We’re coming off an electric one-on-one tournament — with Chelsea Gray taking the crown — and now Unrivaled’s sophomore season is charging into its third act as the playoff race tightens. On Tuesday, four teams hit the floor for the next stretch of regular-season games, beginning with the Laces hosting the Hive at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Laces enter as 6.5-point home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 139.5. Let’s get into my prediction and pick for Tuesday’s star-powered showdown.
Laces vs. Hive Prediction
The Laces enter tonight’s matchup riding back-to-back wins heading into the one-on-one tournament, and they’re currently the favorites to win the Unrivaled Championship at +250 on DraftKings Sportsbook. No one on this roster is averaging 20+ points per game, but that’s kind of the point — this team wins with depth. They’re tied for third in the league in scoring at 71.9 points per game, and in their last outing, all five players scored in double figures in a 74–70 win over the Lunar Owls.
And let me give the reigning Unrivaled champion her flowers. Brittney Sykes has been consistently excellent, averaging 18.9 points per game and hitting double figures in every contest this season. But it’s not just the scoring — she’s been a menace defensively, averaging 1.6 steals per game, second in the league. Pair that with Jackie Young’s ability to get a bucket and create for others, plus Alyssa Thomas’ all-around physicality and work on the glass, and the Laces start to look like one of the most complete teams in the field.
The Hive, meanwhile, just haven’t been able to put together a complete performance this season. They rank last in points per game (65.7), second-to-last in rebounds (6.2), and last in assists (9.4). The offense has stalled more often than not, and the lack of cohesion shows up in the numbers.
The one clear bright spot? Rim protection. The Hive lead the league in blocks at 3.8 per game, which at least gives them a defensive backbone. There is scoring on the roster — Kelsey Mitchell, Monique Billings, and Sonia Citron are all averaging 14.5+ points per game — but there isn’t a true takeover option who can consistently bend a defense or control late-game possessions. And against a Laces team that can get double-digit scoring from multiple players on any given night, that lack of depth becomes a real concern.
Laces vs. Hive Pick
The Laces have already clinched a playoff spot with eight wins this season, but that’s no excuse to get comfy. I’m backing the Championship favorites to have a hot hand tonight against a struggling Hive squad.
