Vinyl and Breeze have both advanced to the semifinals of the Unrivaled league after decisive victories in their first-round playoff games. Rhyne Howard put up 30 points to lead Vinyl past Laces with an 82-69 win. Veteran player Dearica Hamby hit the game-winning shot, sealing the win for Vinyl and their spot in the next round.
On the other side, Paige Bueckers scored 29 points to guide Breeze past last year’s champion team, Rose, with a dominant 69-50 performance. Dominique Malonga added 17 rebounds to help Breeze secure their place in the semifinals, setting up a strong challenge for their next opponent.
First-Round Results and Standout Performances
- Vinyl defeated Laces 82-69, powered by Howard’s 30 points and Hamby’s clutch shot.
- Breeze toppled Rose 69-50, with strong scoring from Bueckers and rebounding from Malonga.
Vinyl had been the last team to clinch a playoff spot this season but showed no signs of hesitation once the postseason began. Breeze’s solid defense and scoring balance overwhelmed Rose, the previous season’s champions.
Scheduled Semifinal Matchups
The semifinals will take place Monday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The matchups are as follows:
- Phantom (top seed) vs. Vinyl
- Mist (second seed) vs. Breeze
Both Phantom and Mist received automatic berths to the semifinals based on their league standings. The winners of these games will advance to the championship final.
Notable Award Winners and Season Highlights
Phantom forward Aliyah Boston earned the Defensive Player of the Year award after an impressive season. She led the league with 29 blocks in 14 games and ranked second in defensive rebounds with 111. Boston’s contributions also included an average of 18.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.
Breeze’s Paige Bueckers was named to the first-team All-Unrivaled, recognized for leading her team in both points (22.1) and assists (5.5) per game while shooting 38% from three-point range. Chelsea Gray of Rose also received first-team honors after surpassing major statistical milestones, including 600 points and 100 assists.
Phantom head coach Roneeka Hodges was named Coach of the Year, reflecting her success in guiding the top-seeded team to an 11-3 regular season record during her first year with Unrivaled.
Upcoming Stakes
The final championship game is scheduled for Wednesday at Unrivaled’s home arena in Miami. The title-winning club will share a prize pool of $600,000. This high-stakes environment is expected to intensify the competition as Vinyl, Breeze, Phantom, and Mist vie for the championship trophy.
Monday’s semifinal games will set the tone for a thrilling conclusion to the Unrivaled season. Both Vinyl and Breeze hope to continue their momentum following their impressive first-round wins.
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