Rarely do you not notice Alyssa Thomas when watching her team play a basketball game.<\/p>\n
But, that\u2019s what happened during Laces\u2019 Unrivaled opener. At least for three quarters.<\/p>\n
Thomas had tallied three missed shots, five rebounds, two assists, two turnovers and one foul committed during the first 21 minutes of Laces\u2019 game against Vinyl. By Thomas\u2019 standards, it was a whisper-quiet performance, with her club taking a four-point lead, 46-42, into the final, untimed fourth quarter thanks to a 15-point third quarter outburst from Brittney Sykes.<\/p>\n
As soon as the fourth quarter began, with the target score set at 57 points, Thomas turned up the volume. AT set the tone for Laces\u2019 dominant finish, scoring six-straight points to open the final period and propel Laces past the target in just over two minutes. That was the much more familiar AT.<\/p>\n
In their second game, Laces will need that AT\u2014aggressive, relentless and unflinching, all with a sneering smile\u2014to prevail against Mist on Saturday night (8:45 p.m. ET, truTV).<\/p>\n
The matchup between Thomas\u2019 Laces and Mist profiles as a potential early-season championship preview. Laces\u2019 late, AT-driven domination of Vinyl was an example of their upside, especially as Jackie Young likewise raised her level when the target was in sight for Laces. After Thomas scored Laces\u2019 first six points in the fourth, Young scored the final six, including hitting the game-wining free throw.<\/p>\n
Mist can match the two-way excellence Laces, as Allisha Gray demonstrated in their opening win over Hive. Gray wasted no time in showing what she can do on the Unrivaled court, starting the season with two triples on her way to a game-high 21 points. She also led Mist with nine rebounds.<\/p>\n
Gray headlines Mist\u2019s renewed supporting cast around captain Breanna Stewart. Last season, Mist relied on Stewie to do almost everything. Now, she not only has Gray, but Veronica Burton, who delivered a sterling Unrivaled debut with 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Alanna Smith likewise immediately made a positive impact with 10 points, eight rebounds and five blocks.<\/p>\n
That trio would be more than enough to provide Stewie with the support she needs, but Mist also has Arike Ogunbowale, who looked comfortable in her off-the-bench scorer role. Li Yueru also appears ready to give good minutes as a more-mobile-than-expected big.<\/p>\n
Laces, however, surely will make things more difficult on Mist than unseasoned Hive, as Thomas and Young are similarly surrounded with a strong supporting cast. Sykes injected her new squad with scoring and competitive spirit in the opener, while Jordin Canada flashed her off-the-dribble zip, Naz Hillmon was all over the glass and Maddy Siegrist contributed timely buckets and boards.<\/p>\n
Barring an outlier shooting performance from one side or the other, it would be surprising if this one doesn\u2019t go down to the wire.<\/p>\n
Do Lunar Owls have a chance against Phantom?<\/p>\n
Saturday night\u2019s first game, however, might not be that exciting. Things tip off with Lunar Owls taking on Phantom (7:30 p.m. ET, truTV).<\/p>\n