Chelsea Gray was named playoff MVP on Monday night after helping her team Rose BC beat Vinyl in a thrilling final to Unrivaled’s debut season. She averaged 28.5 points in two postseason games in the new three-on-three basketball league, including 39 points in the semis.
“Last year was hard, man,” Gray said after struggling with injuries. “It was rough. Even when I came back [during the WNBA season], I still wasn’t 100%. I just put the work in. And then I talk after winning. I don’t talk before then. So I had a little chip on my shoulder.”
Each player on the championship-winning club received $50,000 – part of Unrivaled’s goal of compensating its participants more than almost any other professional women’s sports league. Unrivaled, founded by Napheesa Collier and fellow WNBA star Breanna Stewart, has the highest average salary for players of any pro women’s sports league, with many earning six-figures in a season that lasts for just two months.
Brittney Sykes had 21 points for Rose on Monday and drew an and-1 on the last play of the game that set up her game-winning free throw.
Unrivaled games are played with three seven-minute quarters and an untimed fourth. Teams play to a “winning score” determined by adding 11 points to the squad that is leading after three quarters.
Monday’s target score was 62, and Sykes went to the line with the Rose leading 61-54. Gray finished with 18 points and eight assists. Azura Stevens added 19 points and 18 rebounds. Rhyne Howard led Vinyl with 22 points and six rebounds. Rose played the game without one of their best players. Angel Reese was sidelined for the playoffs because of a hand injury.
Six teams of 36 of the best players in the WNBA played during the eight-week regular season. Unrivaled commissioner Micky Lawler said she was pleased with the league’s inaugural campaign. She said next season will likely continue with six teams, but expects the league could expand to other markets beyond Miami in the future. More than 20 players are already under contract for the next two seasons, according to Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell.
“We’re going to look at areas of improvement that we could make within what we delivered this season,” Lawler said. “Starting a league is hard, and running it is also hard. And so we had to stay focused on delivering this, here, now. And then we can start to think beyond.”
The league brought plenty of stars to Miami. Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champ A’ja Wilson, Miami Heat great Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, tennis star Frances Tiafoe and broadcaster Robin Roberts were all in attendance to watch Monday’s final.
Leading up to its launch, Unrivaled raised more than $35m from various sources and dozens of individual investors, including Stephen Curry, Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma and Coco Gauff.