Unrivaled, Up Next: How Aaliyah Edwards pulled off the upset of the season

Unfortunately, many players ended up having to bow out of the tournament due to injuries and safety concerns. Yet, the first two nights of the competition were filled with exciting moments and friendly competition.

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Playing in the half court, each 10-minute game was a race to 11 points. If the 10 minutes elapsed before anyone got to 11, the winner would be the player with the most points. They were taking 2- and 3-point shots, with the same 1-free throw rule Unrivaled has been using applying as well. Outlet passers beyond the arc helped players to be able to clear the line to regain possessions, and the “make and take” rule applied – make the basket, retain possession.

The motivation is certainly there as well, with the winner of the tournament winning a $200,000 prize. The runner-up will receive $50,000, and each of the four semifinalists will win $25,000. Additionally, every teammate of the winning player will win $10,000.

As Kahleah Copper said before one of her matches: “Who doesn’t like money?”

After two nights of competition, the race is down to four final contenders: Napheesa Collier (Lunar Owls), Aaliyah Edwards (Mist), Azura Stevens (Rose), and Arike Ogunbowale (Vinyl).

A Dark Horse Rises: Aaliyah Edwards with the generational upset

A few weeks ago, Unrivaled held a fan vote to determine seeding across four “pods.” That meant there were no.1 v no.8 matchups, no.2 vs no.7… etc. Of course, that leads to clear favorites in matches.

The final game of Monday night’s opener was the top seed Breanna Stewart vs no. 8 seed Aaliyah Edwards. Both alums of the UConn Huskies and teammates on Mist BC, these two know each other well. Stewart is the legendary veteran with a resume as long as the court they are playing on. Edwards, the rookie with a ton of potential and Olympic experience. Old school vs. new school.

Now, you can never count any player out, but this game result was completely unexpected. (Editor’s note: I gotta say, Aaliyah sounded really confident on our podcast!) Aaliyah raced out of the gate, winning the game in 1 minute, 57 seconds, shutting Stewie out 12-0. Stewie did not get a single basket, while it seemed like everything Aaliyah wanted, she got. Stewart was an extremely good sport about losing in the tournament’s only shutout so far, telling her teammate to “go and win the money.”

A member of Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team and a two-time Olympian, Aaliyah as been playing with and against older and stronger players for years. Drafted sixth overall in 2024 by the Washington Mystics, her mix of physicality, footwork and speed makes her a great prospect – all things that helped her win not only her first round match, but her quarterfinal as well.

The quarterfinal had her up against Allisha Gray, who plays for the Lunar Owls as well as the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA. Gray is a versatile and fluid player, but Edwards had the size advantage. When the 3-point shot was not falling the same as it had the night before, it was her strength under the basket that led her to that win. This resulted in a physical match that saw calls going both ways from officials. Edwards won 12-6.

Out of all four players left, the money could mean the most to Edwards. “I’m a rookie, I’m gonna need that!” She will now take on Arike Ogunbowale in the semifinals.

“I’m gonna watch Aaliyah’s game a couple times, see what she likes to do,” Ogunbowale said when asked how she will prepare for the semifinal. “I watched her, but I will watch again, just seeing places I could find her, because she’s a really good player.”

While Aaliyah’s “dark horse” run, as Lisa Leslie called it on the broadcast, may surprise some people, Edwards knows her game.

“I don’t think I focus on people being surprised at the fact that I’m playing well. I’m just focusing on trusting in my work and making sure to do whatever it takes me to win,” Edwards said. “I’ve always been that type of player. I’ve always just tried to be a smaller player. So I think just now people are realizing it. But you know, I’m not gonna get a hot head or anything like that. I’m going to stay true to who I am and how my parents raised me, and just be that greedy player.”

From Kingston, Ontario where Edwards was raised, now in Miami where she represents Canada as the sole Unrivaled Canadian – Edwards is showing why she shouldn’t be underestimated.

Queen Phee: Napheesa Collier continues her dominance

Napheesa Collier has been extremely impressive in the first half of Unrivaled’s season, leading her Lunar Owls to an 8-0 record. Next up on her to-do list: win the 1-on-1 tournament she created.

As the top seed in the tournament, Collier started her tournament facing off against No. 8 seed Katie Lou Samuelson. Collier has the size advantage, and while Samuelson can certainly shoot from distance, Collier is a defence menace. Collier won 12-6 to kick things off.

Her second round match was against Rickea Jackson, her first game against a fellow big. The rookie Jackson just did not have the physicality to stop Collier in the post. “When I’m in my mid-post,” Collier said, “I feel like I’m unstoppable.” She also added in that she “wants that money.”

Collier’s quarterfinal match was against her Lunar Owls and Minnesota Lynx teammate Courtney Williams. Williams spent the first night of the tournament scoping out her competition from the sidelines, then facing Rhyne Howard in the second round. She had a whole crew of support on the sidelines, using strategy to get ahead over the taller Howard by fouling her on the floor.

“Just because of my size, they’re going to try to bring me into the paint and bully-ball me. So I’ve got fouls,” Williams explained. “Why not use them? I can’t foul out. So it is what it is.”

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Before the game against Collier, Williams told her “the championship has to be won through me.” Williams had the fight and shotmaking, but Collier’s size and defense was too much. Williams only shot 2-for-10 from the field, but it did take Collier seven minutes to win the game, 12-4.

Collier did not seem too affected by having to play her friends and teammates, saying “we’re competitors. I mean, W[NBA] teammates are on different teams here, you’re moving around all the time in the W[NBA] and playing overseas, so we’re used to playing against our former teammates.”

What may have affected her more was the energy spent playing two games in one night. These 1-on-1 games with a rolling clock served as an endurance test for these players. You’re always on, whether you are on offense or defense, and you have no one to pass the ball to or switch with. Players were finding creative ways to catch their breath, like taking their time walking back after possessions, tying their shoes, or just not even rushing out to cover a player shooting from distance.

“[I’m] a little more tired that round, but it’s fun,” Collier said after having to play two games in a short timespan.

The 1-on-1 Tournament will be back on Friday Feb. 14, with the semifinal and finals rounds beginning at 7:30 p.m. Regular Unrivaled games will be back on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

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