MEDLEY, FLORIDA — Unmatched has formally unveiled the main points for its 1-on-1 match, which is able to start on Feb. 10 and have 30 of the WNBA’s finest gamers.
That record excludes 5 present Unmatched gamers: Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, Stefanie Dolson, and Courtney Vandersloot. Aid gamers Natisha Hiedeman and NaLyssa Smith, signed final minute on non permanent contracts to assist mitigate accidents, additionally gained’t be collaborating.
Outdoors of these 5, each different WNBA star at the moment competing within the new skilled girls’s 3-on-3 basketball league will play within the single-elimination 1-on-1 match, which begins on Feb. 10. That record consists of stars like league co-founders Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, in addition to dozens of All-Stars like Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally, and Alyssa Thomas.
Alex Bazzell, the president of Unmatched (and Collier’s husband), advised SB Nation that when the thought of the match was first conceived, he turned to Stewart for her enter.
“Hear, you discuss model threat… I’m like, ‘Nicely, let me simply go straight to Stewie and see what she thinks,’” Bazzell mentioned. “She’s like, ‘No, I need to play. I’m uninterested in individuals debating like I’m not the very best participant.’”
Bazzell additionally mentioned some gamers have a clause of their Unmatched contracts that exempts them from collaborating.
How the 1-on-1 match will work
The match will work as follows: on Feb. 10, a single-elimination first spherical will start that’s made up of 14 1-on-1 video games. The next day, Feb. 11, will characteristic 12 single-elimination video games — all of Monday’s winners.
Then, on Feb. 14, the 4 remaining gamers will compete within the semi-finals (additionally following a single-elimination format) in addition to a best-of-three Finals. Video games will likely be performed to 11 factors, or 10 minutes — whichever happens first. There will likely be an 11-second shot clock, and video games will observe conventional scoring guidelines, with a two-point shot counting as two factors, and a three-point shot counting as three factors.
A hefty match money prize
Advancing within the 1-on-1 match is in gamers’ monetary curiosity. Last 4 gamers will every get $25,000, whereas the match runner-up will make $50,000. The match winner will earn $200,000, and every of their Unmatched teammates will likely be awarded $10,000 as effectively.
“There’s nonetheless a workforce camaraderie perspective — the place you could be eradicated, however your teammate retains advancing,” Bazzell mentioned. “Inevitably you need to root them on — not only for private causes, but additionally there’s an incentive for you in case your teammate wins the last word money prize.”
Followers will assist decide participant seeding
From Jan. 3 to Feb. 2, followers will be capable to vote for participant seedings to be able to type first-round match-ups. Gamers have been break up into the next pods 4 pods, to be able to evenly distribute skills, per Unmatched.
Pod A
- Shakira Austin – Lunar Owls
- Rae Burrell – Vinyl
- Natasha Cloud – Phantom
- Chelsea Grey – Rose
- Jewell Loyd – Mist
- Azurá Stevens – Rose
- Alyssa Thomas – Laces
- eighth Seed – BYE
Pod B
- Napheesa Collier – Lunar Owls
- Tiffany Hayes – Laces
- Rhyne Howard – Vinyl
- Lexie Hull – Rose
- Rickea Jackson – Mist
- Katie Lou Samuelson – Phantom
- Courtney Williams – Lunar Owls
- Jackie Younger – Laces
Pod C
- Aliyah Boston – Vinyl
- Jordin Canada – Vinyl
- Kahleah Copper – Rose
- Aaliyah Edwards – Mist
- Allisha Grey – Lunar Owls
- Marina Mabrey – Phantom
- Kate Martin – Laces
- Breanna Stewart – Mist
Pod D
- DiJonai Carrington – Mist
- Skylar Diggins- Smith – Lunar Owls
- Dearica Hamby – Vinyl
- Kayla McBride – Laces
- Arike Ogunbowale – Vinyl
- Satou Sabally – Phantom
- Brittney Sykes – Rose
- eighth Seed – BYE
Followers will vote on gamers from 1-8, and first-round match-ups will likely be decided from there.
