Because the remaining 5 seconds of the primary part of Unmatched’s ultimate regular-season sport between Rose BC and Vinyl counted down, Chelsea Grey danced round Dearica Hamby.
Grey jab-stepped to the highest of the important thing, pulled again out and scooted to her proper, narrowly fending off Hamby. With a hand in her face, Grey rose up for a midrange soar shot.
As she fell to the bottom, the ball fell in the course of the hoop. Grey were given up, regarded on the crowd and licked her lips earlier than frivolously strolling again to the Rose bench.
This rose is named Level Gawd for a explanation why 🪄
10 issues, 4 rebounds, and four assists at part %.twitter.com/Mnu78ntRL1
— Unmatched Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) March 11, 2025
Heading into Unmatched’s debut season, questions surrounded Grey: Would her protection be uncovered? Would the foot harm that pressured her out of the 2023 WNBA Finals and held her out the primary 12 video games of the 2024 season be a topic? And, as Grey put it, did she nonetheless have it?
To “quiet the noise,” she took it upon herself to turn out that she does nonetheless have it. And performances like the only she had in opposition to Vinyl — Grey completed with 8 3-pointers and 33 issues — demonstrated she hasn’t misplaced a beat.
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“Rattling Chels, that is numerous 3s,” she stated to herself after the sport with a smile spreading throughout her face.
That manner of proving doubters flawed has been a commonplace thread for Grey and her Rose teammates Kahleah Copper, Brittney Sykes, Azura Stevens and Lexie Hull on each a private and group degree.
After beginning the season 1-4, the Rose rattled off a five-game win streak in the beginning of February — a stretch that integrated handing the league-leading Lunar Owls their handiest lack of the season — and completed the steady season profitable seven in their ultimate 9 video games.
Now they input Sunday’s semifinals as one in all the most up to date groups within the league.
“I am at all times the one who believes it isn’t the best way you get started the season, it is the manner you end it,” Grey stated. “Halfway via you need to begin construction the ones conduct and chemistry and camaraderie. … I believe that is the place we took an enormous step ahead. … You need to be enjoying your absolute best basketball, it doesn’t matter what, going into the playoffs.”
Seeded No. 2 within the playoffs, the Rose (8-6) will face the No. 3 Laces (7-7), with the winner advancing to Monday’s name sport to stand the winner of the opposite semifinal between the No. 1 Lunar Owls (13-1) and No. 4 Vinyl (5-9).
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Every member of the title-winning membership will earn an extra $50,000 in prize cash on most sensible in their Unmatched wage.
A part of the Rose’s resurgence got here at the back of Grey’s dominance — she scored no less than 26 issues in seven of the Rose’s ultimate 10 video games of the steady season, together with a 38-point sport to check a league top.
“I am wholesome,” Grey stated. “That is the largest factor for me. Your frame is your frame of labor if you end up enjoying a game. Then two, having the mindset to get again at it … coming in right here with the mindset of looking to get well each and every unmarried time you play.”
Any other phase has been her rising chemistry with Angel Reese and Reese’s total construction over the Unmatched season.
Like Grey, Reese had some degree to make when she arrived in Miami. Coming off what she referred to as a “disappointing” rookie season that ended early after an harm to her left wrist, Reese sought after to get wholesome and develop her sport.
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She sought after to turn that she may just proceed to dominate the forums whilst increasing her offensive repertoire. And she or he sought after to steer clear of her sport being classified as one-dimensional.
“Having a look down the lengthy street, every now and then I believe, ‘What number of years am I going in an effort to get those double-doubles and these kind of rebounds,'” Reese stated. “I proceed taking photographs, dangerous photographs I suppose, and photographs that individuals do not be expecting me to take. This league, you need to win and play the precise manner, however paintings on issues that lead into the WNBA season.”
She has spent numerous time operating with WNBA nice Lisa Leslie, who informed Reese that the Rose and Chicago Sky participant is the “2.0” model of her.
The Sky had a tender roster in 2024, and with out veteran teammates to lead her within the WNBA, Reese sought out overtime with Grey and fellow Rose teammate Kahleah Copper in Miami.
Reese completed the steady season main the league in rebounds, averaging 12.1 in line with sport. She recorded 8 double-doubles, together with a 22-point, 21-rebound sport — the primary 20-20 efficiency in Unmatched historical past — in opposition to the Lunar Owls on Feb. 21.
“Being right here at Unmatched has been the most productive factor for me,” Reese stated.
ANGEL REESE (2/21/25) %.twitter.com/D26eV6BBBS
— @balapattyszn (@balapattyvids) February 22, 2025
Reese, Grey and the remainder of the Rose see the chance they have got in playoffs. To win, the Rose know they have got to restrict their turnovers and stay up their competitive taste of protection, whilst proscribing fouls. If they are able to do the ones issues, and if Grey and Rose can proceed their dominance, they have got a shot at profitable.
“There are occasions when your adventure, issues simply fall into position in an instant. And different instances you must combat via a little bit hit of adversity to get to the place you need to move,” Rose trainer Nola Henry stated. “The agree with and the conclusion had been there from Day 1. We did not have any doubt in our thoughts about what we had been able to, so long as we put the group first and everyone did their activity.”
