Unrivaled's Friday night showdown was a spectacle, and asking for more would be downright unreasonable! The opening game between Laces and Phantom was a thriller, with Laces emerging victorious by a single point, 76-75, thanks to a clutch shot from Brittney Sykes.
Laces dominated early, leading by nine after the first quarter. But Phantom fought back, with Kelsey Plum dishing assists and Aliyah Boston dominating inside. Phantom slowly closed the gap, and by the third quarter, it was anyone's game. Plum's scoring and Boston's big plays kept Phantom in it, and they took their first lead with just over four minutes left in the quarter.
But Laces responded with a run of their own, led by Maddy Siegrist, Jordin Canada, and Naz Hillmon. Phantom, however, refused to go away, with Plum and Boston combining for a statement 3-pointer.
Entering the fourth, Laces held a slim lead, but Phantom came out firing, going on a 9-0 run to take control. Alyssa Thomas then stepped up for Laces, scoring an old-fashioned three-point play.
The Plum-Boston duo struck again, giving Phantom a three-point lead. Jackie Young answered with a driving layup, and after a made free throw, the game was tied at 73.
It was a true nail-biter, with the next team to score three points claiming victory. Phantom called a timeout and set up an easy basket for Boston, but Laces had the last laugh. Sykes, with the help of Young, knocked down the game-winning shot, a true buzzer-beater.
Laces' victory was a team effort, with four players reaching double digits. Thomas led the way with 19 points and six rebounds. For Phantom, Plum and Boston were the stars, scoring 25 and 23 points, respectively.
But the night's drama didn't end there. Hive, after four attempts, finally secured their first win, beating the previously unbeaten Rose, 78-75. It was a shocking result, a reminder of the beauty of sports, where any team can triumph on any given night.
Hive came out firing, with Ezi Magbegor and Kelsey Mitchell scoring early. Chelsea Gray, the Point Gawd for Rose, reached a remarkable 400 points in Unrivaled, becoming the first player in the league to do so.
Hive took control in the second quarter, with Sonia Citron's 3s and Saniya Rivers' inside scoring. Rose fought back, with Gray and Azurá Stevens leading a comeback, but Hive maintained their lead going into the final quarter.
Rose mounted a late charge, cutting the deficit to just three points with a 15-6 run. But Hive, led by Mitchell and Monique Billings, held on. Gray and Kahleah Copper kept Rose in it with back-to-back 3s, but Hive sealed the deal with a final score from Mitchell.
Rose's loss was a bitter pill, but their stars shined bright. Gray finished with a team-high 36 points and seven assists, while Stevens was efficient with 17 points. For Hive, Mitchell was the standout, scoring 24 points, almost twice as much as any of her teammates.
With Hive's win, Lunar Owls remain the only winless team. They face Mist on Saturday, while Rose, now with a loss, is tied with Laces for the best record in the league at 3-1.
Unrivaled continues to deliver thrilling games, and with so much talent on display, the competition is heating up. Who will emerge as the ultimate champion? Only time will tell!
