Will the Rose manage to defend their championship title, or will a fresh contender seize the trophy?
The Unrivaled playoffs are here. Kicking off on Saturday, this five-game, five-day postseason will conclude with Wednesday’s title match in Miami.
This year’s playoffs feature a revamped format for the Miami-based league, with the top six teams advancing to compete for the championship and a prize pool of $600,000, shared among the six-player roster. Last year, only four teams reached the postseason, with each player from the title-winning team earning $50,000.
The top seeds, the Phantom and the Mist, received byes to the semifinals. In Saturday’s first-round single-elimination games, No. 6 seed Vinyl faces No. 3 seed Laces, while No. 5 seed Breeze takes on No. 4 seed Rose. As the top seed, the Phantom will meet the lowest remaining seed in the semifinals, whereas the Mist will face the highest remaining seed.
The Rose clinched the inaugural season trophy in 2025 as the No. 2 seed. The Phantom, after finishing last in the standings the previous year, now boasts the best record in the league.
This season, playoff games will make their way to new venues, with both semifinals taking place at Barclays Center in New York on Monday. This follows Unrivaled’s two games in Philadelphia in January, which set the attendance record for a professional women’s basketball game, filling all 21,490 seats at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Here’s what you need to know about the six teams contending for Unrivaled’s 2026 title and how each matchup is shaping up.
Jump to:
Breeze | Laces | Mist | Phantom | Rose | Vinyl | First round | Semifinals
Team Overviews for the Playoffs
(1) Phantom (11-3)
The Phantom enter the postseason as the team to beat, boasting a seven-game winning streak, the second-longest in Unrivaled’s brief history. This marks a stark contrast from last year when they failed to qualify for the playoffs after finishing at the bottom. With a roster nearly entirely composed of new players led by first-time Unrivaled participant Kelsey Plum, they have consistently topped the standings this season.
Their combination of experienced and younger players has created a dynamic offense, featuring four players averaging double-digit scoring. Plum leads with 22.6 points per game, the third highest in the league. Aliyah Boston, while seeing a moderate dip in stats late in the regular season, was one of only two players to sustain averages of 20 points and 10 rebounds for most of the season, and she leads the league in blocks (2.1 per game).
The Phantom’s defensive capabilities stand out as their strongest asset, allowing just 66.5 points per game—second fewest in the league—compared to their previous season’s performance where they were the least effective defensively.
(2) Mist (10-4)
The Mist are supported by a strong veteran lineup featuring Breanna Stewart, Allisha Gray, and Arike Ogunbowale, and they seem to be hitting their stride at just the right time with consistent scoring, which may prove invaluable during the playoffs.
Throughout the regular season, they topped the league in scoring at 77.7 points per game, and they also led in offensive rebounds (9.1 per game), total rebounds (34.8), and steals (5.9). They recently set a record for the most points in an Unrivaled game, scoring 95 against the Breeze, and became the only team to net 90 points in three consecutive games on February 9, 21, and 28.
Gray, who missed the regular season finale due to illness, is averaging 21.8 points and was a finalist in the one-on-one tournament. Stewart is right behind her with 21.4 points per game.
(3) Laces (10-4)
With Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Young joining the team after their appearances in the WNBA Finals, the Laces have maintained good health throughout the season. yet, it has been Brittney Sykes who has shone the brightest for the Laces, guiding them to the No. 3 seed with her leading score of 20.3 points per game. Young and Thomas contribute with averages of 16.6 and 11.0 points, respectively.
The Laces had a five-game winning streak early in the season but have faced challenges, dropping two consecutive games only once—against the Phantom and the Rose. In the playoffs, they will need to recapture their dominant early-season performance.
(4) Rose (6-8)
The reigning champions, the Rose, are on the verge of back-to-back titles. With Chelsea Gray leading the team alongside Angel Reese, who has made a return, they may be finding their stride at the perfect moment.
Gray has been a standout throughout the season, averaging 24.2 points (second in the league) and 6.3 assists (first). She also won this season’s one-on-one tournament and tied the record for most 3-pointers in a game with 10 in last week’s playoff-clinching victory.
Reese’s return on February 20 adds much-needed inside strength for the Rose. though she has participated in just three games, she’s already averaging 10.3 rebounds, placing her third in the league.
“It’s great to be back,” Reese expressed. “Playing in a welcoming environment where the fans genuinely support basketball is wonderful. I’m thrilled to be part of this. Unrivaled has successfully attracted fans who truly cheer for each player.”
(5) Breeze (6-8)
The youthful core composed of Paige Bueckers, Dominique Malonga, Cameron Brink, and Rickea Jackson has met expectations, with a defensive identity that leads the league in blocks (3.6 per game) and rebounding (34.9).
Bueckers has adapted exceptionally well to the fast-paced 3-on-3 format, ranking fourth in scoring and second in assists, averaging 22.1 points and 5.5 assists as they head into Friday.
“She’s gifted in many ways,” Breeze coach Noelle Quinn said following their playoff qualification. “Championships come and go, but the impact and connection persist. She grasps this early on. She’s irreplaceable and drives the team forward.”
Finding a reliable secondary scorer will be crucial for the Breeze in the playoffs, particularly as they face tougher offensive teams.
(6) Vinyl (5-9)
The Vinyl clinched a playoff spot as the final team, thanks to Rae Burrell’s career-high 30-point game. Their balanced offensive attack has been pivotal in many performances this season.
Crucial contributions came from Rhyne Howard, Brittney Griner, and Erica Wheeler, and their best performances often come when multiple players are involved. Dearica Hamby and Howard are the leading scorers this season, averaging 17.1 and 16.3 points, respectively, with Hamby also ranking eighth in rebounds (8.1 per game).
Inconsistencies have plagued the Vinyl; they’ve never lost more than three games in a row but have also never won more than two straight. In the high-stakes playoffs, they must break this pattern to move forward.
“There will be ups and downs,” Burrell noted. “As a team, we’ve been persistent, focusing on what’s next. We are continuously evolving and staying united.”
First-round Matchups
(6) Vinyl at (3) Laces
Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET, truTV/HBO Max (Sephora Arena, Miami)
Matchup to watch: The Laces’ Brittney Sykes capped off the regular season with the league’s third-best 3-point shooting percentage among those taking at least five attempts per game, hitting 40.0% on 5.4 attempts. On the Vinyl side, Rhyne Howard shot 35.4% on 7.6 attempts. Both players’ contributions have been vital for their teams, especially in the regular-season finales. Their performance in the postseason will be crucial.
Stat to know: The Laces’ defense has been their cornerstone this year, allowing opponents a league-low 64.8 points per game. With Alyssa Thomas as a standout defender, and top perimeter defenders in Young and Sykes, along with strong inside presence in Naz Hillmon, they significantly limit opponents’ scoring opportunities.
(5) Breeze at (4) Rose
Saturday, 9:45 p.m. ET, truTV (Sephora Arena, Miami)
Matchup to watch: This game features elite matchups in both the paint and on the perimeter, particularly between Chelsea Gray and Paige Bueckers. Both rank as two of the league’s most formidable offensive threats, finishing second and fourth in scoring, respectively, and also dominating assists, with Gray at 6.1 and Bueckers at 5.5. This sets the stage for a battle between one of the best point guards in history and a rising star from the WNBA.
Stat to know: The Rose boasts the highest 3-point shooting percentage in the league at 37.9%, yet they concede a league-high 38.9% from beyond the arc. The Breeze have struggled from long range, attempting the fewest shots. Will they focus on reversing this trend to exploit the Rose’s weak perimeter defense, or will they leverage their height advantage with Malonga, Jackson, and Brink?
Semifinal Schedule
Lowest remaining seed at (1) Phantom
Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Barclays Center, New York)
Highest remaining seed at (2) Mist
Monday, 8:45 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Barclays Center, New York)
