Welcome to the Sparks Unrivaled Update Series!
Diving into the inaugural season of Unrivaled, we spotlight four players from the Los Angeles Sparks. These athletes are showcasing their skills in a unique 3×3 basketball format during the WNBA offseason, bringing a fresh perspective to the court.
Recap of the First Week
Last week, Team Vinyl starred with Dearica Hamby shining brightly. The team won both of their opening weekend matches, setting a strong tone for their campaign.
Week Two Performance
Let’s delve into how the Sparks players are faring in the second week of competition. These intense matches continue to provide valuable insights into their development.
Team Vinyl
With the highest representation from the Sparks, Team Vinyl comprises Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell. Despite an impressive start, they’ve recently experienced setbacks, losing their last two games and finding themselves exactly .500 on the season.
In recent action against Rose, Hamby led Team Vinyl with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals, all team-highs. She did not participate in their match against the Lunar Owls due to personal reasons.
Hamby’s performance continues to be exceptional, averaging 19 points per game, placing her in the top four players in the league.
Burrell has shown flashes of brilliance in her appearances. Against the Laces, she managed 11 points in just six minutes, shooting an efficient 4-6 from the field.
Team Rose
Azurá Stevens secured a critical win for Team Rose, defeating the Mist with a score of 71-66. This victory marked the first of the season for the team.
Stevens demonstrated the kind of versatile play that could be beneficial in the WNBA. She spaced the floor effectively, hit a couple of three-pointers, and contributed with solid rebounding.
Sparks big Azurá Stevens helped Rose Basketball Club get its first win at Unrivaled with 16 points (5-10 FG, 2-4 3PT, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds and three assists off the bench.
— LA Sparks PR (@LASparksPR) January 26, 2025
Her strong performance in this competitive environment bodes well for her upcoming season with the Sparks.
Team Mist
Rickea Jackson, a standout from the WNBA Rookie All-Star team, has made a significant impact in the 3×3 competition. Her aggressive play style and defensive prowess have been evident in her performances.
The Rickea Jackson Experience
• Change of pace
• Drop steps
• Step-through
• Hesis & feints
• Eurostep
• In & Out crab dribble
• Power Dribble SplitRickea is a COMPLETE 3-level scorer. What’s crazier: her defense is catching up to her offense… pic.twitter.com/T9sugUm1ey
— Conrado Pascual (@CP3_777) January 25, 2025
Jackson dominated her match against Phantom, scoring 24 points in 18 minutes. Her offensive game is multifaceted, and she’s becoming increasingly adept at using her defensive skills to complement her scoring.
Despite her individual brilliance, Team Mist remains undefeated, sitting at the bottom of the league.
Upcoming Games
This weekend offers exciting matchups. On Friday, you can catch Azurá Stevens and Team Rose as they take on Phantom on TNT. The following day, Saturday, gets even more thrilling with a Sparks-heavy faceoff: Rickea Jackson and Team Mist against Dearica Hamby, Rae Burrell, and Team Vinyl on TruTV.
All games are also accessible on MAX for viewing.
Stay tuned for more insightful updates on the Sparks and their performances in the Unrivaled series. This season promises to be a captivating blend of high-energy action and strategic play.
Join the Conversation
We encourage you to share your thoughts and predictions for the upcoming games. Feel free to comment below, subscribe to Archynetys for more updates, or share this article on your social media platforms. Let’s continue the energy and discuss these exciting developments!
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.