Unrivaled: Why Laces, Lunar Owls stand out as league’s best clubs

The first week of Unrivaled has official come to a close—and it was exciting!

Each club has played two games so far, which means it’s time for the first power ranking of the 2025 Unrivaled season. Where do all these teams stand and what has been the biggest takeaway watching each team? Here’s how the clubs stack up, starting with No. 6:

6. Phantom

Roster: Natasha Cloud, Brittney Griner, Natisha Hiedeman (relief player) Sabrina Ionescu, Marina Mabrey (out for 2-4 weeks with calf injury), Satou Sabally, Katie Lou Samuelson

It’s been a rough start of the Unrivaled season for Phantom. Neither one of its games was particularly close, and in the first game they lost by 38 points. The biggest issues from Phantom have come on the defensive end. At one point in their season opener, they played a lineup of Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally and Katie Lou Samuelson together. We don’t have lineup data for Unrivaled (although that would be cool!), but I would imagine that unit did not perform well at all.

Sabally has struggled scoring the ball and punishing smaller defenders, which is concerning given how much they need her offense. The same goes for Brittney Griner. However, it is still early and if both players can find a rhythm, this team does have the potential to be one of the better offensive teams in the league.

5. Rose

Roster: Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese, Azurá Stevens, Brittney Sykes

Despite being 0-2, Rose definitely has some positives to take away from their performances. The defense has been solid, although they have to commit to switching everything on that end and living with the results. Their best lineup so far seems to be Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper and Angel Reese, with Brittney Sykes replacing one of the guards.

Rose has performed better at the end of games when playing from behind. If they want to get in the win column, they need to get off to stronger starts and get better minutes from Lexie Hull. She only has three points through the first two games and has barely been in the rotation for the team, which is a huge disadvantage given the 3×3 format. She’s a strong defender, but they’ll need her offense to come along, too.

4. Mist

Roster: DiJonai Carrington, Aaliyah Edwards, Rickea Jackson, Jewell Loyd, Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot

Mist has gotten off to the most shocking slow start. A team led by Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd starting 0-2 is surprising, to say the least. Mist played in the inaugural game of the league, which was also the fastest-paced game so far. It seemed pretty clear that fatigue was a factor early on. Their second game was a complete reversal in play style, going up against a more methodical Laces team.

Mist played well in their first game despite losing, and their second game against Laces was a poor shooting performance and matchup. Laces switched everything and have tenacious defenders across the board, all of whom caused serious problems for Mist on offense. Better shooting performances could be the difference between this team being 0-2 and 2-0, which is why I have more confidence in them moving forward.

3. Vinyl

Roster: Aliyah Boston, Rae Burrell, Jordin Canada, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, Arike Ogunbowale

So it turns out that Arike Ogunbowale and Rhyne Howard are pretty good at 3×3 basketball. Who didn’t see this coming? Howard earned a 3×3 bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, so it’s unsurprising to see her thrive in the Unrivaled setting. In their season opener, Howard went for 33 points on 6-for-12 shooting from 3. In game two, it was Ogunbowale and Dearica Hamby, also a 3×3 bronze medalist, who went for 21 and 22 points, respectively.

Vinyl has multiple shot creators they can go to at any time. However, most importantly, they have locked in on defense.

2. Lunar Owls

Roster: Shakira Austin, Cameron Brink (out for season with ACL injury), Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams

Perhaps the most unsurprising takeaway from week one of Unrivaled has been that Napheesa Collier is the best player. After the incredible WNBA season she just had, Collier is continuing to punish teams with her insane two-way ability. Given the amount of spacing Lunar Owls have to work with, Collier has been able to operate in the mid-post without a double team, which has led to her averaging 29 points per game to start the season; for context, nobody else averages above 20.

Skylar Diggins-Smith and Allisha Gray have been basically unguardable as well, and they all play defense, which is a common theme amongst the top teams that have separated themselves from the pack.

1. Laces

Roster: Stef Dolson, Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin, Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas, Jackie Young

I did not expect any team to be as potent defensively as Laces have been through their first two games. Opponents are averaging 45.5 points per game against them, which is the lowest of any mark in the entire league; however, they are doing it without fouling. 8.5 fouls per game is also the lowest in the league, and is huge because it prevents opponents from getting free points. (The Unrivaled format gives teams only one free throw attempt on shooting fouls and bonus fouls.) Laces are so disciplined because they don’t commit fouls and have the size to switch everything.

Laces can run a big, yet mobile lineup of Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas and Tiffany Hayes. If the guards get tired, the replacement is Kate Martin, a great defender who can also shoot and pass. Stefanie Dolson is the team’s ultimate wildcard. She guarded Brittney Griner well and also stretched the floor, going 2-for-4 from 3 against Phantom. The scariest part about Laces is that they don’t even have Jackie Young yet. (She has missed both games with a left knee issue.) This team is dangerous and will only get better with Young’s presence.