Stewie Leads Mist to Unrivaled Title

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The Mist beat the top-seeded Phantom 80–74 to win the 2026 Unrivaled championship, led by a dominant performance from Breanna Stewart. Stewart finished with 32 points on 11-of-15 shooting and two blocks, earning Finals MVP honors as the Mist held off a historic 40-point night from Kelsey Plum. (Bleacher Report)

🎥 Watch highlights of Stewart and Plum from the championship game

WHY IT MATTERS: Through two seasons, Unrivaled has already proven that the title is always up for grabs. The Phantom entered as the favorites, but the Mist flipped the script after going 0-2 against them earlier this season. It’s also a high-stakes prize. Along with the trophy, every player on the winning team takes home $100,000.

The WNBPA executive committee released a statement Wednesday emphasizing that players remain united as negotiations with the WNBA continue. The message comes after recent comments from Breanna Stewart and Kelsey Plum sparked speculation among fans about whether the union was divided on the possibility of a strike. (Yahoo Sports)

👉 Read the full statement

WHY IT MATTERS: Reports of tension grew after a leaked letter from Stewart and Plum said they felt out of the loop on some negotiations despite serving on the executive committee. Whether those concerns were overstated or not, the union clearly wants to show a united front as the March 10 deadline approaches. The statement did not reveal whether a deal is close, but it did send a clear message. The players plan to stay united through the process.

The major conferences are handing out their postseason honors, and four coaches are being recognized for leading standout seasons. Shea Ralph (SEC), Kara Lawson (ACC), Cori Close (Big Ten), and Krista Gerlich (Big 12) were all named Coach of the Year in their conferences.

WHY IT MATTERS: Each of these programs is having a huge season. Ralph has lifted Vanderbilt into the Top 5 in the country, Close has the Bruins at No. 2 and won the Big Ten in UCLA’s second year in the league, Lawson guided Duke to a 17-game win streak, and Gerlich led Texas Tech to a 25-6 record and a Top 25 ranking. It’s also a milestone moment for all four. This is the first time each coach has won the award in their conference.