Unrivaled’s inaugural season is drawing to an end. There are only seven days with games left before the Semi-Finals on March 16. So far, the Lunar Owls have already secured a playoff spot with a 9-1 record. The Lunar Owls are clearly the strongest and most consistent team in the league, which they proved when they handily took down the short-handed Laces.
Nevertheless, the Laces have a solid chance to make the playoffs, having won five games already despite missing several key players. Likewise, the Rose and Vinyl are in a solid position to secure a spot in the playoffs. Mist and Phantom, on the other hand, have been struggling all season long.
With the end of the season comes the crowning of the first-ever Unrivaled MVP. Fans can leave their votes on the Unrivaled website. Several players have made strong cases, but one has stood out especially.
Napheesa Collier has been the best player in Unrivaled this season
Napheesa Collier did not only co-found Unrivaled but also came to play in the league’s first season. She is currently averaging 26.6 points, which leads the league, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, two steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.
Those numbers are outstanding by themselves and promise another strong WNBA campaign, but the fact that they are also leading to wins only strengthens Collier’s MVP case. It only makes sense to hand the MVP award to the best player on the best team.
You also have to give credit to Collier’s teammates, though. They have been available and playing their roles well. Allisha Gray, in particular, has been excellent for the Lunar Owls, consistently punishing teams from three.
Still, what Collier is doing should not be overlooked, and she proved in the 1-on-1 tournament that she can also dominate in Unrivaled without her teammates. On her way to the 1-on-1 championship, she took down Katie Lou Samuelson, Rickea Jackson, Courtney Williams, Azurá Stevens, and Aaliyah Edwards. Edwards put together an especially impressive tournament, beating Breanna Stewart, Allisha Gray, and Arike Ogunbowale, but was ultimately no match for Collier.
While Collier should be the favorite for the MVP award, she is not the only player making a solid case. Kayla McBride, for example, has been excellent for the Laces all season long.
The Laces were expected to be the best team in the league but then suffered some injuries that held out Alyssa Thomas, Tiffany Hayes, and Jackie Young. McBride has been a steady presence for the Laces, however. She is currently averaging 24.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, three assists, and one steal per game, ranking second in points per game behind only Collier.
Likewise, Chelsea Gray has been great for the Rose. Gray leads Unrivaled in assists with 5.7 but is also scoring in bunches, averaging 18.3 points per game. Several times, Gray has willed her team to wins, most recently against the then-still-undefeated Lunar Owls.
Gray and McBride may not be able to beat Collier for Unrivaled’s inaugural MVP award, but they deserve some recognition for their performances.