Unequalled opening week delivered, and there are a number of key moments that occurred over the weekend.
Co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, Unequalled is a three-on-three ladies’s skilled basketball league in Miami. Composed of eight groups, the league delivers a singular, fast-paced type of basketball. Moreover, the league options three seven-minute quarters, whereas the fourth quarter operates with a goal rating. The primary crew to succeed in that mark wins.
Broadcast for 4 consecutive nights on TNT, HBO Max, and truTV, Unequalled presents athletes a wage north of $200,000 with the chance to remain stateside. To keep away from back-to-back matchups, the league has meticulously staggered them each Friday via Monday.
Ballislife breaks down the perfect moments and highlights from Unequalled Week 1…
Unequalled Week 1 Schedule and Sport Outcomes
1/9
1/10
1/11
1/12
Rose BC 69, Vinyl BC 67
Phantom BC 94, Lunar Owls BC 60
Rose BC 73, Breeze BC 69
Phantom BC 64, Mist BC 61
Breeze BC 73, Hive BC 62
Mist BC 83, Laces BC 81
Vinyl BC 89, Hive BC 66
Laces BC 84, Lunar Owls 72
Rose BC Comeback Towards Vinyl
Rose BC is undefeated at 3-0, and the membership has confirmed why they’re the favourite to win this 12 months’s championship (+350).
Friday’s matchup did not disappoint, because the showdown between Rose BC and Vinyl BC signaled a rematch of final season’s inaugural championship. Notably defeating Vinyl 62-54, Rose received the first-ever Unequalled championship, powered by Chelsea Grey, who buried the ultimate shot. Scoring 23 factors, Grey was topped Finals MVP.
Friday marked a sluggish begin for Rose, who trailed Vinyl 19-11 after the primary quarter. Powered by Dearica Hamby within the paint, Vinyl stored management within the second quarter, because of Rae Burrell’s 9 consecutive factors. Dedicated to a beginning lineup of Grey, Lexie Hull, and Azurà Stevens, Rose could not shake Hamby’s persistent mismatch on Hull. Trailing 39-29 on the half, Rose gave the impression to be out of solutions.
That was till the third quarter, which is commonly probably the most vital stretch in Unequalled. Grey is the catalyst of the offense, as she’s thought-about probably the most elite level guards ever to play the sport. Generally known as the “Level Gawd” for a motive, Grey asserts her excellence as she leads the league with 31.7 factors, 5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per sport.
CHELSEA GRAY OMG 🤯🔥
ROSE WIN AFTER TRAILING THE ENTIRE GAME 🌹 pic.twitter.com/QrnV5Pxwlh
— TNT Sports activities U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) January 10, 2026
Chelsea Grey Continues to Shine
Utilizing the pick-and-roll to separate the protection for a pull-up mid-range or using Stevens’ display for a 3-point shot, Grey does all of it. Whereas Rose boasted a well-balanced scoring act within the third, it was Grey who took cost.
Momentum began to shift mid-way via the third quarter after Grey muscled her approach into the lane, driving over Erica Wheeler. Creating seems in transition off protection stops, Rose minimize the deficit to 4 factors by the top of the quarter.
Outscoring Vinyl 15-9, it was all Grey, who scored 9 factors within the closing quarter. Down 67-61 with a goal rating of 69, it was all however over for the membership. Only one bucket away from a loss, Nola Henry remained dedicated to using a double-big lineup consisting of Stevens and Shakira Austin alongside Grey. Exploiting mismatches—it was Grey who got here up with the block on Courtney Williams, adopted by a 3-pointer in transition.
Holding Vinyl defensively on the final two possessions, the Level Gawd referred to as sport with a pick-and-roll three. Defeating Vinyl 69-67, Grey led the squad with 23 factors, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. With 4 gamers scoring in double-figures, Henry coached her approach via a smaller lineup of Rhyne Howard, Williams, and Hamby by deploying a much bigger lineup.
Rose is now undefeated on the season (3-0), and Grey led the best way with 37 factors to propel the membership over Breeze, 73-69. This membership has the proper quantity of measurement, x-factors (Sug Sutton, Lexie Hull), and management in Grey. It is price noting that Kahleah Copper hasn’t performed a minute of basketball this season.
Breeze BC Can Hold
Created alongside Hive BC as Unequalled’s latest growth franchises, Breeze BC is loaded with younger expertise. To not point out, the membership options gamers with earlier three-on-three expertise.
Other than veteran guard Aari McDonald, all 5 of the membership’s gamers had been featured up to now two WNBA Drafts. With two earlier No.1 picks in Paige Bueckers and Dominique Malonga, this squad contains high 2024 WNBA Draft picks and Los Angeles Sparks teammates, Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink. Total, this crew has 5 top-five WNBA draft picks.
Let’s not overlook Kate “Cash” Martin, who immediately rose as a fan favourite with the Las Vegas Aces and was later chosen by the Golden State Valkyries as a part of the growth draft.
The youngest membership in Unequalled has a median age of simply 23.8 years outdated, however age is only a quantity, proper?
Previous to the season, followers acquired an early glimpse, highlighted by footage of Bueckers’ pick-and-roll lobs to Malonga. Of us, this wasn’t a drill—this squad has confirmed their authority early on.
Kicking off opening night time with a 69-62 victory over Phantom, Breeze pressed ahead on Friday. Securing a 73-62 victory over Hive BC, Breeze has the proper combination of cohesion, kinship, and measurement. It additionally helps that Bueckers and Brink received gold with the 2019 USA Basketball U19 Nationwide Group in Thailand.
The Younger and Turnt Crew 🌬️🔥Paige Bueckers – 16p 10r 7aDominique Malonga – 15p 13rCameron Brink – 14p 5r 62percentRickea Jackson – 16p 6r 2aKate Martin – 12p 3r pic.twitter.com/0yxDiqHwNk
— BreezeBC🌴 (@breezebcupdates) January 10, 2026
Nicely-Balanced and Versatile
Led by former Seattle Storm participant and coach Noelle Quinn, all six gamers accessible recorded factors in double-figures, with Bueckers main the best way with 16 factors, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. With Malonga and Brink combining for 29 factors and 18 rebounds, Jackson and Martin rounded out the sport with 16 and 12 factors every.
Third within the league with 10.7 rebounds per sport, Malonga has the size and measurement benefit over most groups, at 6-foot-6. Following a block on Storm teammate Ezi Magbegor, her most spectacular exhibiting early on within the matchup was her capability to push the tempo for a bucket in transition. Whereas three-on-three would not at all times cater to taller gamers, Malonga suits this type of basketball seamlessly.
Creating screens for teammates and dominating on the boards, Malonga recorded three offensive rebounds that contributed to Breeze’s 10 second-chance factors.
Outscoring Hive 21-12 in back-to-back quarters, Breeze commanded a 42-24 halftime lead. Regardless of capturing 1-13 (7.7%), the membership adjusted the sport plan when the photographs weren’t falling. Dubbed as “Midrange Mommy” by studio analyst Renee Montgomery, Bueckers stored discovering her mid-range sport off sturdy screens from each Brink and Malonga.
Rickea Jackson is The X-Issue
Maybe the most important x-factor on this squad is Jackson. Whereas she’s improved her scoring—whether or not it is mid-range fadeaway photographs, threes, or driving to the rim—Jackson impacted the field rating in quite a few methods. With six rebounds, two assists, and a block, Jackson showcased that she’s elite in one-on-one play but is extraordinarily important to this crew’s success. A real 3-level scorer, Jackson is aware of the right way to push the tempo, particularly in transition.
It is evident this crew is not led by one participant, and in every quarter, completely different gamers stepped up. Within the first quarter, it was Brink and Jackson who mixed for 12 first-quarter factors. Whereas Kate Martin scored 10 first-half factors off the bench, Malonga went on a run herself with 5 straight factors within the third quarter. Finally, it was Bueckers who referred to as sport; that is an exceptionally balanced crew.
Whereas Rose handed Breeze its first lack of the season later within the weekend, we have seen that Breeze can cling with the highest canine. Dropping to Grey and firm by simply 4 factors, Breeze is a crew that is right here to remain and make a run. Whereas unable to fight Grey’s 37-point outing, Rickea and Malonga mixed for 40 factors.
Mist Secures Slender Victory Over Laces
Maybe probably the most thrilling matchups of the week included Mist BC’s 83-81 victory over Laces BC. 2-1 on the season, Mist has constructed a multidimensional roster that excels on each side of the ball. With Alanna Smith and Breanna Stewart anchoring the frontcourt, the backcourt contains Arike Ogunbowale and Allisha Grey. Are you able to say bucket getters? To not point out, two-way guard Veronica Burton. High to backside, this crew is stacked.
A high scorer final season, Grey returns, this time with an Unequalled career-high 28 factors, 4 rebounds, and three assists. Erupting for 9 factors alone in a high-scoring first quarter (26-26), Grey completed the night time, capturing 9-18 (50%) from the sector, 3-10 (30%) from three, and 3-4 (75%) from the charity stripe.
I am going to admit, I used to be a bit leery that Mist BC head coach Zach O’Brien selected to reconstruct the beginning lineup, this time with Ogunbowale, Stewart, and Smith. Whereas the primary unit is commonly primarily based on matchups, I could not perceive why Grey wasn’t listed as a starter regardless of being certainly one of their main scorers.
Allisha Grey Leads Mist with Profession Evening
Both approach, she led the crew, accounting for eight of the membership’s first 11 factors within the third quarter, and hit the game-tying three after Stewart’s double-team. Coast-to-coast in transition, Grey has confirmed to showcase why she’s probably the greatest to get downhill. Using the pick-and-roll with Stewart to sidestep a 3-pointer to again door cuts, Grey was important find her teammates utilizing high-low units.
Her finest play of the night time got here on a possible game-winning possession for the Laces, when Grey locked down Sykes, forcing her to overlook the shot.
Total, Mist did not maintain a lead for many of the sport, trailing by 10 factors within the second quarter. Chipping away on the deficit possession by possession, they had been capable of overcome the two-player dominance between Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Younger, together with Brittney Sykes’s 29-point profession outing.
🏀🪣 “No person can guard me. I’m not gonna be uncovered. I do know I’m a bucket, so be a bucket” -the birthday lady Allisha Grey of Mist BC talks the discuss & walks the stroll! One in all my fave interviews from opening week of @Unrivaledwbb Season 2 on @TNTSportsUS! Catch video games each Friday,… pic.twitter.com/AXTfwMwJmb
— Ros Gold-Onwude (@ROSGO21) January 12, 2026
Mayhem within the Last Moments
Down 74-61 within the third quarter, it was Smith and Stewart who constantly battled within the publish, and maybe probably the most vital second of the sport included Burton’s put-back following a miss from Grey.
Just like Rose, Mist was on the sting of collapse, on condition that the Laces had been only one level away from a goal rating of 82 factors after a Sykes bucket. With Mist trailing 81-79, a chaotic collection of a number of pick-and-pop makes an attempt, adopted by offensive rebounds by Burton and Stewart, finally led to a game-tying floater by Stewart.
Tied 81 all, Burton and Stewart’s defensive heroics led to a Jackie Younger go-ahead missed shot. Adopted by a collection of chaotic occasions, a unfastened ball resulted in a leap ball. Successful the tip, Stewart could not end, whereas Burton stopped Thomas on the different finish. Burton completed the night time with 11 factors off the bench, together with seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Whereas initially Laces ball, Mist had been awarded the possession, and Stewart finally sank a game-winning free throw after fouled by Thomas. Stewart completed with 22 factors, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and one steal.
The final sequence was pure havoc, stuffed with physicality, protection, and fatigue setting in. Finally, it was Mist who prevailed.
Dearica Hamby Units League Report with 40 Factors
Conceivably, probably the most spectacular efficiency of the weekend got here from Vinyl’s Dearica Hamby. Changing into the primary participant to ever rating 40 factors in Unequalled, she erupted for 40 factors, 10 rebounds, and two assists. In Vinyl’s 89-66 victory over Hive, Hamby shot 16-23 from the sector and 5-6 from the charity stripe.
Contributing to Vinyl’s 42 paint factors, Hamby did not have an issue in opposition to WNBA All-Defensive Group member Ezi Magbegor and Monique Billings. In spite of everything, we’re speaking a couple of USA Basketball three-on-three Olympic Gold Medalist.
Whereas Hive has potential, solely Natisha Hideman brings Unequalled expertise. Benefiting from that, Hamby continued inside over two defenders, together with one-on-one with Magbegor. Scoring the primary eight factors of the sport, there was no stopping Hamby. The truth is, she completed with 24 first-half factors!
With Vinyl centered on feeding Hamby early in motion, she thrived within the pick-and-roll sport alongside Rhyne Howard. With elite footwork that enables her to complete across the rim, Hamby continued to create scoring alternatives for herself, play after play.
Dearica Hamby with the primary 40-point sport in UNRIVALED historical past
The earlier factors file (38) belonged to Kelsey Plum and Napheesa Collier https://t.co/Nvi9QElU2U pic.twitter.com/CuuKxV9Nti
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 12, 2026
How Hamby Took Over Towards Hive BC
Vinyl took a commanding 51-44 lead on the half, and Hamby prolonged her authority. Scoring 16 second-half factors, she scored eight of the membership’s closing 11 factors of the sport.
This matchup remained inside attain for Hive via the second quarter, and Vinyl stored feeding Hamby. Operating the pick-and-roll with a number of teammates, together with Rae Burrell, it is clear Hive could not guard the scheme. And with that, Hamby is sort of unstoppable coast to coast in a three-on-three setting.
The truth is, the pick-and-roll scheme grew to become so obvious that Vinyl typically utilized Hamby because the screener, opening up Howard for threes. Whereas I haven’t got the precise stats, I’d like to see the proportion of pick-and-roll schemes utilized by Vinyl.
Whether or not utilizing screens, creating screens, rolling, reducing, or working inside, Hamby was relentless. Grabbing 4 rebounds alone, she was dominant in opposition to the bigs and capitalized on mismatches with Sonia Citron and others.
Following Hamby’s breakout efficiency, she’s the fifth favourite amongst sportsbooks to win Unequalled MVP.
Kelsey Plum’s Sport Winner for Phantom
Mist BC discovered themselves in two tight matchups this week, and Kelsey Plum capped off the week’s pleasure with a game-winning shot. In Phantom’s 64-61 victory over Mist, Plum completed the night time with 18 factors, eight rebounds, and two assists. In a low-scoring affair and a poor offensive exhibiting for each groups, Plum salvaged the night time with one other thrilling matchup that left me on the sting of my chair.
This was one other shut sport for Mist, as there have been 5 lead adjustments all through this one. Nonetheless, this matchup had a sluggish begin for each groups. The outdated saying goes, “It isn’t the way you begin, it is the way you end.”
Neither crew might purchase a 3-point shot early on, however Plum got here alive, scoring seven factors in beneath 60 seconds for Phantom within the third quarter following simply two factors within the first half.
Kelsey Plum tied Napheesa Collier’s file for many factors in an UNRIVALED sport: 38 PTS, 12 AST, 8 REB!
Scoring LeadersChelsea Grey: 29Marina Mabrey: 27.5Kelsey Plum: 25
Assists LeadersMarina Mabrey: 8Kelsey Plum: 7.5Chelsea Grey: 6.5 pic.twitter.com/JwB8k3NL6f
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 11, 2026
With Phantom down 32-25 to open the third quarter, it was Plum who skillfully drove inside over Alanna Smith a number of instances. In the course of the stretch, Plum was left on her personal island, hitting a 3 in transition, and was the driving power behind Phantom’s offensive third-quarter surge.
Whereas Plum did not have a stellar defensive efficiency on the inside, she used her pace, tempo, and total sport to take advantage of Mist. That included mid-range photographs previous the nail off pick-and-rolls, together with looking her photographs off PNRs with Kiki Iriafen. With Phantom successfully setting screens for Plum, her 3-pointer stored Phantom in attain by the ultimate quarter.
With a fourth-quarter goal rating set for 63 factors, Phantom pulled away, because of a team-high 19 factors by Iriafen. Blowing a six-point lead, Mist extended the battle with the two-player sport of Allisha Grey and Breanna Stewart. Only one level away from victory, Stewart continued to roll. Up 62-61, Plum and Iriafen ran a pick-in-roll during which Plum wrapped across the baseline.
The consequence? Plum hit the mid-range game-winning dagger within the face of Grey. This weekend, Plum tied Collier’s file for many factors in an Unequalled sport with 38 in opposition to Lunar Owls.
Aaliyah Edwards Large Evening
Former UConn standout Aaliyah Edwards made a reputation for herself within the inaugural season of Unequalled. Notably, Edwards defeated Breanna Stewart 12-0 within the first-ever one-on-one event, however finally misplaced to Napheesa Collier within the championship. Since then, she’s put the league on discover.
Scoring an Unequalled career-high 38 factors, Edwards could not carry her crew to victory, as Lunar Owls BC dropped Monday’s showdown in opposition to Laces BC, 84-72.
AALIYAH EDWARDS TONIGHT 🔥
• 38 POINTS• 13 REBOUNDS• 16/19 FGpic.twitter.com/kNyLuHWKhK
— Ladies’s Hoops Community (@WomensHoops_USA) January 13, 2026
As soon as the highest canine final season, the Lunar Owls will stay with out Napheesa Collier, and Skylar Diggins has but to play this season. It is clear that each Edwards and Marina Mabrey are the highest stars for this membership, each combining for 64 of 72 factors on Monday. Mabrey shot 10-24 from the sector, including 4 made 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Whereas private fouls, turnovers, and lack of scoring outdoors Edwards and Mabrey are regarding, let’s deal with Edwards. Almost dropping a 40-point bomb, Edwards shot 16-19 from the sector in simply shy of 21 minutes.
And I wish to shout out Brittney Sykes, who delivered one other stellar efficiency with 25 factors.
Week 2 of Unequalled kicks off on Friday, Jan. 16, that includes Laces vs. Phantom and Rose vs. Hive.
