Our Sunday Unrivaled slate closes with two teams squarely in the playoff hunt. The Phantom will take on the Rose, with the winner receiving a significant boost to their postseason chances.
The Phantom are a 1.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Rose sit as a +100 underdog. The game total is set at 142.5 points. Let’s get into my prediction and pick for this Unrivaled matchup.
Phantom vs. Rose Preview
Since dropping their opening game, the Phantom have surged, winning four of their last five. As it turns out, having Kelsey Plum is pretty darn good for your offense, and Aliyah Boston is the same salve for the defense. That duo lifted the team over the Vinyl on Friday, but it wasn’t without controversy.
The Phantom had the best response possible: pulling out the win. Now they can put the scuffle behind them and focus on competing for the playoffs. Boston’s development on both ends of the floor will be key to those hopes, and now she has a chip on her shoulder.
Rose BC had a fantastic start to their title defense, winning their first three games. Chelsea Gray was dominating, the new-look roster was working, and everything was rosy (sorry, couldn’t help it). Then they ran into bad luck, losing two close games to the Hive and Laces, before getting dismantled by the Mist. Now they find themselves on the playoff bubble halfway through the season and need to get back on track. A bad run in a short season can derail you quickly.
They’ll lean on Grey, the reigning Finals MVP, of course. But she’s going to need some help. Kahleah Copper, Shakira Austin, and Azura Stevens have all played well for stretches, but the team has yet to put it all together. Whatever combinations work early, the Rose need to lean on that if they hope to pull out the win.
Phantom vs. Rose Pick
These two teams feel very evenly matched. Chelsea Gray dominates in this format and can match Kelsey Plum bucket-for-bucket, if not exceed her. The Rose are bound to break their rough spell sooner or later, and reality is going to hit them at the halfway point of the season. It’s time for the defending champs to get back on track.
