Unrivaled’s postseason tips off on Sunday night, and unfortunately, several of the league’s top stars won’t be available to play due to a slew of injury.
The Rose (#2) and Laces (#3) tip things off with a game at 7:30 pm ET, while the Lunar Owls (#1) and Vinyl (#4) face off at 8:30 pm ET. The winners of those two games will face off in a championship game on Monday.
Angel Reese, Kahleah Copper, Kate Martin headline injury report
Unrivaled has been ravaged by a myriad of injuries to star players this season, and several of them have unfortunately carried over the postseason. The Rose will be without Angel Reese (hand) and Kahleah Copper (right leg). Reese suffered a hand injury in the Rose Club’s final regular season game, while Copper hasn’t played since Feb. 7. Reese had surgery this past fall after breaking her wrist, and while it appears the new injury is related given its placement, that hasn’t been confirmed.
The Laces, meanwhile, will be without Kate Martin (left leg), while Jackie Young is questionable with illness. Like Copper, Martin’s absence was expected — she hasn’t played since Feb. 1. Young missed the first chunk of the season recovering from a leg injury, but has been impactful in her return, averaging 15.5 points and 3 assists across 6 games.
For the Vinyl, Arike Ogunbowale is questionable with a right leg injury. Ogunbowale has missed 6 games this season due to various injuries. She hasn’t played since March 6th.
The Lunar Owls, meanwhile, are at full strength, as they’ve been all year. The Owls have a five-player roster because Cameron Brink missed the entire season recovering from an ACL tear, but no one else on the roster has missed a game.
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images
Availability has been key to the Owls’ success this season; Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams, and Shakira Austin all haven’t missed a game, while opposing teams’ stars have missed substantial time. The Owls were already the heavy favorites to come away Unrivaled champions, but the absence of Angel Reese — who just won Defensive Player of the Year — strengthens their chances.
If the Laces can get to full strength (minus Martin, who has already been ruled out), they stand a chance if everyone else can play their best basketball. A team headlined by Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas, and Jackie Young stands a good chance, so long as everything clicks.
