The Rose team kicked off their title defense with a commanding performance in their season opener, showcasing no signs of a championship hangover. After raising their championship banner, they defeated the Lunar Owls 80-62, with standout player Chelsea Gray leading the charge. Gray was instrumental in the victory, finishing the game with an impressive 35 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and three steals. She dominated the court, scoring all 11 of Rose’s points in the untimed fourth quarter, and delivered a stellar plus/minus of 18 during the game, the highest of all players across the opening day.
As the season progresses, Rose faces a new challenge with Vinyl, who will open the second game night of the 2026 Unrivaled season against them at 7:30 p.m. ET, broadcasted on TNT and truTV. Vinyl had a less auspicious start to their season, suffering a 58-42 loss to Laces despite leading by six points at halftime. Their inability to maintain offensive pressure in the second half proved costly, as they failed to score during critical moments of the game. Talented players like Rhyne Howard, Courtney Williams, and Erica Wheeler must adapt their strategy to avoid low-scoring spells if they hope to compete effectively against Rose.
In a separate matchup, the evening’s second game features newcomers Breeze and Hive at 8:45 p.m. ET, also on TNT and truTV. Breeze, adapting quickly to the unique fullcourt 3×3 format, shone in their opening victory against Phantom, with Paige Bueckers leading the team with 24 points. Her early scoring burst and overall performance, paired with Dominique Malonga’s solid double-double, set a positive tone for Breeze.
In contrast, Hive struggled to find their rhythm, particularly in the partnership between Kelsey Mitchell and Sonia Citron, who combined for a disappointing shooting performance. For Hive to keep pace with Breeze, they will need to enhance their offensive cohesion, possibly integrating players like Monique Billings and Saniya Rivers who showed promise in their rookie game.
As the season unfolds, fans can look forward to more thrilling matchups and the possibility of each team finding their stride, particularly as they learn from their early-season experiences.