NFL
By: Nick Andre
This week begins a new era for Women’s Basketball. Thanks to WNBA All-Stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, the inauguration of “Unrivaled” begins this Friday. For those who are not aware, Unrivaled is a new 3-on-3 basketball league that takes place during the WNBA off-season in Miami, Florida. Several players from the WNBA have decided to stay in the country and play in the new league compared to traveling overseas during the winter.
The atmosphere has been incredible in South Beach. The players get to be in warm weather during the winter season while also being treated to great training facilities, massages, hot tubs, and more. Unrivaled has been planning their rollout for the new season since last summer. With the hype surrounding the new league, they’ve granted several partnerships from companies like TNT, Samsung, and more.
Unrivaled is a league that features six teams and 36 players. They’re all broken into six players per team and have incredible talent on each roster. Every team has different styles that they will bring to the table. Some may play at a fast pace as they bring a run-and-gun style offense. Others may beat you in the halfcourt with pick-and-roll play and highlight plays at the rim. There are three things that I’m looking forward to as the Unrivaled season begins.
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Jewell Loyd has something to prove
Jewell Loyd is known as one of the best scorers in the WNBA. However, the two-time champion didn’t have the best performance last season with the Seattle Storm. Loyd averaged 19.7 points last season in Seattle. One could say that’s not a bad scoring average. However, when you were the leading scorer in the WNBA just a year ago, it was a huge drop-off from Loyd compared to the previous season.
Loyd’s inconsistency was glaring. As she was expected to be the team’s number one option, oftentimes she didn’t display the best offensive performance. Loyd’s season had many fans and insiders question if she’s still an All-Star level player. Playing in Unrivaled will give Loyd the chance to shut down all the noise and deliver a spectacular season.
This season is Loyd’s chance to show why she’s been known as one of the best scorers in women’s basketball. Playing with the Mist allows her to reunite with former teammate Breanna Stewart and play her style of basketball. There’s no question that Loyd is motivated to begin the season in Unrivaled and help the Mist be the last team standing.
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Angel Reese’s Improvements
I’m sure everyone has seen the offseason workouts. Angel Reese has shown more ball handling and three-point shooting throughout the past few months. The question is will the work show once she steps on the court? Reese emerged as the second-best rookie in the WNBA this past season behind Caitlin Clark. Her energy and passion have continued to make her a fan favorite across the league.
Angel Reese is great. However, her biggest flaw has been her offensive game. She has not been the most comfortable in any area of the floor. In a WNBA that features skilled offensive power forwards/centers, Reese needed to get in the gym this fall.
Playing for Rose will take Reese’s game to another level. The reason is because she’ll get to share the floor with the Point God Chelsea Gray. Maybe playing next to a gifted passer is just what Reese needed to unlock her offensive potential. As the two continue to build chemistry, expect the power forward to perform at a high level.
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Who has the best team?
These rosters are talented. All 36 players have made a significant impact on their WNBA team and have accolades to show for it. However, it’s not only about the names you see on paper. All six teams have to build chemistry if they want to have a chance at a successful season.
My two favorite teams are the Mist and Laces. Both teams provide great scoring, playmaking, defense, physicality, and more. Bold take: these could be the two teams who compete for the championship at the end of the season. As long as the Mist and Laces continue to build their chemistry together, they can both be unstoppable teams in Unrivaled.
In the inauguration season, this is a chance for fans to pick their favorite team. The different play styles and performances will have the new fans amazed to follow a team or player. As the season takes place tonight, all eyes will be on these players and teams with big expectations to perform at the highest level.
