Unequalled will crown a brand new champion Wednesday when the highest two seeds meet in Miami for the title.
Kelsey Plum and the top-seeded Phantom went 11-3 within the common season behind one of the high-powered offenses within the league. On the opposite facet, league co-founder Breanna Stewart and the Mist, who completed second within the standings at 10-4, have a balanced, veteran roster that has been the image of consistency.
And simply over eight weeks after tipping off the 3-on-3 league’s second season, one in all them will stroll away with Unequalled’s $600,000 prize pool.
How do the groups match up? What are the X elements and stats that may resolve the champ? How did every staff attain the ultimate? This is all the pieces to know forward of the title tilt.
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Semifinal results | First-round recap
(1) Phantom vs. (2) Mist
Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV (Miami)
Matchups to look at
Kiki Iriafen stepped into the beginning lineup for the Phantom within the semifinals after Aliyah Boston, Unequalled’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months, was dominated out of the playoffs. Iriafen, who was named to the WNBA All-Rookie staff final September, delivered, ending with 17 factors and 11 rebounds. The Phantom want her to try this once more within the championship recreation towards Stewart. The 2-time WNBA MVP scored 23 factors and grabbed eight rebounds towards the Breeze within the semifinals, however Iriafen has proved that she will be able to go up towards the league’s finest bigs.
The Mist’s depth within the paint, with Alanna Smith coming off the bench, may be greatest problem for Iriafen. The Phantom haven’t got one other frontcourt participant to again her up. (Phantom teammate Satou Sabally has missed the Unequalled season as she continues to take care of lingering signs from a concussion sustained throughout the WNBA Finals.)
Each the Phantom and Mist characteristic high-scoring electrical backcourts. For the Mist, Arike Ogunbowale — who hit the game-winning 3-pointer within the semifinals — and Allisha Gray are two of probably the most dynamic scorers in Unequalled. They will be going head-to-head with Natasha Cloud, who protection was essential to the Phantom’s comeback towards the Vinyl.
However the Phantom even have Plum, who scored 31 factors and hit 4 of 8 3-pointers on Monday. The Mist’s Veronica Burton can have her arms full attempting to sluggish Plum, who ranked third in scoring at 22.6 factors per recreation within the common season. But when Burton can drive the Phantom to play extra by way of Cloud and Tiffany Hayes, it may very well be key for the Mist.
Stats to know
The Mist and Phantom had been the top-two scoring groups within the league throughout the common season, averaging 77.7 and 73.4 factors per recreation, respectively. Count on a high-scoring, quick-paced and offensively charged championship recreation.
Plum’s scoring is well-documented, however her effectivity can be noteworthy. She shot 49.6% from the sector within the common season and 63.2% (12-for-19) on Monday. Stewart has been on par with Plum, averaging 21.4 factors (sixth within the league) on 50.5 % from the sector within the common season. She shot 41.7% (10-for-24) on Monday. Their level totals Wednesday — and the way effectively they do it — is an X issue.
Extra on the Phantom: The Phantom have gained eight consecutive video games and entered the playoffs because the league’s hottest staff. It is a full shift from a 12 months in the past, once they didn’t make the playoffs after ending with the worst regular-season file in 2025. However with almost a wholly new group — led by first-time Unequalled participant Plum — the Phantom led the standings all season.
4 gamers averaged double-figure scoring within the common season. Her numbers dipped barely on the finish of the common season, however Boston was one in all simply two gamers averaging 20 factors and 10 rebounds per recreation many of the method; she led the league in blocks (2.1 per recreation) and stays a big loss.
The Phantom’s protection was their greatest asset within the common season, once they gave up 66.5 factors per recreation, the second fewest within the league. Final 12 months, they gave up probably the most factors.
Extra on the Mist: Constructed round veterans Stewart, Allisha Gray and Ogunbowale, the Mist seem like peaking on the proper time. Along with main the league in factors per recreation, they ranked first in offensive rebounds (9.1 per recreation), rebounds (34.8) and steals (5.9). Final week, they set the file for many factors scored in an Unequalled recreation, placing up 95 towards the Breeze. They’re additionally the one staff to attain 90 factors in three straight video games, on Feb. 9, Feb. 21 and Monday.
Grey, who was unwell and sat out Friday’s regular-season finale however had 12 factors within the semifinals, averaged 21.8 factors within the common season.
Semifinal outcomes
(1) Phantom 83, (6) Vinyl 75
Taking part in with out injured Boston (18.9 PPG, 9.7 RPG), the top-seeded Phantom trailed 49-46 at halftime regardless of Plum’s 18 factors. Ahead Dearica Hamby dominated the second quarter, scoring 11 factors on 7-of-9 taking pictures for the Vinyl. They stretched the result in eight factors early within the third, however then Cloud (14 factors, 4 assists, 2 steals) stepped up the Phantom protection and Plum took over offensively.
For the sixth time this season, Plum hit the game-winner — a step-back 3-pointer — to clinch a spot within the closing. The guard completed 12-of-19 from the sector, together with 4-of-8 on 3-pointers. Iriafen, beginning rather than Boston, added 17 factors (8-of-13 from the sector). Hamby completed with 30 factors (11-of-14 from the sector) and Rhyne Howard added 16, however hit 2 of 9 3-pointers after draining eight from past the arc within the first spherical.
(2) Mist 73, (5) Breeze 69
It was all Breeze early on. They opened on a 13-0 run. The Mist’s Stewart missed her first 5 pictures and was whistled for her third foul with 3 minutes, 18 seconds left within the first quarter. The Breeze dominated the paint and led by as many as 16 factors. However then the Mist heated up, outscoring the Breeze 28-18 within the second quarter to chop the result in 44-38 at halftime.
On her twenty ninth birthday, Ogunbowale helped take over late within the recreation. The guard scored eight factors within the fourth interval (Stewart scored seven) and hit the game-winning 3-pointer. The highest scoring reserve at Unequalled within the common season, Ogunbowale completed with 21 factors, going 5-for-9 on 3-pointers. Stewart had 13 of her game-high 23 factors within the second half, Alanna Smith was an ideal 3-for-3 from downtown and Grey hit some well timed buckets within the comeback.
For the Breeze, Dominique Malonga had a team-high 18 factors and game-high 14 rebounds. Paige Bueckers (8-of-22 from area) and Rickea Jackson every had 17 factors.
First-round outcomes
(6) Vinyl 82, (3) Laces 69
The sport was gained within the third interval. The Vinyl trailed by 4 at halftime, however Howard scored 13 straight Vinyl factors and completed with 21 of her staff’s 29 third-quarter factors. Howard single-handedly outscored the Laces, who completed the interval with 17 factors.
(5) Breeze 69, (4) Rose 50
Bueckers set the tone early. From an and-1 on the opening possession to a 3-pointer within the fourth interval, the guard scored from all three ranges. Bueckers completed with a game-high 29 factors, hitting 11-of-19 area objectives, together with 4-for-5 on 3-pointers. Malonga scored six of her eight factors within the fourth quarter, however her 17 rebounds had been even larger.
