NEW YORK — On Wednesday night, the 3-on-3 Unrivaled league is set to designate its second champion ever as the top-seeded Phantom BC and second-seeded Mist clash within Miami’s Sephora Arena.
Phantom eliminated the No. 6 Vinyl 83-75, largely due to Kelsey Plum’s 31 points, while Mist orchestrated a 16-point recovery against the fifth-seeded Breeze, winning 73-69, in two semifinal matchups held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
Contested before a capacity audience of 18,231, the semifinal games followed the league’s disclosure of an eleventh-hour location alteration on Feb. 13. The athletes, in turn, provided two tightly contested and captivating matches, with Arike Ogunbowale securing Mist’s triumph by sinking a decisive three-pointer.
“A spectacle was being displayed by everyone,” Plum remarked, “and that is precisely what supporters desire.”
The evening additionally signified a return home for Unrivaled co-founder Breanna Stewart, a player for the New York Liberty. Her fellow co-founder, Napheesa Collier, was present, as were various other league luminaries and notable personalities, such as Ashton Kutcher, Hilary Knight, and Jason Sudeikis.
“This is my abode,” Stewart declared, her 23 points spearheading Mist’s effort. “Upon learning [the semifinals in Brooklyn] would take place, my thought was, ‘It’s imperative my team is present. I desire to participate in this match.’”
Phantom, despite being the highest-ranked team in the postseason, reached the championship round amidst difficult situations: On Sunday, key center player Aliyah Boston, recognized as the league’s defensive player of the year, was declared ineligible for the duration of the playoffs due to a lower limb ailment. Aziaha James and Makayla Timpson were subsequently allocated to the team for the remainder of the playoff period.
Phantom has additionally lacked the presence of forward Satou Sabally throughout the entire season, owing to a setback sustained during the WNBA Finals, and also guard Dana Evans, excluding a single match.
Mist encountered their own predicament on Monday night, as an unfavorable beginning resulted in a 26-10 shortfall by the conclusion of the initial quarter. Nevertheless, Stewart instigated a reversal to guarantee her team would not be defeated on her native playing ground.
Both Phantom and Mist failed to qualify for the postseason in 2025. Phantom, presently enjoying a nine-game winning run, holds the 2026 series advantage against Mist, with a record of 2-0.
The reigning titleholder, Rose, suffered a surprising defeat against Breeze during the quarterfinal round on Saturday. Their point guard, Chelsea Gray, was named Most Valuable Player earlier on Monday and was honored on the playing surface before the contests commenced.
Following a triumphant visit to New York — the season’s second, coming after establishing a new spectator record at Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena in January — the league will head back to its principal location in Miami, where athletes will contend for a $600,000 reward fund.
Stewart mentioned the league contemplated staging the championship game at Barclays too, prior to resolving to maintain the original scheduling at their customary 1,000-seat arena.
“There exists significance in securing a victory and claiming a championship within the location you established,” she stated. “Thus, while it is a more compact stadium and site, that is where the championship flag is hoisted, that is where the Rose possesses it, and now we’re set to contend for that title within the facility where we’ve toiled throughout the entire season.”