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We had a final Unrivaled doubleheader on Monday night, ending the inaugural regular season for the 3×3 league.
A lot was on the line as Mist and Vinyl were both fighting for the fourth and final playoff spot. While both were playing on the last day of the regular season, it wasn’t against each other. Mist took on Lunar Owls, and Vinyl played against Rose. Both teams lost by large margins, as Lunar Owls defeated Mist, 92-58, before Rose beat Vinyl, 74-46.
With these results, Mist and Vinyl ended the season with the same 5-9 record, but Vinyl advanced to the postseason due to the tiebreaker: having a better record against playoff teams. Vinyl went a combined 3-6 against Lunar Owls, Rose and Laces compared to Mist’s 2-7 record.
Lunar Owls keep hootin’
In winning 92-58 over Mist, Lunar Owls were as dominant as ever.
Napheesa Collier was the best, scoring 29 points and grabbing seven rebounds. The entire team played well, all scoring in double figures as they cruised to victory. For Mist’s final game, Rickea Jackson had 22 points, and Breanna Stewart had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
While the game was a blowout, things were close at the start. Jackson was scoring immediately for Mist, and the score was even at 10 midway through the opening period. Lunar Owls then went on a 5-0 run and began to take control. By the end of the first, they were ahead 30-22.
In the second quarter, Lunar Owls went on a rampage. They went on a 10-0 run and blew the game wide open. Skylar Diggins-Smith was dominant on both sides of the court, and Mist didn’t have a response in them.
Jewell Loyd did suffer a lower leg injury in the second, ending her night early. Hopefully, the injury isn’t too serious and will not disrupt her WNBA campaign. At the break, Lunar Owls were up, 52-38. Mist needed a rally in the third to get back into this one, but they could not muster anything. Instead, Lunar Owls kept piling on, and after a Shakira Austin bucket, the lead was up to 29. Courteney Vandersloot made a 3-pointer for Mist to make it 81-54 entering the fourth.
The result was a foregone conclusion for awhile, but Lunar Owls made it official thanks to a Courtney Williams 3-pointer. Throughout Unrivaled, Lunar Owls were the cream of the crop, and they proved that again in the final game of the regular season.
Give Rose their flowers
Rose easily took care of Vinyl 74-46, and they did it with the Point Gawd Chelsea Gray scoring 33 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists. Angel Reese was dominant during her limited action. She had 10 points and 13 rebounds before hurting her wrist and not returning.
Angel Reese was held out of the second half of the Rose’s win over the Vinyl after hurting her left wrist in the third quarter.
Rose coach Nola Henry didn’t have an update postgame but hopes to have one soon.
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) March 11, 2025
For Vinyl, Dearica Hamby was the team’s best player, ending the night with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Rose took care of business right away, as Gray and Brittney Sykes were scoring with ease from the backcourt. After a quarter of play, Rose was ahead 19-12. In the second, Gray started things off with back-to-back 3-pointers, and the lead was up to double figures. Aliyah Boston scored two for Vinyl, but then Rose piled on an 8-2 run and led 33-16 with just 3:33 left in the half. Vinyl called for time, and Jordin Canada finally got them back on the board.
Starting the third quarter, Rose was up 39-24, and Sykes and Reese kept the good times rolling. After a Gray basket at the 3:47 mark, the lead had extended to 20. Vinyl was unable to make a run as both teams exchanged baskets for the rest of the quarter. Entering the fourth, Rose was ahead 63-42.
With the target score of 74, Rose was in the driver’s seat and didn’t mess around. Gray hit another pair of 3-pointers, converted on a free throw and made the game-clinching basket. She was unstoppable, and Vinyl didn’t have an answer for her on Monday night.
What’s next?
The playoffs are now set.
We will have No. 1-seed Lunar Owls taking on No. 4-seed Vinyl and then No. 2-seed Rose against No. 3-seed Laces. Lunar Owls only lost one game this season to Rose, so they will be the team to beat.
The playoffs begin on Sunday, Mar. 16, and the final will be on Monday, Mar. 17.
