Lights, Camera, Action—It’s Time for Unrivaled
It’s not every day that basketball royalty graces the same court, and tonight is one of those rare occasions. Napheesa Collier, the Lunar Owls’ superstar and all-around basketball maven, is set to lock horns with none other than her co-founder and former UConn teammate, Breanna Stewart. Their teams, the Lunar Owls and Mist BC, are poised for a fiery debut at Unrivaled’s opening night. The only thing hotter than the action on the court might just be the expectations off it.
Scheduled for a prime-time tip-off at 7:00 p.m. ET, this showdown already feels like the WNBA Finals in January. Add the extra spice of Collier and Stewart’s personal camaraderie-turned-competition, and we’ve got the perfect recipe for drama.
Napheesa Collier: Fit, Fierce, and Fired Up
Coming off an epic 2024 WNBA season where she bagged the Defensive Player of the Year award and carried the Minnesota Lynx to the Finals, Collier is ready to light up the court. And guess what? No injuries, no excuses—she’s all systems go. For those wondering if Collier might take it easy on her Mist BC rival and business partner, the answer is a resounding no. This is basketball, folks, not brunch.
The Lunar Owls boast a roster that’s equal parts finesse and firepower. With Skylar Diggins-Smith running the guard spot and Shakira Austin patrolling the paint, Collier’s squad looks ready to rain buckets and break hearts.
Breanna Stewart: The Queen of Mist
On the other side, Breanna Stewart isn’t exactly walking in as a lightweight. Fresh off her championship-caliber play for the New York Liberty, Stewart will be leading Mist BC with a roster that includes sharpshooter Jewell Lloyd and playmaking wizard Courtney Vandersloot. If there’s one thing Stewart knows, it’s how to dominate—and how to win.
For fans, this isn’t just a game; it’s a showcase of what happens when elite talent meets a competitive spirit.
Geno Auriemma: The Godfather of Greatness
Adding to the hype is none other than legendary UConn coach Geno Auriemma, who gave his stamp of approval to the Unrivaled league and its founders. “They learned how to play basketball at UConn, they learned how to grow up, and now they’re showing the world how to innovate,” said Auriemma. (Translation: Geno is basically the proud parent cheering from the sidelines and claiming partial credit for their success. Classic.)
He even joked about how everything these two touch will always carry the UConn brand. Somewhere, a Huskies merch designer is furiously sketching “Unrivaled, brought to you by UConn” t-shirts.
From WNBA Finals to Unrivaled Fireworks
For those keeping score, this isn’t the first time Collier and Stewart have gone head-to-head. The 2024 WNBA Finals saw the two dueling it out in a battle for the ages. Now, they’re ready to turn their competitive fire into Unrivaled’s opening act.
It’s poetic, really—two players who’ve spent their careers elevating the women’s game are now spearheading a league designed to keep talent stateside. No more winters in far-off lands chasing paychecks; Unrivaled is where it’s at.
What to Expect Tonight
Expect highlight reels, no-look passes, and maybe even a little trash talk between old friends. With Collier leading the Lunar Owls and Stewart at the helm of Mist BC, this game has everything a basketball fan could dream of. The only question is: who will have the last laugh?