NEW YORK (AP) – Kelsey Plum scored 31 points, leading Phantom BC to an 83-75 victory over Vinyl in the semifinals of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league at Barclays Center on Monday night.
The win secured Phantom BC’s place in the championship game.
Phantom BC will face either second-seeded Mist or fifth-seeded Breeze in the final on Wednesday night in Miami, where the championship-winning team will share a prize pool of $600,000 among its players.
Phantom’s Key Players and Challenges
Phantom BC played without star forward Aliyah Boston, who is sidelined for the playoffs due to a right leg injury. Despite this setback, the team showcased resilience and strong teamwork throughout the match.
The semifinals were relocated to New York after Unrivaled’s successful event in Philadelphia earlier this year. This change also served as a homecoming for co-founder Breanna Stewart, who previously led the New York Liberty to their first championship in 2024.
Star-Studded Crowd and Atmosphere
The event attracted a sellout crowd of 18,261, including notable figures such as basketball legends Carmelo Anthony and Sue Bird, as well as actors Ashton Kutcher and Jason Sudeikis. The audience’s enthusiasm was palpable, particularly when Liberty guard Natasha Cloud received an ovation as she was introduced.
Cloud played a pivotal role in Phantom’s comeback during the third quarter, overcoming a 59-50 deficit. Her performance included drawing an offensive foul and executing a three-point play, which helped Phantom take a 71-64 lead into the final quarter.
Final Moments and Match Outcome
Vinyl made a late push, narrowing the score to 78-75. However, Phantom BC secured the victory with a final five points, capped off by Plum’s decisive fadeaway 3-pointer.
Vinyl aimed to return to the championship after losing to Rose BC in the previous year’s final. Dearica Hamby led Vinyl’s efforts with 30 points in the semifinal match.
MVP Announcement
Chelsea Gray of Rose BC was awarded the league’s MVP on Monday. Averaging 24.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists, she also set a new single-season assists record with 85 across 14 games. Gray expressed gratitude to her supporters, stating, “I want to say thank you to everyone who voted. I love this game. Want to be great every night and that’s always my goal.”
Gray received her trophy before the first game of the semifinals, marking a significant achievement in her career.