The inaugural season of Unrivaled concluded on March 17th, 2025, with Rose defeating Vinyl 62-54 in the final. To say Rose exceeded expectations would be an understatement. Not many people thought they could win the competition especially after Angel Reese got injured.
Although some of the league’s best players, such as A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark, couldn’t play, it was still a success. On the court, there were standout performances from the likes of Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride. Off the court, it averaged 221,000 viewers across the regular season and playoffs on games simulcast on TNT and truTV. The fact that some of the league’s best players agreed to play 3×3 basketball is a testament to how great of an idea it was. Let’s delve into three lessons we learned from this year’s inaugural Unrivaled season.
3 Takeaways From Unrivaled’s Inaugural Season
Aaliyah Edwards Could Surprise People Next Season
One of the biggest talking points from the Unrivaled League is Aaliyah Edwards. When she played in the 1v1 tournament, she defeated the likes of Breanna Stewart, Allisha Gray, and Arike Ogunbowale en route to getting to the final against Napheesa Collier. In the final, she lost but still held her own against the pre-tournament favorite. The Canadian international proved why she was the most pro-ready player coming out of last year’s draft in the 1v1 tournament. If she can keep progressing in the offseason then there is no reason why she can’t achieve great things next season. Overall, Edwards will come out of the tournament feeling more confident and is poised for a breakout season despite her team’s shortcomings.
Angel Reese Is Progressing Very Well
Angel Reese performed well in Unrivaled. She averaged 13.3 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 14 games before being ruled out of the playoffs. The 22-year-old’s performances at the tournament led to her winning the defensive player of the tournament. It also shows that the hard work she put in the offseason is paying off. The 22-year-old could not have done what she had done in Unrivaled without the help of her teammates. It is rather unfortunate that she picked up an injury that ruled her out of the finals. Despite getting injured, she still should have supported her teammates in the playoff finals against Vinyl. If Reese keeps improving, then there is no reason why she can’t become even more of an impact player for the Chicago Sky.
Napheesa Collier Could Win MVP This Season
Before the start of the tournament, all eyes were on Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. Not only are they one of the best players in the tournament, but they were the two founders of the league. Out of the two, Collier is the one who will come out happier. Not only did she win the 1v1 tournament, but she won league MVP. To say she deserved to win tournament MVP would be an understatement. In 14 games, she averaged 25.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, which shows how valuable she is on both ends of the floor. It is hard to believe that the Lunar Owls did not go on to win Unrivaled due to how well they played in the regular season. If Collier can keep performing like this, then A’ja Wilson will have a serious competitor for league MVP next year.
Photo credit: © Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
