We’ve got more Unrivaled action on Saturday night. The Laces will take on the Mist in a hectic matchup between star-studded teams that promises excitement.
The Mist are 3.5-point favorites at home against the Laces on the DraftKings Sportsbook. A Laces upset is priced at +140 with the total set at 135.5 points. Let’s get into my prediction and pick for this game.
Laces vs. Mist prediction
The Mist boast one of the most exciting starting lineups in the league. They’re headlined by New York Liberty superstar (and Unrivaled co-founder) Breanna Stewart, who was cooking in their season-opening win over the Hive. She’s complemented by Allisha Gray, an elite scorer and strong defender. Breakout 2025 star Veronica Burton rounds out a skilled trio who can pass, shoot, drive, and defend. But it’s the bench that gives me pause.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Alanna Smith. She’s a great defender who can finish her dinner in the paint. Li Yueru gives them a good-sized alternative when they play against bigger frontcourts. It’s the Arike Ogunbowale of it all that bothers me; she’s not much of a defender, and she’s a limited passer and extremely inefficient volume scorer. She sticks out like a sore thumb on a roster full of versatility and functional size. That was on display in their first game when Arike scored 12 points on 5/15 shooting while drawing just one free throw. She can shoot them right out of a game when she feels like it, which gives them a big weakness.
It’s a weakness the Laces will be eager to exploit. They have a strong argument for the best defense in the league this season, spearheaded by all-around dynamo Alyssa Thomas. She’s flanked by Jackie Young and Brittney Sykes, two great on-ball scorers who can thrive off her DHO game and slap the floor defensively. Jordin Canada is another great, albeit undersized, backcourt defender off the bench, while Naz Hillmon and Maddy Siegrist provide versatile forward play off the bench.
Pace and space is the M.O. for this game. Yueru is the only true center between these two squads. They’ll try to beat each other with skill, not size, making for one heck of a game.
Laces vs. Mist Pick
In a battle of well-matched rosters, it comes down to how many points the Laces can generate against an inferior Mist defense. They’re better than they showed in their first game, but the Mist can beat them handily at small ball while having Yueru to break the size equation. Unless Arike shoots them out of this one, it’ll be a solid Mist win.
