The second season of the Unrivaled league has only been underway for two weeks, but the 3-on-3 basketball revolution is already living up to the massive hype. Co-founded by WNBA superstars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the league’s return to Miami has been a statistical fireworks show. We’ve already seen Dearica Hamby of Vinyl BC explode for a single-game record 40 points, while Kelsey Plum nearly notched a triple-double with a 38-point masterpiece for Team Phantom.
Not to be outdone, Chelsea Gray, who set the previous high of 39 in the 2025 semifinals, is currently torching the league with a record-shattering 30.6 points per game for Team Rose. Yet, amidst all these veterans, the spotlight has been firmly fixed on Paige Bueckers. The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year is finally making her Unrivaled debut after missing the inaugural season to lead UConn to a National Championship, and she is wasting no time making her presence felt.
Paige Bueckers Secures $50,000 in Unrivaled’s Inaugural Challenge
Leading Team Breeze to a solid 3-2 start, Bueckers has been an all-around force, currently sitting as the league leader in assists (6.8) and ranking third in scoring with 23.4 points per game. Her most clinical performance, however, happened off the stat sheet of a traditional box score. Following a dominant 83-64 win over Mist, the league announced that Bueckers is officially $50,000 richer.
She won the inaugural Free Throw Challenge by posting a flawless 13-of-13 mark from the charity stripe through the team’s first five games. To qualify for the prize, players had to appear in at least three games and attempt a minimum of six free throws, a bar Bueckers cleared with surgical precision.When asked about her plans for the five-figure bonus, the Breeze captain flashed her signature smile but kept her cards close to her chest.
“I got some good plans, but no pocket watching over here,”Bueckers joked. “Imma take care of it.” The financial win is just a byproduct of her elite play; just last week, she narrowly missed the first triple-double in Unrivaled history, finishing a game with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. It’s clear that while the cash is a nice perk, Bueckers is more focused on the hardware at the end of the season.
Why Bueckers is the Undisputed Face of the Miami Spotlight
As the season progresses, it is becoming increasingly clear that Bueckers is the undisputed focal point of the league. While the talent pool in Miami is incredibly deep, Paige possesses a level of magnetic appeal that currently stands unrivaled. This spotlight has only intensified due to the absence of other marquee names that fans were hoping to see.
Caitlin Clark has once again opted out of the league for a second straight season, choosing to prioritize rest and recovery after a grueling 2025 campaign, leaving a massive superstar-sized hole that Bueckers has been more than happy to fill. Furthermore, the league is missing its reigning defensive anchor and 2025 champion, Angel Reese. Following a physically demanding season with the Chicago Sky that was cut short by a back injury, Reese made the calculated decision to sit out this year’s Unrivaled tour to ensure she is at 100% health for the upcoming WNBA season.
That season, however, remains a point of high tension as talks of a new CBA agreement continue to loom over the players. With a potential lockout being a real conversation among the union, the Unrivaled platform has become more than just a 3-on-3 tournament-it’s a sanctuary for the league’s top talent to stay sharp and visible while the future of the WNBA is negotiated.
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