In a surprising turn of events, Aaliyah Edwards emerged victorious in the opening round of the Unrivaled 1-on-1 tournament by defeating top-seeded Breanna Stewart with a commanding score of 12-0. The tournament, featuring 23 out of the league's 36 players, spanned three days, with a few players unable to participate due to prior commitments or injuries.
The match between Stewart and Edwards saw Stewart missing her first contested layup, allowing Edwards to take the lead with a 3-pointer and a jumper, quickly establishing a 5-0 advantage. Edwards continued her dominance by scoring two layups and another 3-pointer, securing a decisive victory. Stewart, a two-time WNBA MVP, failed to convert any of the three shots she attempted.
Edwards was not the only player to cause an upset in the tournament's first round, as the 7th seed Shakira Austin also delivered an impressive performance by defeating Chelsea Gray with a score of 12-2.
Additional winners from the opening round included Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Rhyne Howard, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Rickea Jackson, Rae Burrell, Azura Stevens, Courtney Williams, DiJonai Carrington, and Satou Sabally, who all advanced to the next round due to their opponents' injuries.
Top seeds Arike Ogunbowale and Jewell Loyd received byes in the first round, while Edwards secured a bye into the quarterfinals as her scheduled opponent was unable to play due to injuries.
The tournament will progress with the second round and quarterfinals taking place on Tuesday, followed by the semifinals and finals on Friday night. Matches leading up to the finals will be single elimination, with games played to 11 points or 10 minutes, whichever comes first.
The finals will consist of a best-of-three series, with each game played to 11 points using traditional scoring rules. Baskets will be worth either two or three points, adding an element of strategy to the competition.
Players are vying for a share of the $350,000 prize pool, with the winner set to receive $200,000. The runner-up will be awarded $50,000, while the semifinal losers will each take home $25,000. Additionally, the winning player's Unrivaled teammates will receive $10,000 each as a bonus.
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