After eight weeks of play, viral TikToks and even a dunk, it all comes down to Monday. For a visual breakdown on how Unrivaled playoffs work, check out this video.
The playoffs are down to four teams: Lunar Owls, Rose, Laces and Vinyl.
While the Vinyl and Mist ended with the same 5-9 record, the Vinyl clinched the final spot by having more wins over playoff teams.
So, how will the playoffs shake out?
Laces (7-7) vs Rose (8-6)
I have to go with the Laces here. Even without the forces of Kate Martin and Jackie Young, they’re still a threat because of guard Kayla McBride.
McBride, an All-Unrivaled First Team player, has been cooking all season and there’s no reason to think she’ll slow down now. After several of her teammates went down with injuries, she stepped up and showed off her 3-point shooting. Going into the playoffs, she’s averaging 22.2 points per game, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.
The other All-Unrivaled first team player is Chelsea “Point Gawd” Gray. She’s just behind McBride with 21.3 pointers to her name, 5.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists. While she is also a threat, Angel Reese, the Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year, will be out for the semi-finals game. Without Reese dishing the ball out to Gray, she’ll struggle to get shots up, especially with Kahleah Copper also sidelined.
McBride is used to playing without key pieces, but Gray isn’t. I’m sticking with the Laces going to the finals.
Vinyl (5-9) vs Lunar Owls (13-1)
Do I even need to say who I think is going to win? The Lunar Owls are simply too dominant.
To add insult to injury for the Vinyl, Arike Ogunbowale is questionable for Sunday’s game. Also, they don’t have the X-factor that Lunar Owls have, Napheesa Collier.
Collier, the Unrivaled Most Valuable Player of the Year, has been the driving force behind their dominance. She leads Unrivaled with 25.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists. If it was a three-on-one matchup, I would still pick her.
Next to Collier is All-Unrivaled Second Team player Skylar Diggins-Smith, who has been a great offensive partner for Collier as she leads the league with 4.8 assists.
The Vinyl are only in the playoffs because they barely edged out the mediocre Mist. At the beginning of the season, the Vinyl looked like the team to look out for, but they’ve struggled since. If it weren’t for Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard averaging nearly 20 points per game, they’d be in last place right now.
They’re also on a three-game losing streak and lost most recently against the 4-10 Phantom. If they can’t beat the worst team in the league, they definitely can’t beat the best.
Who will be Unrivaled?
It will be the team with a plus-170 point differential and on a five-game winning streak, the Lunar Owls.
If the Rose had a healthy squad, I would’ve picked them to win it all. The Lunar Owls are the only team in the playoffs with a fully healthy roster and that’s a huge advantage in 3x3 basketball.
During the first half of the season, it looked like the Lunar Owls and Laces were going to be the championship favorites. After injuries hurt the Laces, it seemed like they had no chance, but now, with a healthier squad, they’re back in championship contention.
Still, it won’t be enough. The Lunar Owls will be the first ones to be Unrivaled and Napheesa Collier will earn finals MVP.