Get ready for a clash of titans! What happens when Alyssa Thomas's Laces face Breanna Stewart's Mist in this early-season Unrivaled showdown could set the tone for the entire season. Will Laces continue their dominant streak, or will Mist's revamped roster prove too much to handle?
You can't usually miss Alyssa Thomas when she's on the court. She's a force of nature, a whirlwind of energy and skill. But during Laces' Unrivaled opener against Vinyl, something was different. For the first three quarters, at least, she was surprisingly quiet.
Thomas, a perennial MVP candidate, had a relatively unremarkable first 21 minutes. Three missed shots, five rebounds, two assists, two turnovers, and one foul – by her standards, it was almost like she wasn't even there. Laces managed to hold a slim four-point lead, 46-42, going into the untimed fourth quarter, largely thanks to a 15-point explosion from Brittney Sykes in the third.
But here's where it gets interesting... As soon as the fourth quarter began, with the target score set at 57 points, the sleeping giant awoke. Alyssa Thomas exploded, scoring the first six points of the quarter in a flurry, propelling Laces past the target in just over two minutes. That was the Alyssa Thomas we've all come to expect: aggressive, relentless, and playing with an undeniable swagger.
For their second game, Laces desperately needs that AT – the one with the sneering smile and an insatiable hunger for the ball – to overcome Mist on Saturday night (8:45 p.m. ET, truTV). This matchup between Thomas's Laces and Stewart's Mist isn't just another game; it has all the hallmarks of a potential early-season championship preview. Laces' late-game domination, fueled by AT and a clutch Jackie Young (who scored the final six points, including the game-winning free throw), showcased their immense potential.
Mist, however, is no pushover. They're built to match Laces' two-way dominance. Allisha Gray, in their opening win against Hive, wasted no time showing what she can do, starting the season with two three-pointers on her way to a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds.
Gray headlines Mist's revamped supporting cast around captain Breanna Stewart. Last season, Mist relied heavily on Stewie to carry the load. Now, she has Gray, along with Veronica Burton, who delivered a stellar Unrivaled debut with 14 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Alanna Smith also made an immediate impact with 10 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks.
That trio alone would be enough to provide Stewie with the support she needs, but Mist also boasts Arike Ogunbowale, who looked comfortable in her role as a scorer off the bench. Li Yueru also appears ready to contribute quality minutes as a surprisingly mobile big.
Laces, however, will present a much tougher challenge than the inexperienced Hive. Thomas and Young are surrounded by a strong supporting cast of their own. Sykes injected scoring and competitive fire into her new squad in the opener, while Jordin Canada showed off her quickness off the dribble, Naz Hillmon dominated the boards, and Maddy Siegrist contributed timely baskets and rebounds.
Barring an unusually poor or outstanding shooting performance from either team, expect this one to be a nail-biter. Every possession will matter, and the team that executes better down the stretch will likely emerge victorious.
But here's a question for you: Do you think Mist's new additions will be enough to overcome the established chemistry and star power of Laces? Or will Alyssa Thomas continue her reign as one of the most dominant players in Unrivaled?
Switching gears entirely... Can the struggling Lunar Owls even compete against the Phantom? Their Saturday night opener, however, might not be quite as thrilling. The action kicks off with Lunar Owls taking on Phantom (7:30 p.m. ET, truTV).
As Beckett Harrison recently highlighted, what was supposed to be a revenge season for the Lunar Owls, last season's regular-season juggernaut that suffered a shocking upset in the playoff semifinals, is quickly turning into a lost cause.
With reigning Unrivaled MVP Napheesa Collier sidelined for the season due to ankle surgeries, the Owls are without their offensive and defensive linchpin. Collier's absence, coupled with Skylar Diggins missing the opener due to injury, resulted in a vastly different and underwhelming Owls squad getting blown out.
And it's hard to see things improving drastically anytime soon, even when Diggins returns. While the Owls will undoubtedly miss Collier's consistent scoring, her absence might be even more pronounced on the defensive end, where she won't be there to compensate for the Lunar Owls' more limited defenders.
Phantom, who resided in the cellar last season, should find their way to a relatively easy first win.
On the bright side for Phantom, Aliyah Boston might have delivered her best-ever Unrivaled performance in their opener, despite the loss. She not only scored a career-high 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds but also displayed a newfound confidence and assertiveness in the 3x3 format.
Tiffany Hayes' game continues to look well-suited for Unrivaled, with Tip putting in 20 points. Although her shot wasn't falling, Kelsey Plum looked comfortable in her Unrivaled debut. This trio has the potential to be a winning combination, provided they can stay out of foul trouble. Hayes and Plum each had four fouls in their first game, while Boston committed five.
And this is the part most people miss... The key for Phantom will be managing their fouls and maintaining their composure throughout the game. They need to avoid giving the Owls easy points and capitalize on their opponent's weaknesses. Can Aliyah Boston continue her improved play and lead Phantom to a dominant victory, or will the Lunar Owls somehow find a way to rally despite their challenges? What do you think? Let us know your predictions in the comments below!
