MEDLEY, FLORIDA — Unequalled has formally unveiled the small print for its 1-on-1 event, which can start on Feb. 10 and have 30 of the WNBA’s greatest gamers.
That record excludes 5 present Unequalled gamers: Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, Stefanie Dolson, and Courtney Vandersloot. Reduction gamers Natisha Hiedeman and NaLyssa Smith, signed final minute on short-term contracts to assist mitigate accidents, additionally received’t be collaborating.
Exterior of these 5, each different WNBA star at present competing within the new skilled ladies’s 3-on-3 basketball league will play within the single-elimination 1-on-1 event, which begins on Feb. 10. That record contains stars like league co-founders Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, in addition to dozens of All-Stars like Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally, and Alyssa Thomas.
Alex Bazzell, the president of Unequalled (and Collier’s husband), instructed SB Nation that when the thought of the event was first conceived, he turned to Stewart for her enter.
“Hear, you speak about model danger… I’m like, ‘Properly, let me simply go straight to Stewie and see what she thinks,’” Bazzell mentioned. “She’s like, ‘No, I wish to play. I’m uninterested in folks debating like I’m not the most effective participant.’”
Bazzell additionally mentioned some gamers have a clause of their Unequalled contracts that exempts them from collaborating.
How the 1-on-1 event will work
The event will work as follows: on Feb. 10, a single-elimination first spherical will start that’s made up of 14 1-on-1 video games. The next day, Feb. 11, will characteristic 12 single-elimination video games — all of Monday’s winners.
Then, on Feb. 14, the 4 remaining gamers will compete within the semi-finals (additionally following a single-elimination format) in addition to a best-of-three Finals. Video games might be performed to 11 factors, or 10 minutes — whichever happens first. There might be an 11-second shot clock, and video games will comply with conventional scoring guidelines, with a two-point shot counting as two factors, and a three-point shot counting as three factors.
A hefty event money prize
Advancing within the 1-on-1 event is in gamers’ monetary curiosity. Closing 4 gamers will every get $25,000, whereas the event runner-up will make $50,000. The event winner will earn $200,000, and every of their Unequalled teammates might be awarded $10,000 as nicely.
“There’s nonetheless a crew camaraderie perspective — the place you might be eradicated, however your teammate retains advancing,” Bazzell mentioned. “Inevitably you wish to root them on — not only for private causes, but in addition there’s an incentive for you in case your teammate wins the last word money prize.”
Followers will assist decide participant seeding
From Jan. 3 to Feb. 2, followers will be capable to vote for participant seedings to be able to kind first-round match-ups. Gamers have been cut up into the next pods 4 pods, to be able to evenly distribute abilities, per Unequalled.
Pod A
- Shakira Austin – Lunar Owls
- Rae Burrell – Vinyl
- Natasha Cloud – Phantom
- Chelsea Grey – Rose
- Jewell Loyd – Mist
- Azurá Stevens – Rose
- Alyssa Thomas – Laces
- eighth Seed – BYE
Pod B
- Napheesa Collier – Lunar Owls
- Tiffany Hayes – Laces
- Rhyne Howard – Vinyl
- Lexie Hull – Rose
- Rickea Jackson – Mist
- Katie Lou Samuelson – Phantom
- Courtney Williams – Lunar Owls
- Jackie Younger – Laces
Pod C
- Aliyah Boston – Vinyl
- Jordin Canada – Vinyl
- Kahleah Copper – Rose
- Aaliyah Edwards – Mist
- Allisha Grey – Lunar Owls
- Marina Mabrey – Phantom
- Kate Martin – Laces
- Breanna Stewart – Mist
Pod D
- DiJonai Carrington – Mist
- Skylar Diggins- Smith – Lunar Owls
- Dearica Hamby – Vinyl
- Kayla McBride – Laces
- Arike Ogunbowale – Vinyl
- Satou Sabally – Phantom
- Brittney Sykes – Rose
- eighth Seed – BYE
Followers will vote on gamers from 1-8, and first-round match-ups might be decided from there.