Unrivaled 1-on-1 Tournament Preview: Paige Bueckers, Chelsea Gray Headline Round 2 Matchups

The Unrivaled 1-on-1 Tournament is underway, with half of the players moving on to play Friday night. From the first round, there was an exciting buzz that can be expected to continue into Round 2.

Photo courtesy of Unrivaled

First Round Recap

On Wednesday night, the first round originally consisted of 32 players and 16 matchups; however, some players had to withdraw from the tournament. As a result, four players were granted byes and will play their first round on Friday. With the changes, Round 2 will feature 16 players and eight matchups.

In the first round, there were a few surprises: audiences saw a great showcase of defensive skills, as well as the only shutout of the night. Fans were able to watch multiple comebacks from Rae Burrell, Chelsea Gray, Sonia Citron, and even Aaliyah Edwards.

The fastest matchup of the night was Veronica Burton’s victory against Courtney Williams, which lasted only 1:15. The favorite to advance, Williams, never secured possession during the matchup.

Courtney Williams couldn’t believe she got shut out in the 1-on-1 tournament

What a performance by Veronica Burton pic.twitter.com/21sqAo1G8S

— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) February 12, 2026

2026 Unrivaled Second-Round Matchups

The following players are still alive:

Pod A
Pod B
Pod C
Pod D

1 Kelsey Mitchell
1 Paige Bueckers
1 Allisha Gray
1 Breanna Stewart

2 Kelsey Plum
2 Chelsea Gray
6 Sonia Citron
2 Aaliyah Edwards

5 Veronica Burton
3 Jackie Young
7 Rae Burrell
4 Aliyah Boston

7 Natisha Hiedeman
4 Arike Ogunbowale
8 Saniya Rivers
6 Shakira Austin

As for the matchups, Friday night will feature exciting team-on-team battles and bring the energy from how hard the ladies played on Wednesday.

Pod A

No. 1 Kelsey Mitchell vs. No. 5 Veronica Burton

No. 2 Kelsey Plum vs. No. 7 Natisha Hiedeman

Pod B

No. 1 Paige Bueckers vs. No. 4 Arike Ogunbowale

No. 3 Jackie Young vs. No. 2 Chelsea Gray

Pod C

No. 1 Allisha Gray vs. No. 8 Saniya Rivers

No. 6 Sonia Citron vs. No. 7 Rae Burrell

Pod D

No. 1 Breanna Stewart vs. No. 4 Aliyah Boston

No. 6 Shakira Austin vs. No. 2 Aaliyah Edwards

From Pod B, audiences will see players from the same WNBA teams compete against one another. That includes Bueckers and Ogunbowale from the Dallas Wings and Young and Gray from the Las Vegas Aces.

Key Matchups

With the players remaining, each matchup is vital in order to proceed to the Quarter Finals.

Kelsey Mitchell vs. Veronica Burton

After the events of Round 1, this matchup pits one of the tournament’s purest shooters against one of its most persistent defenders. Mitchell enters Round 2 riding confidence from a dominant Round 1 win against Rachel Banham. However, she will face Burton, who wiped the floor with Williams.

Some Kelsey Mitchell first half highlights, she has 11 points in 8 minutes #Unrivaled pic.twitter.com/cLQ7vLSX4Z

— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) February 7, 2026

Burton, meanwhile, advanced on the back of tactical discipline and ball denial, proving that quick hands and positional IQ can make even the boldest offensive guards work for every point. Their clash will be as much about shot selection and patience as it is about making buckets.

Paige Bueckers vs. Arike Ogunbowale

One of the most anticipated one-on-one showdowns features a creative, rhythm-controlling guard versus a fearless shot-maker. Bueckers dazzled in her opening matchup with misdirection, fakes, and range that kept her opponent, Kate Martin, guessing. One thing that Bueckers will have to ensure, though, is that if she is up, she puts away the game. Especially since Arike is not a player you want to give momentum to.

Still not over this move sheesh @paigebueckers1 pic.twitter.com/doUnY8uJjw

— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) February 12, 2026

Ogunbowale is also coming off a round where she took care of her opponent with a similar rhythm. She set the tone immediately, which is why her matchup only lasted 1:58.
This matchup will be equal parts tactical brilliance and competitive fire. Bueckers’ ability to manipulate space and attack angles could force Ogunbowale into uncomfortable defensive decisions. However, Ogunbowale’s quick catch-and-shoot release and killer instinct make her lethal in late-count scenarios.

Chelsea Gray vs. Jackie Young

Gray’s elegant ball control and nuanced scoring mechanics were on full display early in Round 1. There is just something about Gray playing in Unrivaled that shows her skill set and competitive drive. However, Gray is going up against one of the best defensive guards in women’s basketball, where it will be tough to create shots or even get to the rim. The lucky shots won’t work against Young, but Gray has the ability to make her game look natural.

CHELSEA GRAY CAME BACK FROM DOWN 10-5 FOR THE FIRST 1-ON-1 WIN OF THE NIGHT pic.twitter.com/AmdkwUbbKv

— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) February 12, 2026

Meanwhile, Young’s physical strength and assertive attack style helped her navigate her first matchup to move forward. Although Young started bleeding early in her matchup, her physicality and toughness will be key against her Aces teammate. Young’s shot selection will be vital, and her ability to sink the threes will ultimately decide how this matchup goes.

This matchup is going to be the one to watch, as we see two heavily competitive guards who play with one another, know each other’s game, and go at it in a best-of-11.

Aaliyah Edwards vs. Shakira Austin

After the biggest Round 1 headline, Edwards was able to pull it off against Dominique Malonga. Edwards maintained her composure even after being on the ground multiple times, which is what makes her the favorite to win it all. In one-on-one situations, Edwards’ defensive abilities, combined with her offensive skillset, make her one of the most dangerous players in the tournament. However, she now faces another formidable big in Austin.

Aaliyah Edwards ADVANCES over Dominique Malonga pic.twitter.com/oxr7tHKzy9

— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) February 12, 2026

Austin, too, impressed early, winning her opening game against Dearica Hamby. Although Austin’s shots weren’t always falling, her ability to contain Hamby from taking a 6-0 run to end the game is important to note. Austin will need to focus on her offensive skill set against Edwards, as this will be a defensive battle. Who can surge first will likely be the deciding factor.

While only half of the matchups are the main focus here, the rest are just as important for Friday night’s slate.

Round 2 will begin Friday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. ET (truTV/TNT/HBO Max)