Latest news with #Laces
USA Today
16-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Unrivaled playoffs live updates: Rose-Laces, Lunar Owls-Vinyl in semifinals tonight
Unrivaled playoffs live updates: Rose-Laces, Lunar Owls-Vinyl in semifinals tonight Show Caption Hide Caption Sabrina Ionescu talks championships, Unrivaled and NBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu joins Lorenzo Reyes to talk WNBA and Michelob Ultra MEDLEY, Fla. — The Unrivaled women's basketball league postseason begins Sunday night with two semifinal games to decide which clubs will play for the inaugural championship title. Chelsea Gray and the No. 2 seed Rose will play without Unrivaled defensive player of the year Angel Reese (hand) against Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas and the No. 3 Laces in the first seminal game. Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Alisha Gray and the No. 1 seed Lunar Owls will face Rhyne Howard, Dearica Hamby and the No. 4 seed Vinyl in the second seminal. The winners of both games will advance to the Unrivaled championship game Monday night. Each player on the championship club will earn $50,000. Here's everything you need to know about the Unrivaled playoffs Sunday night: The Rose and Laces will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, while the Lunar Owls and Vinyl will begin at 8:30 p.m. Unrivaled games are available on TNT and TruTV, and available to live stream on Max in the United States. The Unrivaled title game will be on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. Reese, of the WNBA's Chicago Sky, won't play in Sunday's game for the Rose after injuring her surgically-repaired left hand during the Unrivaled regular-season finale last Monday. It's unclear whether she would be available to play if the Rose advance to the championship game. Reese did appear to participate in some capacity during Rose practice while wearing a brace. The Rose won the season series 2-1, but they've seen three different versions of the Laces this season. Now, the Laces will see a different version of the Rose without Reese in action. The Laces are led by Kayla McBride and Alyssa Thomas, while Jackie Young (illness) is questionable to play. The Rose will be led by Chelsea Gray, Azura Stevens and Lexie Hull. The Lunar Owls started the season 8-0 before their only defeat to the Rose on Feb. 21. They have been Unrivaled's best team with a 13-1 record, and the highest scoring offense in the league (80.7 ppg). The Vinyl has two of the Top 5 Unrivaled scorers in Rhyne Howard (20.5 ppg) and Dearica Hamby (19.9 ppg), while Arike Ogunbowale has averaged 14.8 points in her last four games since returning from a leg injury. Unrivaled end of season awards Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray and Kayla McBride were named First Team All-Unrivaled, while Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese and Skylar Diggins-Smith were named Second-Team All-Unrivaled on Thursday. Lunar Owls coach DJ Sackmann won Unrivaled Coach of the Year on Friday. Reese earned Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year honors on Saturday. The Unrivaled Most Valuable Player award will be announced on Sunday with Collier as a favorite to win.
USA Today
01-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Unrivaled player, coach call for challenge without having one. Here's how it was resolved.
Unrivaled player, coach call for challenge without having one. Here's how it was resolved. Show Caption Hide Caption Sabrina Ionescu explains Unrivaled league provides new opportunities in women's basketball New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu explains Unrivaled, a new league founded by WNBA players, provides opportunities for players to continue to better themselves. MEDLEY, Fla. – The Unrivaled women's basketball league is still working out the kinks in the second-to-last week of its brief, inaugural season. The Vinyl's 64-63 win Friday over the Laces featured a noteworthy sequence that caused confusion for players, coaches and fans alike: First, Vinyl star Rhyne Howard appeared to block a 3-point shot by Laces guard Jackie Young, but was called for a foul. Howard immediately signaled toward her bench to challenge. Vinyl coach Teresa Weatherspoon twirled her right index finger in the air for a review. But the Vinyl did not have a review to use – they already used it in the first half. Laces standout Alyssa Thomas, who went on a personal 8-2 run to help the Laces take the lead in the fourth quarter, repeatedly signaled a technical foul with her hands. Laces coach Andrew Wade also believed it should have been a technical foul, like when teams call timeouts when they no longer have them. As referees and players tried to sort out the situation, Weatherspoon sought clarification from Unrivaled executive vice president and general manager Clare Duwelius and basketball operations staffer Louis Lehman, sitting on the baseline. Unlike the WNBA, Unrivaled teams don't get a challenge again after using the first one. 'Just got our rules confused,' Weatherspoon said. 'We're from one league to the other, and in this league, if you win, you don't get another one back.' There was no technical foul issued. There was no review. The foul was upheld – although it appeared Howard got all ball. Young scored a free throw worth three points (an Unrivaled rule) to trim the Laces' deficit to 60-59. Thomas scored a wide-open layup to give the Laces a 63-62 lead, but fouled Dearica Hamby on the next possession on a drive to the hoop. Hamby sunk the game-winning free throw, worth two points, to secure the Vinyl win. 'A win is a win, and we're grateful for that,' Hamby said. The free-throw ending may have been anticlimactic, but the end of the Laces-Vinyl game showed the final weeks of Unrivaled's first season will only get more competitive. There are only five more nights of Unrivaled games during the regular season: Saturday, Monday, then March 7, 8 and 10. The two-day postseason begins with semifinal games on March 16 before the March 17 final. Only four of the six clubs will play for the Unrivaled championship. Napheesa Collier's Lunar Owls have been the best team at 9-1. Angel Reese, Chelsea Gray and the Rose have won five in a row to rank second with a 6-4 record. Both clubs will be in action on Saturday and Monday. The Vinyl sneaked into No. 3, ahead of the Laces at No. 4. Both clubs have 5-6 records. Breanna Stewart had 21 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, while Rickea Jackson scored 20 points and Jewell Loyd added 18 points for the Mist in an 88-62 win over Sabrina Ionescu, Brittney Griner and the Phantom in the second game Friday night. The Mist are 4-7 and in fifth place, while the Phantom are 3-8 and in last place. Keep an eye on the Laces, who despite the loss, featured Thomas, Tiffany Hayes and Kayla McBride in their starting lineup again after injuries plagued the club in the last month. They almost looked like the same version of themselves that started Unrivaled 4-0. 'Tonight, we showed what we're capable of,' Thomas said. 'I think the second half was how we played at the start of the season. It felt good for us.'
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Unrivaled live updates: Angel Reese, Rose vs. Phantom; Lunar Owls vs. Laces in 4-0 battle
Unrivaled live updates: Angel Reese, Rose vs. Phantom; Lunar Owls vs. Laces in 4-0 battle Show Caption Hide Caption WNBA multi-team trade sends Kelsey Plum to LA Sparks with Cameron Brink Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the multi-team WNBA trade that sends Kelsey Plum to the Sparks, Jewel Loyd to the Aces, and the Storm with draft picks. MEDLEY, Fla. – One of the busiest weeks in the WNBA offseason will gain more steam as Unrivaled women's basketball kicks off its third weekend on Friday night. Angel Reese and the Rose will face Sabrina Ionescu, Brittney Griner and the Phantom in the first of two games at 7:15 p.m. ET Then, Unrivaled's undefeated teams will fight for first place when Napheesa Collier and the Lunar Owls face Kayla McBride, Tiffany Hayes and the Laces in the second game at 8:30 p.m. ET. Here's everything you need to know about tonight's Unrivaled games, and stay tuned here for live updates from USA TODAY Sports: Unrivaled is available on cable television on TNT in the United States, and TSN+ in Canada. It is also available to live stream on Max, YouTube and Sling TV. Watch: Unrivaled games on Sling TV Collier, the Minnesota Lynx star and Unrivaled league co-founder, has been Unrivaled's best player, averaging 28.5 points and 13 rebounds during the first two weeks. Along with Allisha Grey and Skylar Diggins-Smith, the Lunar Owls are off to a 4-0 start and lead the league in scoring (78.0 points per game) and assists (14.3) with the fewest turnovers (4.8). McBride (25.5 ppg) and Hayes (20.0) are the second- and third-leading scorers in Unrivaled for the Laces, who also started 4-0. They're second in scoring (75.8), but first in rebounding (39.0). The Rose and Phantom each got their first wins of the season last weekend over the Mist, but both have 1-3 records. Reese had 17 points and seven rebounds in her last outing in a 71-66 loss to the Laces last week, while Griner and Satou Sabally each had 29 points in their win over the Mist last week. Ionescu will return to action after attending the NBA Paris Games last week. Sabally is the sixth-leading scorer in Unrivaled (17.8 ppg), while Kahleah Copper leads the Rose (16.0 ppg, ranked 11th). McDonald's announced a collaboration this week with Reese, the second-year WNBA star of the Chicago Sky and one of women's basketball youngest and most popular players. Starting Feb. 10, you can order the Angel Reese Special, which includes a BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese topped with a new BBQ sauce, plus French fries and a drink. WNBA free agency, offseason takes flight The Unrivaled games come during a blockbuster week where several WNBA players will be on the move next season. What is Unrivaled? Unrivaled – the new women's basketball league started by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart – will play its inaugural season from January to mid-March. Six teams with 36 of the best women's basketball players in the world, including Sabrina Ionescu and Brittney Griner, will compete in the 3-on-3, full court games for the next nine weeks. Games will be played at Wayfair Arena in Medley, Florida, which is in the Miami metropolitan area, about 7 miles from Miami International Airport. Laces: Stefanie Dolson, Tiffany Hayes, Natisha Hiedeman (relief player contract), Kate Martin, Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas, Jackie Young. Stefanie Dolson, Tiffany Hayes, Natisha Hiedeman (relief player contract), Kate Martin, Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas, Jackie Young. Lunar Owls: Shakira Austin, Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams, Cameron Brink (IR). Shakira Austin, Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams, Cameron Brink (IR). Mist: DiJonai Carrington, Aaliyah Edwards, Rickea Jackson, Jewell Loyd, NaLyssa Smith (relief player contract), Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot. DiJonai Carrington, Aaliyah Edwards, Rickea Jackson, Jewell Loyd, NaLyssa Smith (relief player contract), Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot. Phantom: Natasha Cloud, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally, Katie Lou Samuelson. Natasha Cloud, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally, Katie Lou Samuelson. Rose: Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese, Azura Stevens, Brittney Sykes. Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese, Azura Stevens, Brittney Sykes. Vinyl: Aliyah Boston, Rae Burrell, Jordin Canada, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, Arike Ogunbowale. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage.
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Unrivaled live updates: How to watch Vinyl vs. Lunar Owls, Rose vs. Laces on Monday night
Unrivaled live updates: How to watch Vinyl vs. Lunar Owls, Rose vs. Laces on Monday night Show Caption Hide Caption WNBA star Napheesa Collier on new Unrivaled league, UConn's Geno Auriemma and more Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier explains why she started the Unrivaled league and how she hopes it will improve the lives of players and coaches across women's basketball. MEDLEY, Fla. – The second weekend of Unrivaled women's basketball concludes with two undefeated teams hoping to avoid their first loss on Monday night. Unrivaled co-founder and leading scorer Napheesa Collier and the Lunar Owls (3-0) will face Rhyne Howard, Arike Ogunbowale and the Vinyl (2-1) in the first game at 7:30 p.m. ET. Angel Reese, Chelsea Gray and the Rose (1-2) will face Tiffany Hayes, Kayla McBride and the Laces (3-0) in the second game at 8:45 p.m. ET. Unrivaled is available on cable television on TNT in the United States, and TSN+ in Canada. Unrivaled games are also available to live stream on Max, and internationally on YouTube. Collier has been dominant, averaging 31.7 points with 11.7 rebounds through three Unrivaled games for the Lunar Owls, which stayed undefeated against Phantom on Saturday night. Howard (21.0 points per game) and Dearica Hamby (19.0 ppg) are the third- and fourth-highest scorers in Unrivaled for the Vinyl, which lost its first game to the Laces on Friday night. Kayla McBride, of the Laces, is Unrivaled's second-leading scorer, averaging 23.7 points per game. Laces beat Vinyl on Friday night to stay undefeated. Rose is led by Kahleah Copper, who has 18.7 points through the club's first three games. Rose beat Mist on Friday night for its first win. One Unrivaled player will be playing for a new WNBA team next season after a blockbuster trade was reported late Sunday night. The Seattle Storm have reached an agreement to trade Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces in a three-team deal that will send Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, a person with knowledge of the trade confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. Seattle will also acquire the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft and 6-foot-7 center Li Yueru from the Sparks. Los Angeles also gets the No. 9 pick in 2025 from the Storm, while the Aces get the No. 13 pick in the 2025 draft from the Sparks, according to ESPN. Loyd and Plum were teammates on the U.S. women's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Both are two-time WNBA champions. Unrivaled second weekend results Friday Phantom 74, Mist 69: Brittney Griner, Satou Sabally each scored 29 points in the win. Laces 83, Vinyl 79: Tiffany Hayes led the Laces with 26 points. Saturday Rose 71, Mist 66: Lexie Hull led the Rose with 19 points. Lunar Owls 82, Phantom 58: Collier had 37 points and 18 rebounds in the win. Unrivaled – the new women's basketball league started by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart – will play its inaugural season from January to mid-March. Six teams with 36 of the best women's basketball players in the world, including Sabrina Ionescu and Brittney Griner, will compete in 3-on-3, full court games for the next nine weeks. Games will be played at Wayfair Arena in Medley, Fla., which is in the Miami metropolitan area, about 7 miles from Miami International Airport. Laces: Stefanie Dolson, Tiffany Hayes, Natisha Hiedeman (relief player contract), Kate Martin, Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas, Jackie Young. Stefanie Dolson, Tiffany Hayes, Natisha Hiedeman (relief player contract), Kate Martin, Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas, Jackie Young. Lunar Owls: Shakira Austin, Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams, Cameron Brink (IR). Shakira Austin, Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams, Cameron Brink (IR). Mist: DiJonai Carrington, Aaliyah Edwards, Rickea Jackson, Jewell Loyd, NaLyssa Smith (relief player contract), Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot. DiJonai Carrington, Aaliyah Edwards, Rickea Jackson, Jewell Loyd, NaLyssa Smith (relief player contract), Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot. Phantom: Natasha Cloud, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally, Katie Lou Samuelson. Natasha Cloud, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally, Katie Lou Samuelson. Rose: Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese, Azura Stevens, Brittney Sykes. Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese, Azura Stevens, Brittney Sykes. Vinyl: Aliyah Boston, Rae Burrell, Jordin Canada, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, Arike Ogunbowale. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage.
