Unrivaled League Announces Inaugural All-League Teams as Playoffs Approach
MEDLEY, Fla. – As the curtain prepares to fall on its groundbreaking inaugural season, the Unrivaled women’s basketball league has unveiled its All-Unrivaled teams, recognizing the exceptional performances that have defined the league’s first chapter. The announcement, made on Thursday, sets the stage for an electrifying final weekend culminating in the championship game.
Leading the pack, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray, and Kayla McBride have earned First Team All-Unrivaled honors, solidifying their status as cornerstones of the league’s initial success. Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese, and Skylar Diggins-Smith round out the elite selection, securing positions on the Second Team All-Unrivaled. These six players have consistently showcased remarkable skill, athleticism, and leadership, leaving an indelible mark on the Unrivaled landscape.
Napheesa Collier, a league co-founder alongside Breanna Stewart and a driving force behind the top-seeded Lunar Owls, has been a dominant force throughout the regular season. Collier’s exceptional performance propelled the Lunar Owls to a stellar 13-1 record, establishing them as the team to beat heading into the playoffs. Her statistics paint a vivid picture of her impact: leading the league in scoring with an impressive 25.7 points per game, while also demonstrating her defensive prowess with 2.0 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.
Collier’s contributions extend beyond mere statistics; she embodies the spirit of the Unrivaled league, blending exceptional talent with unwavering dedication. Her leadership on and off the court has been instrumental in shaping the Lunar Owls’ winning culture. As a result, Collier stands as the overwhelming favorite to claim the coveted Unrivaled MVP award and is also considered a frontrunner for the Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year title. The winners of both awards, along with the Unrivaled Coach of the Year award, will be revealed later this week, adding another layer of anticipation to the playoff atmosphere.
Kayla McBride, the Unrivaled’s second-leading scorer, has been a consistent offensive threat for the Laces. Averaging an impressive 22.2 points per game, McBride’s scoring prowess has been a key factor in the Laces’ success, helping them secure a 7-7 record and the No. 3 seed in the postseason. Her ability to create scoring opportunities and deliver under pressure makes her a valuable asset for the Laces as they prepare for the playoffs.
Chelsea Gray, representing the Rose, has distinguished herself as a clutch performer and a facilitator of the highest order. Gray led Unrivaled with six game-winning shots, showcasing her ability to rise to the occasion in critical moments. In addition to her scoring contributions (21.3 points per game, third in the league), Gray also topped the league in assists, averaging 5.4 per game. Her playmaking skills have been crucial to the Rose’s offensive flow.
Gray’s partnership with Angel Reese was instrumental in the Rose’s mid-season turnaround. After a rocky 1-4 start, the Rose embarked on a remarkable five-game winning streak, ultimately securing the No. 2 seed in the Unrivaled playoffs with an 8-6 record. Both players elevated their play.
Reese’s inclusion on the Second Team All-Unrivaled is a testament to her dominant presence on the boards. She was one of only three players in the league (along with Collier and Stewart) to average a double-double during the Unrivaled season. While averaging 13.1 points per game, Reese truly shined in rebounding, leading the league with an impressive 12.1 rebounds per game. She also etched her name in Unrivaled history by recording the league’s first 20-20 game, showcasing her exceptional rebounding and scoring ability in a memorable performance against the Lunar Owls on February 21, where she tallied 22 points and 21 rebounds.
Rhyne Howard, representing the Vinyl, secured her spot on the Second Team All-Unrivaled through her consistent scoring and defensive contributions. She ranked fourth in Unrivaled scoring with 20.5 points per game while also ranking in the Top 5 in both steals and blocks. Howard’s all-around game was critical in helping the Vinyl secure the fourth and final playoff spot, demonstrating her importance to the team’s success.
Skylar Diggins-Smith, another key member of the Lunar Owls, rounds out the Second Team All-Unrivaled. She demonstrated her playmaking skills with the second most game-winning shots. Her 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game complemented her 17.9 points. Along with Collier and Allisha Gray, Diggins-Smith helped form arguably the best starting lineup in Unrivaled’s inaugural season.
The All-Unrivaled teams reflect the diversity and depth of talent within the league, with four of the six Unrivaled teams represented. Notably, the Mist and Phantom did not have a representative on either the First or Second Team, highlighting the competitive nature of the league.
The selection process for the All-Unrivaled teams involved a comprehensive voting system that incorporated the perspectives of players, coaches, and media members. Unrivaled players, head coaches, assistant coaches, and 19 media members submitted votes, which were weighted to reflect the different stakeholders’ influence. The players’ vote accounted for 40% of the total, while the coaches’ vote comprised 35%, and the media’s vote contributed 25%.
As the Unrivaled season reaches its climax, the focus shifts to the playoffs, which will commence on Monday with two highly anticipated semifinal games. The Rose will face the Laces in the first game at 7:30 p.m., followed by a showdown between the Lunar Owls and the Vinyl in the second game. The winners of the semifinal matchups will then advance to the Unrivaled championship game on Tuesday, where they will battle for the ultimate prize.
The announcement of the All-Unrivaled teams and the impending playoffs have generated considerable excitement among fans, players, and coaches alike. As the Unrivaled league prepares to crown its first-ever champion, the future looks bright for this innovative and competitive women’s basketball league.
