In just its second season, the Mist Basketball Club defeated the Phantom Basketball Club 80-74 to win the Unrivaled championship on March 4.<\/p>\n
Unrivaled is a professional women\u2019s basketball league designed to give top players a competitive offseason in the U.S. This league was co-founded<\/a> by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart <\/a>and Napheesa Collier, who wanted to create an alternative to playing overseas while and giving players more control over their careers.\u00a0<\/p>\n Instead of the traditional 5-on-5, Unrivaled games<\/a> are played 3-on-3 on a condensed full court with a shorter shot clock of 18 seconds, instead of WNBA\u2019s 24 seconds, allowing for quicker scoring opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n Games consist of three seven-minute quarters. After the third quarter, the winning score is determined by adding 11 points to the leading team\u2019s score.\u00a0<\/p>\n The teams then play and race to reach a target score instead of a final buzzer. Instead of taking multiple free throws, players take one free throw worth the point value of the attempted shot.<\/p>\n Stewart, the MVP of the final, led the Mist with 32 points, an Unrivaled career high. The Phantom\u2019s Kelsey Plum<\/a> scored 40 points, an Unrivaled playoff record, to lead the team without an injured Aliyah Boston<\/a>, but it was not enough to capture the title.<\/p>\n The game started off quickly as Allisha Gray<\/a> scored the first points from the free-throw line and Veronica Burton<\/a> knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Mist an early lead.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Phantom responded hot from beyond the arc, with Plum knocking down multiple three-pointers, pushing her team ahead. Alanna Smith<\/a> and Arike Ogunbowale<\/a> helped the Mist tie the game 24-24 at the end of the first quarter.<\/p>\n The second quarter began with Ogunbowale stealing the ball off Plum\u2019s bad pass, finishing a fast-break layup to put the Mist up early. Both teams traded baskets, keeping the score close.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the final seconds of the quarter, Stewart hit a step-back three to put the Mist ahead. Natasha Cloud<\/a> answered with a buzzer-beating three to tie the game 43-43 at halftime.<\/p>\n Stewart was in control offensively during the third quarter, upping the Mist\u2019s momentum and leading 55-45 midway through the quarter. Phantom chipped in buckets to cut the lead, but Ogunbowale answered with a 3-pointer and a driving layup in the final seconds, pushing the Mist ahead 68-62 heading into the fourth quarter.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Mist started the fourth quarter strong as Gray scored a layup and blocked shots from Plum and Cloud.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nearing the end, an offensive foul was called on Stewart, but the Mist immediately challenged it. On review, the call was overturned and the Phantom\u2019s Tiffany Hayes<\/a> fouled out, giving Stewart a free-throw to win 80-74.<\/p>\n