The opening weekend was a huge success for Unrivaled.
The season opener between the Lunar Owls and the Mist certainly started the league off with a bang. The Mist held the lead for most of the contest, but the Lunar Owls took control in the final quarter and walked it off with a Skylar Diggins-Smith three-pointer. It was Diggins-Smith's first of two Elam-ending baskets of the weekend.
The opening weekend also saw two Indiana Fever players go head-to-head. Aliyah Boston and the Vinyl defeated Lexie Hull and the Rose, giving Boston the early bragging rights between her and her Fever counterparts. No Fever player got a ton of playing time, but Boston showed the most promise in the limited minutes she got.
Now, Boston and the Vinyl take on Katie Lou Samuelson and the Phantom for the second outing for both squads. Here's how you can catch the action.
Vinyl vs. Phantom
Location: Wayfair Arena-- Miami, Fla.
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Purchase tickets here
What to know about the Vinyl
It was "Rhyne Time" on Saturday, as Rhyne Howard erupted for a season-best 33 points in the Vinyl's 79-73 victory over the Rose. It was a surprise to many, as it was expected that Arike Ogunbowale would carry most of the scoring load. But Ogunbowale had just 10 points, allowing Howard and Dearica Hamby (17 points) to step up.
Aliyah Boston should be watched carefully in this one. Brittney Griner had a quiet afternoon on Saturday against the Laces, but she showed she was still dominant in the post when given the opportunity. Boston and Hamby will likely be used in rotation to try and keep Griner contained, as the Phantom do not have another true big.
Expect an expanded role for Aliyah Boston.
What to know about the Phantom
The Phantom, surprisingly, were embarrassed by the Laces on Saturday.
A 38-point defeat is not the way any team wants to begin the season, especially not a team as talented as the Phantom. Sabrina Ionescu, Brittney Griner, and Satou Sabally, on paper, it the best starting lineup in the league. They certainly did not click on Saturday, however, as they combined for just 36 points.
The Laces had just five players record minutes, and the bench duo of Kate Martin and Tiffany Hayes had 26 points themselves.
Head coach Adam Harrington needs to wipe the slate clean and find a way to get Griner more involved. The theme of successful Unrivaled teams early on has been "overwhelming offense," in other words, pushing the pace and moving the ball inside-out.
This will likely be another quiet night for Katie Lou Samuelson, as the Phantom will want to make a statement behind their starters. But a solid contribution off the bench in what already feels like a must-win game to silence critics would go a long way.