Unmatched quick start as debut impresses players, fans

MIAMI — Skylar Diggins-Smith separated from DiJonai Carrington just outside the 3-point arc and launched a shot to win the first game in Unbeaten history.

As it shot in, Diggins-Smith ran down the court and her Lunar Owls teammates chased her in celebration as they beat the Mist Friday night, 84-80.

“This atmosphere was electric,” Diggins-Smith said at center court. “We’re going to celebrate this one tonight.”

The “winning score” in this new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league is determined by adding 11 points to the leading team’s score through three quarters. This means that each game is decided by a winner.

But this one was as good as Unrivaled could have dreamed of for its inaugural game.

“It was everything we hoped for,” said Lunar Owls player and league co-founder Napheesa Collier. “I think it was a great first game that just showed what we can do and what the experience can be like.”

The first night of Unrivaled sold out its 870-seat arena at the MediaPro Center. Fans lined up in light rain a few hours before the doors opened and enjoyed the fan activations the league had set up for them. Inside, Hall of Famer Steve Nash and American football star Alex Morgan sat courtside. WNBA executives were sprinkled throughout the stands.

In such a cramped space, the players said it felt like the crowd was “above us.” And playing on a neutral ground, there was no home field advantage.

Jewell Loyd likened the energy in the building to a pickup game. Collier said it was like a high school basketball championship. Chelsea Gray said it surpassed both of those analogies.

“It was like, the fans were right there on the court,” said Gray, whose Rose lost to Vinyl 79-73 in the second game. “Whether there was music or not, there was always energy during the different parts of the game. I really like that atmosphere. Everyone just wanted to see good basketball.”

Added Collier: “Obviously (the fanfare) is a distraction; it’s opening weekend. But we’ve been in that situation where there’s a lot going on — playing in the finals, playing in college, in championship games. As a professional, you’re able to block it.”

With a condensed full court instead of the half court played in Olympic 3×3 basketball, Unrivaled produces an extremely fast-paced game.

But the players said they weren’t too surprised considering it was the same style and tempo they experienced in training camp and preseason games.

“There’s not really a time where you take a possession away. There’s only three players on the floor,” Gray said. “It’s a little different from that perspective. But you have to be in shape to be able to play this game.”

The Mist and Moon Owls combined for 130 shots; Vinyl and Rose attempted 126. Lloyd scored 34 points — 23 in the first half — and Vinyl’s Rhyne Howard finished with 33.

The players noted that the shots taken were not out of character, but rather what the game requires with only three players per game. teams on the field at once.

“It was really fun. We’ve been practicing and scrimmaging, so it was really fun to get out there in front of a live crowd,” Collier said. “Just enjoying the experience of the game. There’s a lot of fanfare involved, but once the ball goes up, we’re just out there playing basketball.”