WNBA legend Teresa Weatherspoon is back for another go at Unrivaled after unexpectedly guiding Vinyl BC to the inaugural title game.
“Bienvenidos a Miami,” women’s basketball.
Photo courtesy of Unrivaled
Some of the game’s finest are taking their talents (back) to South Beach as the second season of Unrivaled is set to tip off on Jan. 5.
Co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart and backed by a lauded group of investors, Unrivaled is a domestic three-on-three league that can and is meant to host more localized offseason endeavors for players who have made their names in the WNBA. Many familiar faces are making their way back to the action, which will briefly make its way to Philadelphia, while others will join the fray for the first time.
In anticipation of tip-off, Ballislife takes a look at each of the eight squads in a dedicated analysis. Our season previews round out with last year’s runner-up, Vinyl BC…
RELATED PREVIEWS | BREEZE BC | HIVE BC | LACES BC | LUNAR OWLS | MIST BC | PHANTOM BC
The Team: Vinyl BC
The Debut: 5-9 (lost to Rose in Unrivaled championship)
The Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon (2nd season)
Vinyl BC: The Team
—Rae Burrell
—Brittney Griner
—Dearica Hamby*
—Rhyne Howard*
—Erica Wheeler
—Courtney Williams
(*returning to team)
Appropriately, there was perhaps no louder record scratch in the maiden voyage than the one Vinyl provided at the start of the original Unrivaled postseason.
Behind a Dearica Hamby double-double and a Rhyne Howard outside showcase, Vinyl didn’t give a hoot about the Lunar Owls’ regular-season dominance and posted a 73-70 victory to gain entry into the championship game. Despite the final loss to Rose, it was widely viewed as a universally enjoyable moment for basketball fans seeking justice for Weatherspoon’s controversial ousting from the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.
Weatherspoon, with her eye still lingering on a return to the W, is back for year two and was able to retain three of her loyal soldiers in Rae Burrell, Hamby, and Howard. All three offered sneak previews of career-best W seasons with the heroine Hamby shooting over 55 percent during her Unrivaled action. Working with Burrell back in Los Angeles, Hamby set new personal bests in scoring and shooting percentage after her return from Miami.
Vinyl’s flip side features a trio of newcomers that more or less complements the talent it’s replacing: Griner essentially steps in for Aliyah Boston, hoping that a year of study will leave her better prepped for the three-on-three game that doesn’t exactly cater to post patrollers. Erica Wheeler and Courtney Williams, on the other hand, step in for Jordin Canada and Arike Ogunbowale in the backcourt
The Spotlight’s On: Rae Burrell
Burrell’s breakout was perhaps a bit muted as her role in Los Angeles embarked on a bit of a rollercoaster, but another year under Weatherspoon’s watch should help her press forward. Free from Kelsey Plum’s backcourt dominance (at least until Vinyl faces Phantom), Burrell will have another prime opportunity to work on her craft in relative peace.
Photo courtesy of Unrivaled
Burrell has partly made a name for herself as a hounding defender, and that’ll come up huge on a team that is built to succeed in shootouts and innovations like an untimed fourth quarter that plays to a target score. Such a concept takes on a larger meaning with Burrell set to be one of the more potential-packed talents due to hit the free agency ledgers once a new collective bargaining agreement is inked.
To her credit, Burrell showed a larger offensive willpower in the final stages of the Sparks’ regular season (reaching double-figures in scoring in four of her last six games) but Vinyl has had and has added high-octane scorers to handle that department. Burrell’s defense could really draw some attention for a group that let up an effective field goal rate of over 51 percent last season, which could put her in line for larger WNBA affairs if/when the transactional frenzy tips off.
They Said It
“One thing I truly loved about the team I had last season was that they trusted one another. They held each other accountable. The locker room was stable because I had great leaders…I want to bring that very same thing back. It’s the culture of Vinyl. It’s who we are. It’s what we bring to the table every day. You have Dearica, you have Rhyne, and you also have Rae, who was with me my first year. They understand what is necessary, what I like, what I believe in, what I stand for. So I had the locker room already covered, they’ll make sure that’s covered. I want to bring that same thing back: the level of trust with one another, holding one another accountable, accepting what’s being said, and being flexible and adaptable in any way possible to win games.”—Weatherspoon on what she hopes the Vinyl culture looks like in year two
“We don’t have any rookies. Everybody knows their job. Every player that’s on this team is super competitive. We all balance each other out. As we look at it, me and Courtney is the energy. Rhyne and Rae are super smooth at what they do. Dearica and BG are super dynamic. We’re going to be fine, we’re going to have some fun … I’m naturally a leader, and I’ll always be that, but I don’t think I have to do that as much with this team because we all have one goal, and that’s to win. As long as we align with that, I think we rule.”—Wheeler on taking her veteran leadership to Vinyl
Outlook
Those betting Unrivaled would be wise to take the over when Vinyl takes the floor. Beyond only the Lunar Owls, no team scored more than Vinyl last season, and that trend will probably only continue with the names retained and added.
When Vinyl’s in rhythm, the results are mesmerizing. Adding the formidable trio of Griner, Wheeler, and Williams to the fold should only add a few extra bulbs to the scoreboard. If they really want to make Weatherspoon proud, however, they should up their defensive intensity, which can create a greater assurance of a playoff berth. That, again, creates a sterling step-up opportunity for Burrell, who can also benefit from the experienced veterans assembled.
The ultimate intangible could be the sterling impact that Weatherspoon has left on her proteges. Sure, every coach among the eight has left some sort of impression, but a chance to work with one of the undisputed top names in the history of the game, as well as build her case for a WNBA return trip, offers a special form of motivation that isn’t fully present in any other locale.
Schedule
Vinyl BC Schedule
Date
Opponent
Approx. Time (ET), TV
January 5
Laces
2:15 p.m., TruTV
January 9
Rose
7:30 p.m., TNT/TruTV
January 11
Hive
8:45 p.m., TruTV
January 17
Breeze
8:45 p.m., TruTV
January 19
Lunar Owls
9:15 p.m., TNT/TruTV
January 23
Phantom
8:45 p.m., TNT/TruTV
January 25
Mist
1 p.m., TruTV
January 31
Laces
5:45 p.m., TruTV
February 2
Hive
7:30 p.m., TNT/TruTV
February 7
Rose
7:30 p.m., TruTV
February 9
Phantom
7:30 p.m., TNT/TruTV
February 21
Breeze
8 p.m., TruTV
February 23
Lunar Owls
7:30 p.m., TNT/TruTV
February 27
Mist
2:15 p.m., TruTV
Previous Previews
Breeze BC
Hive BC
Laces BC
Lunar Owls BC
Mist BC
Phantom BCGeoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
The post Unrivaled Season 2 Preview: Can Vinyl BC Win It All? appeared first on Ballislife.com.
