Unrivaled: Phantom, Mist meet in showdown for second place in standings

When Phantom and Mist meet for the second time this season on Saturday night, two of the best Unrivaled lineups will face off (8:45 p.m. ET, truTV).

In the second edition of his power rankings, Josh Felton, who ranked Phantom at No. 2 and Mist at No. 4, referenced the Unrivaled lineup data compiled by SI Now’s Dan Falkenheim. Based on his most-recent calculations, the Ghost Gang and Misties have two of the best high-frequency three-player combinations.

Phantom’s starting group of Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Plum and Tiffany Hayes sport a net rating of 27.5 across 208 possessions. Mist’s first three of Allisha Gray, Breanna Stewart and Veronica Burton has been even better, with a net rating of 42.9 over 272 possessions. While the sample size in Unrivaled will also be somewhat small, that’s enough evidence to indicate that both those grouping are really good.

Last time the two clubs met, Phantom bested Mist, winning by three points, 64-61, a lower-scoring, more defensive-tilted contest between Unrivaled’s second-most efficient offense, Phantom, and the league’s highest-scoring offense, Mist.

In the rematch, regardless of whether the offenses are electric or the defenses are again dialed in, expect some high level hoops between the two clubs. Both enter the contest at 6-3, with the winner claiming sole control of second place in the Unrivaled standings.

For Mist, it would be wise for head coach Zach O’Brien to lean into his best three more often. Even though they’ve played tons of possessions together, there’s opportunity for more with Gray, Stewart and Burton.

Last time Mist played Phantom, Gray, puzzlingly, came off the bench and played under 13 minutes. Burton logged just over 13 minutes, while Stewie approached 18 minutes. While O’Brien likely doesn’t want to ostracize Mist’s depth players, especially Arike Ogunbowale, who is capable for igniting at any moment, the data suggests he has a good thing that he needs to make the most of, particularly against a high-quality opponent like Phantom.

Phantom head coach Roneeka Hodges has more successfully managed her lineups. The extended absence of Dana Evans, somewhat contradictorily, might have made things a bit easier; instead of juggling time for six talented players, she only had to find time for five, allowing for cleaner rotations.

Evans, however, can be additive for Phantom. Falkenheim also has explored Unrivaled usage data, and Phantom’s two primary reserves, Kiki Iriafen and Natasha Cloud, stood out at the extremes. While Iriafen eats up lots of usage in her minutes, Cloud does not, despite her almost 42 percent mark from 3.

Evans, possibly, can slot between those two poles, shifting into a higher- or lower-usage role as needed. Such malleability has defined her WNBA career, which Beckett Harrison highlighted after she helped the Las Vegas Aces win the 2025 WNBA championship, thus becoming a two-time champ. Last game, her first-ever Unrivaled action, she played just under eight minutes and mostly served as a floor spacer, as five of her seven shots came from behind the arc.

Evans’ history also reminds that, once the ball is tipped, the data can only predict so much. The unexpected is what makes basketball, and especially Unrivaled, so exciting.

Rose and Vinyl strive for .500

Following Breeze’s Friday night upset loss to Hive, the winner of Rose vs. Vinyl will have the opportunity to sneak up the standings (7:30 p.m. ET, truTV). At 4-5, both clubs are also looking to get to .500 with a victory.

For Rose, that will require reversing recent fortunes.

The defending champs have dropped two-straight games, victims of Marina Mabrey’s Philly special before getting run off the floor by Breeze in their first game back in Miami. The uneven integration of Kahleah Copper, despite her individual production, remains an issue for Rose. The aforementioned Unrivaled lineup data makes it clear that Rose is at their best when Gray is surrounded by one of the clubs’ bigs in Shakira Austin or Azurá Stevens and one of their more defensive-minded perimeter players in Lexie Hull or Sug Sutton.

When Rose beat Phantom, their only win with Copper in the lineup this season, Kah referenced the “hard conversations” that helped the team get that W; it seems like more difficult discussions might be needed.

Vinyl, in contrast, comes into this one having captured two-straight wins, with career-best basketball from Rae Burrell captaining Vinyl’s positive play. That said, Vinyl still has not established a consistent identity.

Yes, they have enough talent to win in different ways depending on the demands of the respective game. Dearica Hamby could go off for another 40-ball. Rhyne Howard might make a metric ton of 3s. Brittney Griner can be an automatic bucket on the block. But, a go-to winning formula, rather than relying on players’ individual brilliance, would inspire more confidence in Vinyl’s ability to reach their upside.

On Saturday night, it’s most important that Vinyl step on the court with the requisite intensity, as Rose, led by Gray, certainly will be determined to avoid a three-game skid.