Predicting MVP, DPOY and Every Major 2026 Unrivaled Award
With the Unrivaled season coming to a close, it's time to celebrate the players who have thrived in Miami this year.
True to its mission as a developmental league, Unrivaled has a way of bringing out the best in players during a relaxed environment. It's a place to build confidence before the WNBA season.
We've seen that in the breakout players who have thrived over the past few months. Players who haven't necessarily had their breakouts in the WNBA or were injured in some capacity.
The hope, of course, is that this confidence continues into the summer and these players can also take a leap in the WNBA.
With the season ending, it also means it's time for end-of-season awards. Let's make a few predictions ahead of the league's official announcements later this week.
All-Unrivaled Second Team
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Aaliyah Edwards (Lunar Owls BC), Marina Mabrey (Lunar Owls BC), Kelsey Plum (Phantom BC)
Aaliyah Edwards was due to have a fantastic season in Unrivaled after a rocky WNBA season led to her being traded.
The 23-year-old leads the league in rebounds with 12.5 per game, and is currently sixth in points per game with 21.3 per contest. Her physicality, excellent footwork and energy make her one of the most dominant players in the league.
Marina Mabrey has been lighting it up in Miami all season, scoring 24.0 points per game on 3.4 three-pointers made per game. She makes 4.9 assists per game as well, and is third leaguewide in minutes per game with 20.2.
On Jan. 30, the 29-year-old scored an impressive 47 points in the Lunar Owls' win against Rose in Philadelphia.
Kelsey Plum is another standout on a stacked Phantom BC. Her 21.7 points per game is fourth leaguewide, her 5.2 assists per game is third leaguewide, and her 2.5 three-pointers per game is third overall.
The 31-year-old also ties for first with total game-winners with four in the season, something that may come up big for her in the postseason.
All-Unrivaled First Team
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Chelsea Gray (Rose BC), Paige Bueckers (Breeze BC), and Aliyah Boston (Phantom BC)
These three players have dominated Unrivaled this season for various reasons.
For Chelsea Gray, it's her overall dominance as a two-way player. She's leading the league in points and assists, and she's in the top five for steals. She just thrives in this format, and winning the 1-on-1 tournament is just another reason why she has been the most dominant player this year.
Paige Bueckers has come in as a rookie and led her expansion team, Breeze BC, to an excellent season. Her 24.5 points and 6.1 assists per game trail only Gray in both categories, and her calm on-court presence and basketball IQ make her wise beyond her years on the court.
Bueckers is an unstoppable force.
Aliyah Boston has made herself stand out on an incredibly well-balanced Phantom BC team, which is no easy feat.
Her strength as a rim-protector has come up big as the Phantom have gone 10-3 this year, securing the top spot in the standings.
Coach of the Year: Roneeka Hodges, Phantom BC
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While a first-time coach in this season of Unrivaled, Roneeka Hodges has a long history as a player and coach in women's basketball.
That experience, along with a superstar roster of players, has made her extremely successful in Unrivaled.
Phantom were the first team in the league to clinch a playoff spot, and they officially clinched the No. 1 spot for the regular season at the weekend.
Hodges has expertly balanced her roster with a mix of experienced veterans and younger stars, and led them to success. It's such an equal effort, and that balance has led to their 10-3 record.
Plus, she has done all of this after learning she wouldn't have Satou Sabally to start the season and potentially all season.
The 27-year-old suffered a concussion during the WNBA Finals last fall and was still not cleared to play for Unrivaled. She wasn't confirmed to be out for the whole season, but she still has not debuted for the team.
However, Hodges was able to adapt even without her star player, around whom she had drafted the rest of the team.
All of this has been extremely impressive, and these results are why Hodges is a great candidate for Coach of the Year.
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Defensive Player of the Year: Aliyah Boston
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Aliyah Boston's rise as one of the best defensive players in Unrivaled isn't a shock to those who have followed her career.
The 24-year-old was a steady presence in the post during her career at South Carolina, then went No. 1 overall to the Indiana Fever in 2023 to anchor the franchise's next generation.
She has only gotten better, learning in the early years of her professional career how to balance interior defense with staying out of foul trouble. Now she anchors a well-balanced Phantom BC squad that has sat near the top of the Unrivaled standings all season.
She ranks first in the league for blocks per game this year, averaging 2.2 per night. Her 10.1 rebounds per game are currently third overall leaguewide, and she pairs that with 20.0 points per game.
Obviously, Boston's length and size make her an ideal defender, but she's always had great footwork, and her increased strength as she's progressed in her professional career is starting to pay off.
MVP: Chelsea Gray, Rose BC
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Chelsea Gray has been on point this entire season in the continuation of an incredible comeback.
The 33-year-old was injured in the 2023 WNBA Finals, which led to a rocky 2024 season. Many thought she may never return to her true form, but she has.
After winning the 2025 WNBA Championship with the Las Vegas Aces, Gray showed up to Unrivaled ready to lead Rose BC in a title defense. The team has clinched a playoff spot, and the postseason is where the 33-year-old thrives most.
She leads the league in scoring with 25.4 points per game, leads in assists with 6.2 dishes per game, leads in three-pointers per game with 3.6, and is tied for fourth leaguewide in steals with 1.3 per game.
She is also tied for first leaguewide in total game-winners with four in total, and she leads the league in minutes per game as she clocks 22.4 per contest.
Gray is the league's most dominant player, and she deserves an MVP nod.
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