Unrivaled MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and extra: our choices

Unrivaled, the brand new 3-on-3 skilled basketball league happening in Miami this offseason, is just some weeks away from completion, its inaugural season coming to a detailed on March tenth.

As such, it’s time for end-of-year awards. Media members can submit three ranked choices for MVP, All-Unrivaled First and Second Team made up of three gamers every, three ranked choices for Defensive Player of the Year, and three ranked choices for Coach of the Year.

In the title of transparency, listed here are my choices.

MVP

1. Napheesa Collier: Collier has been Unrivaled’s most dominant participant, and it’s not notably shut. Collier is averaging 26.3 factors per recreation (4 greater than McBride, who’s in second), 11 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Her Lunar Owls are 11-1.

2. Chelsea Gray: The Rose level guard has been distinctive of late, and she or he’s been an enormous a part of the membership’s midseason turnaround. Gray is averaging 21.3 factors, 5.6 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per recreation. She’s scored greater than 26 factors in six of the Rose Club’s final seven video games.

3. Kayla McBride: McBride has reminded the world what she is like as a main scoring choice, averaging 22.5 factors, 6.1 rebounds, and a pair of.7 assists for the Laces this season.

All-Unrivaled Teams

First-team: Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray, Kayla McBride
Second-team: Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray

Dearica Hamby: Hamby has adopted up a profession yr with the Los Angeles Sparks, and has emerged because the Vinyl’s steadiest participant. She’s averaging 21.8 factors and 9.5 rebounds per recreation, and is contemporary off a 31-point efficiency in opposition to Collier and the Lunar Owls.

Rhyne Howard: Howard appears poised for a powerful season with the Atlanta Dream. She’s averaging 20.2 factors, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per recreation. In her final six video games, she’s averaging 23.5 factors.

Allisha Gray: Collier has led the way in which for the Lunar Owls, however Allisha Gray hasn’t been too far behind. The Dream guard is averaging 20.1 factors, 5.4 rebounds, and three assists per recreation this season, and has been a significant key to the success of the league’s winningest ball membership. She’s scored at the least 17 factors in all however one recreation this season.

Defensive Player of the Year

This was a troublesome one, as a result of a number of of the league’s prime defenders missed substantial time, like Alyssa Thomas. I did weigh availability in contemplating which gamers impacted Unrivaled most defensively — in addition to workforce success.

1. Napheesa Collier: Collier showcased her lockdown protection in Unrivaled’s 1v1 competitors midseason, by which she defeated Aaliyah Edwards. The 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year is poised to safe some further defensive {hardware}, as she’s additionally been Unrivaled’s most dominant defensive participant. Collier’s versatility has been full show and has been a significant a part of the Lunar Owl’s success. She’s averaging a league-high 1.9 steals along with 1.3 blocks per recreation.
2. Breanna Stewart: Stewart’s Mist Club has struggled this season, however they’ve usually been sturdy defensively and have gained three in a row. Stewart has appeared in all 12 Unrivaled video games, and has averaged 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks per recreation.
3. Angel Reese: Reese’s defensive can generally be ignored as a result of she’s not a shotblocker. But, her capacity to protect all positions and swap onto the perimeter has shone via in Unrivaled’s full-court 3-on-3 format. The Rose have been the league’s second-best workforce, and Reese’s sturdy play on each ends has been a giant cause why.

Coach of the Year

1. Nola Henry: ESPN projected the Rose Club could be Unrivaled’s worst workforce. Instead, they’ve gained 6 of their final 7 video games and have already clinched a playoff berth. That’s even if Kahleah Copper has missed practically half the season, and backup large Azura Stevens has additionally missed a good portion. Chelsea Gray has returned to Finals MVP type, and Angel Reese has showcased a second-year leap. But first-time head coach Nola Henry has put all of the items collectively successfully and is our frontrunner for Coach of the Year. Henry, a former Sparks assistant, is becoming a member of the Dallas Wings teaching employees subsequent season.

Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

2. DJ Sackmann: The Lunar Owls have been nothing in need of dominant this season. At 11-1, they’ve a 4-game lead within the standings, and so they’ve outscored opponents by 126 cumulative factors; no different workforce has outscored their opponents by greater than 11. The Owls have the league’s greatest participant in Napheesa Collier, and have additionally had outstanding well being; none of their 5 gamers have missed a recreation to harm. Still, Sackmann’s capacity to maximise his group’s expertise has stood out, and he’s one other sturdy decide for Coach of the Year.

3. Andrew Wade: The Laces have misplaced 4 video games in a row and are actually 5-7 on the yr. But, they’ve managed to remain aggressive via a season marred with accidents; Tiffany Hayes has missed 4 video games, Alyssa Thomas and Kate Martin have missed 6, and Jackie Young has missed 8. Despite that, the Laces have stayed paid aggressive no matter which reduction participant cycles via their rotation — a testomony to Wade’s strengths as a coach. Wade, a longtime Washington Mystics assistant, would be the Director of Player Development for the New York Liberty subsequent yr.

Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images