Last Regular Season Games
Lunar Owls 92 – 58 Mist
The much-needed win for the Mist was never guaranteed, especially when facing the top-seeded team in the league. The Mist, led by Breanna Stewart, ended the regular season with a 5-9 record. Under Coach Phil Handy, the team struggled for much of the season. In their last game against the Lunar Owls, Rickea Jackson scored 22 points, while Stewart contributed with 10 rebounds. Stewart led the team in scoring throughout the season, averaging 19.1 points per game. She also finished the season as the third-leading rebounder, behind Angel Reese and Alyssa Thomas, with an average of 11.0 rebounds per game.
The team concluded the season averaging 68.5 points per game and led the league in defensive rebounds. In the final game, the Mist trailed throughout and struggled from the three-point line, hitting only 4 of 14 attempts. This victory solidified the Lunar Owls’ bragging rights as the top seed as they head into the playoffs.
Rose 74 – 46 Vinyl
The Vinyl, who tied with the Mist at 5-9, barely made it to the playoffs in fourth place. The point difference in this particular game was crucial for Vinyl’s qualification. They lost to a playoff team by 28 points, while the Mist lost by 34 points. The Vinyl struggled with a tough 3-point shooting day, going 0 for 13, which contributed to their low score. Dearica Hamby scored 12 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Vinyl. The Rose only extended their winning streak with this game, as they were already seeded second for the playoffs.
Playoffs
The top four teams have made it to the playoffs, which will be played in a single-elimination format. The bottom-placed Vinyl will face the top-seeded Lunar Owls, who have lost only one game throughout the season. Vinyl has a tough game day ahead, as it must play against the leaderboard player Napheesa Collier, who has been instrumental in the success of the Lunar Owls. Two of Vinyl’s players, Rhyne Howard and Hamby, are expected to perform well in this game, as they currently rank fourth and fifth on the leaderboard. Rhyne is averaging 20.5 points per game and 5.5 rebounds, while Hamby is averaging 19.9 points per game and 9.8 rebounds.
During the regular season, in all three matchups, the Lunar Owls swept the Vinyl easily.
The Laces will be playing against the Rose, who have shown that nobody should sleep on them. The team started the season struggling, but after the 1v1 tournament, Chelsea Gray combined with Reese to elevate the team from fifth place to second in the playoff rankings. This is a tough matchup, as both teams have had a strong season. In their first encounter, the Laces defeated the Rose by a 14-point margin (69-55), but the Rose turned the tables in the second meeting, winning with a score of 84-69. Their third and final match in the regular season was their lowest-scoring game against each other, but the Rose clinched the win by a 5-point margin, with Gray making a two-point shot to secure their victory at 58-53.
The Rose holds a 2-1 record against the Laces, but the Laces are not a team to sleep on, as they began the season in second place but fell due to injuries and the absence of some key players during the overall campaign season.
Playoffs Games
Sunday, March 16
Laces vs. Rose 7:30 pm ET
Vinyl vs. Lunar Owls 8:30 pm ET
