors in finales than Plum (one in every of solely two, together with Hive’s Sonia Citron, to interrupt the double-century mark within the division), and she or he was second in assists behind Alyssa Thomas of the Aces.

They Mentioned It

“I believe [what’s] going to be an emphasis for us as a workforce, Phantom as an entire, is to push the tempo, play an up-tempo type of play. I believe you seen among the extra profitable groups in Unequalled, in three-on-three, play with an excellent tempo and still have the understanding of truly when to gradual the sport down. I believe Kelsey and Dana each have sufficient expertise and good high quality expertise to grasp when they need to push and when they need to decelerate and play a bit extra within the halfcourt. I believe Unequalled will probably be an excellent area for each of them to proceed to develop their talent and proceed to get a bit bit higher and proceed to play and completely win and have enjoyable.”—Hodges on using Evans and Plum

“My first yr in Unequalled, I am trying ahead to successful. Clearly, I wish to come out a champion. I wish to be uncomfortable. I wish to do issues I would not usually do. I wish to get out of my consolation zone and simply problem myself in that method.”—Evans on her objectives in her first yr of Unequalled.

Outlook

Issues had been exhausting sufficient for Phantom after they had Ionescu, Mabrey, and Brittney Griner on the identical roster. Constructing round Sabally appeared to be a strong plan to make issues proper, however destiny dealt one other merciless hand.

There will probably be sizable strain on the backcourt reps, Cloud, Evans, and Plum, to hold the load till Boston and Iriafen discover their groove. It is a daring endeavor to replenish on put up girls in a three-on-three league, however maybe Phantom’s already ready the place it does not have a lot to lose after final season’s disappointment.

Mabrey’s early damage and Ionescu’s Miami schedule, interrupted by prior commitments, pushed Phantom to the underside of the rankings, particularly, most shockingly, the scoring column. Time will inform the way it performs out, however the Phantom has conjured up an intriguing plan that ought to, on the very least, maintain the South Seashore trustworthy’s consideration.

Schedule

Phantom BC Schedule

Date
Opponent
Approx. Time (ET), TV

January 5
Breeze
9:15 p.m., TNT/TruTV

January 10
Lunar Owls
7:30 p.m., TruTV

January 12
Mist
7:30 p.m., TNT/TruTV

January 16
Laces
7:30 p.m., TNT/TruTV

January 18
Hive
8:45 p.m., TruTV

January 23
Vinyl
8:45 p.m., TNT/TruTV

January 25
Rose
2:15 p.m., TruTV

January 30
Breeze (@ Philadelphia)
7:30 p.m., TNT/TruTV

February 1
Lunar Owls
7:30 p.m., TruTV

February 7
Mist
8:45 p.m., TruTV

February 9
Vinyl
7:30 p.m. TNT/TruTV

February 20
Laces
7:30 p.m., TNT/TruTV

February 22
Hive
7:30 p.m., TruTV

February 27
Rose
1 p.m., TruTV