Will the Rose succeed in retaining their championship, or is a different squad poised to clinch the coveted trophy?
The Unrivaled playoff series are here. Commencing on Saturday, this five-game, five-day tournament will culminate in Wednesday’s decisive final showdown in Miami.
A modified playoff structure distinguishes the Miami-based league’s sophomore playoff run. The leading six teams progressed, and they will now vie for the crown and a substantial $600,000 financial reward, intended for distribution among the six-player roster. In the previous year, only four teams qualified for the playoffs, with each athlete from the winning squad receiving $50,000.
The Phantom and Mist, recognized as the leading two contenders, secured automatic berths directly into the semifinals. On Saturday, in Miami’s one-and-done opening matchups, the No. 6 seed Vinyl will face off against the No. 3 seed Laces, while the No. 5 seed Breeze challenges the No. 4 seed Rose. The Phantom, holding the No. 1 seed, will subsequently compete against the lowest-ranked advancing team in the semifinals; conversely, the Mist will contend with the highest-ranked advancing team.
The Rose claimed the first-ever championship award in 2025, having commenced their playoff journey as the No. 2 seed. Remarkably, the Phantom now boast the league’s finest standing, a year after ending up at the bottom of the rankings.
Playoff contests will, for the first time, be held off-site, with both semifinal matchups on Monday scheduled at the Barclays Center in New York. This decision follows Unrivaled’s two games in Philadelphia in January, which established a new benchmark for the highest-attended regular-season professional women’s basketball game, filling the 21,490 seats at Xfinity Mobile Arena to capacity.
Presented here is essential information regarding the six teams contending for Unrivaled’s 2026 championship, along with an overview of how each matchup is structured.
Navigate to:
Breeze | Laces | Mist | Phantom | Rose | Vinyl | First round | Semifinals
Key Insights About Each Playoff Team
(1) Phantom (11-3)
The Phantom enter the playoffs as the most formidable squad. They’ve secured victory in seven straight matches, a run that equals the second-longest winning streak in Unrivaled’s two-year existence. This represents a total transformation from the previous year, when they missed out on the playoffs after recording the poorest seasonal performance in 2025. Nevertheless, with a largely fresh roster—spearheaded by Unrivaled newcomer Kelsey Plum—the Phantom have consistently topped the leaderboard throughout the season.
Their combination of seasoned and newer players has fostered a well-rounded scoring approach, with four athletes consistently scoring in double digits. Plum spearheads the squad, posting 22.6 points per game in the regular season, which stands as the league’s third highest scoring average. While Aliyah Boston’s statistics saw a minor decline towards the regular season’s conclusion, she remained one of only two players averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds for much of the season; additionally, she leads the league in blocks (2.1 per game).
The Phantom’s defense stands as their primary strength; they allow merely 66.5 points per game, marking the second lowest total across the league. Contrastingly, in the previous year, they surrendered the highest number of points.
(2) Mist (10-4)
Centered on experienced players Breanna Stewart, Allisha Gray, and Arike Ogunbowale, the Mist appear to be hitting their stride opportunely. They are showcasing even offensive displays that could prove pivotal in their playoff campaign.
During the regular season, the team finished atop in scoring with 77.7 points per game. The Mist are also at the forefront of Unrivaled in offensive rebounds (9.1 per game), total rebounds (34.8), and steals (5.9). Last week, they established a new benchmark for the highest point total scored in an Unrivaled game, registering 95 against the Breeze. Furthermore, they are the sole squad to achieve 90 points in three consecutive matches, occurring on Feb. 9, Feb. 21, and Monday.
Gray, who was unwell and missed Friday’s final game of the season, is currently averaging 21.8 points and successfully reached the final match of the one-on-one tournament. Stewart is closely following her, contributing 21.4 points.
(3) Laces (10-4)
Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Young arrived in Miami following their WNBA Finals appearances. Despite being absent for most of Unrivaled’s debut season, they have remained fit; however, it is Brittney Sykes who has guided the Laces to the No. 3 seed. She fronts the squad in scoring with 20.3 points per game, while Young contributes 16.6 points and Thomas 11.0.
The Laces achieved a five-match winning streak early in the season and have suffered back-to-back defeats on a single occasion—on Feb. 20 against the Phantom and Monday against the Rose. Nevertheless, for the postseason, they must reignite their early-season superiority.
(4) Rose (6-8)
The reigning titleholders, the Rose, possess an opportunity to secure consecutive championships. Spearheaded by Chelsea Gray and the newly rejoined Angel Reese, they might be reaching their peak precisely when it matters.
Gray has consistently been the league’s top performer throughout the season, averaging 24.2 points (second overall) and a league-leading 6.3 assists. She triumphed in this season’s one-on-one tournament and, last week, equaled the benchmark for the highest number of three-pointers converted in a game with 10 during the Rose’s win that secured their playoff berth.
Now, Gray has joined forces again with Reese, who came back to Unrivaled on Feb. 20 after originally opting out of a second season. Reese’s return provides the Rose with a vital interior force. Despite playing in just three games, she is already averaging 10.3 rebounds, which is third-highest in the league.
“It feels truly wonderful to be back,” Reese stated. “Operating within a supportive atmosphere where the fans genuinely appreciate the sport is truly gratifying. I’m glad to participate. Unrivaled has excelled at attracting supporters who fervently cheer for each player.”
(5) Breeze (6-8)
The promising roster, comprising Paige Bueckers, Dominique Malonga, Cameron Brink, and Rickea Jackson, has met the anticipated standards. With a defensive-centric approach, the Breeze are at the forefront of the league in blocks (3.6 per game) and hold the top spot in total rebounds (34.9).
Bueckers’ play has adapted seamlessly to the compacted 3-on-3 format. Approaching Friday, she ranks fourth-highest in the league for scoring and second in assists, with averages of 22.1 points and 5.5 assists.
“She’s a genius in numerous aspects,” stated Breeze coach Noelle Quinn after her team secured a postseason berth. “Championships are ephemeral, yet influence and rapport endure. She grasps this even in her youth. She’s truly unique, and she drives this squad.”
The crucial factor for the Breeze in the playoffs will involve identifying a reliable second offensive option besides Bueckers, particularly when confronting more potent attacking teams.
(6) Vinyl (5-9)
The Vinyl were the final squad to clinch a playoff berth, achieving this feat thanks to a personal-best 30-point display by Rae Burrell. However, similar to numerous other impressive displays during the season, the Vinyl showcased a diverse offensive strategy.
Rhyne Howard, Brittney Griner, and Erica Wheeler were instrumental in that victory, and the Vinyl excel most when several members contribute. Dearica Hamby and Howard have emerged as the squad’s primary point-getters this campaign, tallying averages of 17.1 and 16.3 points, respectively. Hamby additionally holds the eighth position in rebounds (8.1 per contest).
Fluctuations in performance have posed a challenge for the Vinyl. While they never experienced a losing streak longer than three games, they also never achieved more than two consecutive wins. Given the do-or-die nature of the playoffs, they must find a way to overcome this trend.
“There will inevitably be highs and lows,” Burrell stated. “I believe that as a collective, we’ve demonstrated resilience. … We’ve consistently focused on the next challenge, the upcoming match. Our development as a unit continues, and we are committed to remaining united.”
First round matchups
(6) Vinyl at (3) Laces
Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET, truTV/HBO Max (Sephora Arena, Miami)
Key Contest: Brittney Sykes of the Laces concluded the regular season with the third-highest 3-point shooting percentage among athletes who launched at least five 3-pointers per game, converting 40.0% of her 5.4 attempts. On the Vinyl’s side, Rhyne Howard hit 35.4% of her 7.6 attempts. The offensive contributions from both these individuals have been essential to their respective teams’ achievements all season, and they proved especially crucial in Friday’s final regular-season games. It remains to be seen if they can maintain that momentum into the playoffs.
Crucial Statistic: The Laces have built their reputation on defensive prowess this season, restricting adversaries to a league-best 64.8 points per game. This squad boasts a formidable and shrewd defender in Alyssa Thomas, elite outside defenders like Jackie Young and Sykes, and a powerful inside presence in Naz Hillmon. Collectively, they pose a significant challenge for opposing teams to convert their shots.
(5) Breeze at (4) Rose
Saturday, 9:45 p.m. ET, truTV (Sephora Arena, Miami)
Key Encounter: This contest is packed with premium matchups, both inside and from beyond the arc. However, the two athletes deserving the most attention are Chelsea Gray and Paige Bueckers. Gray and Bueckers have been among the league’s most formidable offensive talents, ranking second and fourth in points, respectively. They also placed first and second in assists — Gray with 6.1 and Bueckers with 5.5 — setting the stage for a clash between the “Point Gawd,” recognized as one of the finest point guards in women’s basketball history, and a former top draft selection and one of the WNBA’s most promising emerging young talents.
Crucial Statistic: The Rose achieve a league-leading 37.9% success rate from long range, yet they simultaneously permit their adversaries to shoot 38.9%, which is the highest percentage allowed for opponent 3-point shooting. The Breeze stand as the league’s least effective 3-point shooting squad (and attempt the fewest shots). Will the Breeze endeavor to alter this pattern and prioritize shooting more against the Rose’s weaker outside defense — despite their formidable interior protection — or will they depend on their formidable frontcourt players like Dominique Malonga, Rickea Jackson, and Cameron Brink?
Semifinal schedule
Team with the lowest remaining seed against (1) Phantom
Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Barclays Center, New York)
Team with the highest remaining seed facing (2) Mist
Monday, 8:45 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Barclays Center, New York)