Unrivaled’s highly anticipated second annual 1-on-1 tournament is set to continue this Friday, following an exciting first round that saw several top seeds advance. Unlike last year’s event, which featured shocking upsets, this year has been dominated by the favorites, with seven of the top eight seeds progressing through to the next stage. The four No. 1 seeds—Kelsey Mitchell, Paige Bueckers, Allisha Gray, and Breanna Stewart—successfully made it through the opening round, showcasing their talent.
The only upset in the top eight seeds came when Rhyne Howard narrowly lost to Rae Burrell. The tournament will resume on Friday with single-elimination matches in the second round and quarterfinals, as the remaining 16 players compete for a substantial prize pool of $300,000.
Notably absent from this edition is last year’s champion Napheesa Collier, who underwent surgery on both ankles earlier this year and will not be participating. However, Aaliyah Edwards, who lost to Collier in the final last year, is back in action and successfully defeated Dominique Malonga in her first-round matchup.
The second round and quarterfinals are scheduled for Friday, February 13, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET, airing on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. The semifinals and championship will follow the next day, Saturday, February 14, at 6 p.m. ET.
In a slight twist, Unrivaled has expanded this season to include six teams and 48 players, although only 32 were planned for the 1-on-1 tournament. The initial seeding was determined by votes from fans, players, coaches, and media. However, withdrawals from players like Skylar Diggins and Alyssa Thomas led to adjustments, leaving 27 competitors in the mix. Notably, Tiffany Hayes has been replaced by Aziaha James.
The tournament’s rules introduce an engaging format: the initial rounds will be single-elimination games played to 11 points—or within 10 minutes—while the championship final will be a best-of-three series played to eight points, featuring a make-it, take-it format and a seven-second shot clock. The prize breakdown is enticing: the winner will claim $200,000, the runner-up will take home $50,000, and the two semifinalists will each earn $25,000.
As the tournament progresses, excitement builds among fans and players alike, anticipating who will reign supreme in a thrilling format that showcases individual talent and competitive spirit.