Las Vegas Aces player Chelsea Gray named MVP of Unrivaled League
By Doug Feinberg
The Associated Press
March 3, 2026 - 11:40 am
NEW YORK — The Unrivaled League's 3-on-3 basketball tournament witnessed a star-studded finale at the Barclays Center, with Las Vegas Aces star guard Chelsea Gray claiming the coveted MVP title. Gray, a standout player for Rose BC, showcased her exceptional skills, averaging an impressive 24.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists across 14 games. Her outstanding performance included breaking the league's single-season assists record with a remarkable 85 assists.
The 33-year-old's prowess was evident in her 9 games with 20 or more points and 10 games with 5 or more assists. She also tied the league's single-game 3-pointers record, showcasing her versatility and clutch gene. Gray's impact on the court was further highlighted by her victory in the Unrivaled's 1-on-1 tournament the previous month.
The championship game saw a familiar face from the Aces, Kelsey Plum of the Los Angeles Sparks, leading the No. 1-seeded Phantom BC to a thrilling 83-75 win over Vinyl. Plum's former Aces teammate, Dearica Hamby, also of the Sparks, was a standout for Vinyl, scoring 30 points. The game was a testament to the league's competitive spirit and the talent of its players.
In the other semifinal, Arike Ogunbowale, celebrating her 29th birthday, hit a game-winning 3-pointer to propel the second-seeded Mist to a 73-69 victory over Breeze. The championship game, set for Wednesday in Miami, promises an exciting showdown with a substantial prize pool of $600,000 on the line for the winning team's six players.
The Unrivaled League's success in New York, drawing over 21,490 fans for a weekend of basketball, further solidified its growing popularity. The star-studded crowd, including basketball legends Carmelo Anthony and Sue Bird, actors Ashton Kutcher and Jason Sudeikis, and gold medal-winning U.S. hockey player Hilary Knight, added to the electric atmosphere, showcasing the league's ability to captivate a diverse audience.
