![\"Could](\"https:\/\/platform.swishappeal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/154\/2026\/02\/gettyimages-2254820670.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100\")
<\/a><\/p>\nCould Dearica Hamby be the difference maker in a Vinyl upset of Laces? Getty Images<\/p>\n
Laces and Vinyl split their season series, with Laces winning on opening day, infamously holding Vinyl scoreless in the fourth quarter, before Vinyl exacted revenge in the rematch with a seven-point victory.<\/p>\n
Vinyl\u2019s win marked Rae Burrell\u2019s entry into the starting lineup, and since then, Sweet Baby Rae has looked like a star. Burrell led Vinyl with 22 points, including the game winner, in that win over Laces. And more recently, she\u2019s been even better, recording games of 24 points, 30 points and 23 points in Vinyl\u2019s last three contests, with her productivity boosted by 9-for-19 3-point shooting.<\/p>\n
Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon clearly has chosen to empower Burrell, even if, in spite her star turn, it seems a bit odd to feature her over the likes of Rhyne Howard or Dearica Hamby, multi-time WNBA All-Stars who also were 2024 3×3 Olympians.<\/p>\n
Considering Laces likely will be prepared to, and are well equipped to, slow down a prioritized Burrell, with both Jackie Young and Brittney Sykes profiling as two players who possess the combination of quickness and strength to stick with the explosively athletic Burrell, it might be wise for Weatherspoon and Vinyl to orient their offense back towards Hamby, in particular.<\/p>\n
While Hamby can struggle to finish against interior length, Laces do not have a player who stands taller than 6-foot-2. And while Alyssa Thomas can give any player trouble despite her size deficit, Hamby, like Thomas, can thrive through physicality. In Vinyl\u2019s win over Laces, Hamby was an efficient 5-for-7 on 2-pointers, suggesting she should get more scoring chances. Her 11 boards also captained Vinyl\u2019s 32-24 rebounding advantage.<\/p>\n
The same applies to Brittney Griner. While BG\u2019s size advantage is not always as significant as it often seems it should be, Laces\u2019 more limited interior length should make things smoother for her. Similar to Hamby, she finished efficiently in the last matchup against Laces, going 6-for-7 from the field and, critically, also competing on the glass with five rebounds.<\/p>\n
Headlined by Thomas, Laces is a club that embraces defensive physicality. But Vinyl has shown they can match it. Vinyl also has demonstrated that, despite their maddening inconsistency, they should not be doubted. Last year, after stumbling into the postseason, they upset Lunar Owls in the first round.<\/p>\n
Is a similar script waiting to be written?<\/p>\n
No. 5-seed Breeze vs. No. 4-seed Rose (9:45 p.m. ET, truTV)<\/p>\n