Unrivaled: Rose wins championship over Vinyl

After a couple of months of games, the Unrivaled championship was decided by a matchup between Rose and Vinyl. The game lived up to the hype as an even contest with some amazing shot-making from both teams. In the end, Rose came out on top, beating Vinyl 62-54.

Rose utilized the trio of Chelsea Gray, Azurá Stevens and Brittney Sykes to earn this championship. Gray scored 18 points and had a team-high eight assists while also being named the Unrivaled Championship MVP. Sykes scored 21 points, including the title-clinching free throw, and Stevens brought big-time production in the win, scoring 19 points and grabbing a whopping 18 rebounds. This was by far the most boards by any player in this game. The second-best rebounding total was produced by Dearica Hamby of Vinyl, who had seven rebounds.

Vinyl was in the game until the fourth quarter, largely due to Rhyne Howard. She led the team in scoring with 22 points and helped keep Vinyl’s hopes alive throughout the night.

How Rose won it all

Rose jumped out to an early 6-2 lead, with Sykes and Stevens bringing the offense from the jump. After Vinyl evened the score at 8-8, Rae Burrell gave the club a brief two-point lead, but Rose quickly regained control as Stevens and Gray sparked a quick 5-0 run. Aliyah Boston then provided Vinyl with some solid production off the bench; after her basket during the closing minute of the first, the lead was just three points for Rose.

Sykes really started to feel it in the second quarter. She was initiating the offense, dishing out dimes and converting on her shots, helping Rose maintain their one-possession advantage.

However, Hamby and Howard utilized their size and dominated inside. A Howard 3-pointer helped give Vinyl a 37-32 lead after the first half of play.

Stevens and Sykes went on a four-point scoring burst to start the third and got Rose back to within one. The rest of the quarter was a heavyweight bout. Each team matched every make, including the final plays of the third, when it appeared like Howard gave Vinyl a one-point lead after making a 3 with three seconds left only for Gray to score a buzzer-beater to put Rose ahead 51-49 entering the fourth.

In Unrivaled, the winning score is determined by adding 11 points to the leading team’s score through three quarters, and the title game was no different. The first team to reach or exceed 62 points would be deemed the champion.

Gray immediately scored for Rose, and after a Sykes basket the title seemed within their grasp. Howard countered with a 3 to keep Vinyl in this one, but then the Point Gawd put Rose ahead for good, scoring back-to-back baskets. Gray set Rose up for glory, and Sykes made sure they finished the job, scoring the team’s final three points to win the title.

Key takeaways

Rose won it all and celebrated in grand fashion. There was dancing, selfies, FaceTime and social media shenanigans galore.

While Angel Reese was unable to play due to a hand injury, she was thrilled that her teammates not only got the job done, but also helped her win the $50,000 each member of Rose received for being Unrivaled champions.

Overall, the first year of Unrivaled was a smashing success and gave us entertaining professional women’s basketball during the long WNBA offseason. We’ll see what adjustments the league makes as it enters its sophomore season in 2026 and how the players who had successes and setbacks in Unrivaled perform during the WNBA campaign.

However, those are future considerations. For now, all that matters is that Rose is the champion and has set the standard for success in this new league.