Unrivaled Power Rankings: Where Every Team Stands After Week 3

Another week, another round of Unrivaled power rankings!

We're fresh off another stretch of exciting games, though lord knows the zebras tried to steal our joy a few times. For the purposes of time, I'll avoid a full-blown rant and simply wish for a smoother experience this week.

Speaking of, this week's round of games feels especially important as we'll be shifting to the 1v1 tournament pretty soon. Things tip off on February 10, and we recently got the bracket reveal:

Whew, buddy, do we have some interesting matchups there. Pod B and Pod D in particular should produce some wild (complimentary) hoops.

At any rate, we have a little bit of movement this week, so let's dig into this week's rankings.

Last Week's Ranking: 3rd (-3)

Week in review (0-2): 77-67 loss to Mist BC, 85-68 loss to Lunar Owls BC

Reason for slide: Vinyl BC represents our biggest slide of the week, dropping from third to sixth in the power rankings. After winning their first two games, they've now lost four straight contests—with their last three coming by double digits.

A key stat worth monitoring: Vinyl BC, featuring some of the best perimeter bucket-getters in the league, has shot a combined 24-of-73 (32.9 percent) from deep during this losing streak. Some of that is the natural byproduct of pressing to erase deficits in the fourth quarter, but they're in need of some balancing to complement some of the interior goodness they're getting from Dearica Hamby in particular.

Something to keep an eye on: Arike Ogunbowale's process

Through six games, I've found myself impressed with Ogunbowale's defense and overall playmaking. It feels like there's been a continued emphasis in ramping up her attention level defensively, and letting the game come to her on the other end. The patience paired with some late passing in ball screens has really popped.

But with the Vinyl on this losing streak—and them failing to eclipse 70 points in each of their last three games—I wonder if Ogunbowale decides to turn the dial (back) toward being more aggressive as a scorer.

Last Week's Ranking: 5th (No movement)

Week in review (1-1): 75-63 win over Rose BC, 64-61 loss to Mist BC

Injury Notes: No Marina Mabrey (right calf)

What to like: Sabrina Ionescu's return

The festivities in France must've really rejuvenated Ionescu, because she came back stylin' over the weekend.

She exploded for 32 points in a win over Rose BC, draining seven triples while leading the way in rebounds (9) and assists (8) to boot. Between finding openings in transition, attacking off flare screens, and striking a near-perfect balance between shot-hunting and playmaking in ball screens, there really wasn't an answer for Ionescu.

(Seriously, the sell-my-pullup-before-making-a-crisp-pass bit from Ionescu was consistently fruitful this week.)

The scoring didn't carry over in a tough loss to Mist BC (12 points on 5-of-16 shooting), but she logged another nine assists without committing a turnover.

Something to keep an eye on: Late-game execution

When you have the amount of talent that Phantom BC has, it isn't always easy to narrow down options and get to something specific—in terms of lineup choices or scripted plays. It does feel like Brittney Griner has become a late-game focal point, but I'm curious to see how they build around that.

And naturally, leading a furious comeback only to have it ended with a coach ejection (and game-winning free throw) isn't what you want. I don't expect that to be a trend, but I will be watching Phantom fourth quarters a little more closely.

Last Week's Ranking: 6th (+2)

Week in review (2-0): 77-67 win over Vinyl BC, 64-61 win over Phantom BC

Injury Notes: No DiJonai Carrington (left leg) vs. Vinyl BC

What to like: Inverted screening actions

This was something that excited me about Mist BC heading into the Unrivaled season, and I must say I enjoyed the payoff this week in particular.

It felt like whenever Mist BC needed a bucket, or just felt like being rude to defenses, they'd have Jewell Loyd or Courtney Vandersloot screen for Breanna Stewart. An early pick-and-roll here, an elbow catch that turned into a guard-for-Stewie back screen there; with no back-side help, praying for an offensive foul or a bad pass felt like the only solutions.

Something to keep an eye on: Rickea Jackson's defense

Zooming all the way out, the spacing and lack of help in Unrivaled's 3x3 format puts a greater spotlight on both individual shot creation and isolation (or post) defense.

I expected Jackson's endless bag to pop in this setting; I didn't quite know what to expect defensively. As cliche as it sounds, there were flashes of good and "ooooh...oh boy..." during her rookie season with the Sparks. Overall, I've found myself impressed with the way Jackson has competed on that end.

In theory, her blend of size and quickness should allow her to hang against multiple positions. It hasn't always been perfect, but the flashes have been there; her block against Katie Lou Samuelson is still ringing.

The more she holds up, the more she'll be trusted late in games. As mentioned before, head coach Phil Handy doesn't mind going to jumbo lineups featuring her, Stewart and Aaliyah Edwards (16 points on 8-of-9 shooting and a game-winning jumper against Vinyl BC). Keep an eye on it, folks.

Last Week's Ranking: 3rd (No movement)

Week in review (1-1): 75-63 loss to Phantom BC, 83-69 win over Laces BC

Injury notes: No Brittney Sykes (right leg)

What to like: Chelsea Gray shot hunting

It seems fitting that Gray has both taken more ownership of the (late-game) bucket-getting role and has seemingly begun to heat up as we're only a few days away from the Unrivaled 1v1 tournament tipping off.

But seriously, I lost count of the amount of what-do-you-do-with-this jumpers she hit over the weekend. They're backbreaking because of the difficulty, but also because you know you can't afford to send help while she's cooking because there isn't a pass she can't make or won't try.

Something to keep an eye on: Azurá Stevens' scoring surge

I'll tell you what: Stevens heating up to this degree would be a welcomed development for Rose BC.

She dominated on the interior this week, converting an absurd 79.2 percent (19-of-24) of her shots inside the arc while grabbing five offensive rebounds in 23 total minutes. Drives, jumpers, post-ups, putbacks, rolls out of ball screens—these are all within Stevens' wheelhouse, and that's before getting into the three-ball that just hasn't fallen for her with real consistency yet.

(Related: Rose BC really needed Stevens to step in to produce in their game with Laces BC following the absolutely nonsensical ejection of Angel Reese in that game. I do not understand how you watch Reese and Tiffany Hayes go at it on that possession, talk their junk, and have any other reaction than "Whew, this is awesome!")

Last Week's Ranking: 2nd (No movement)

Week in review (0-2): 75-73 loss to Lunar Owls BC, 83-69 loss to Rose BC

Injury Notes: No Alyssa Thomas (right leg)

What to like: Jackie Young's return*

A mystery knee/leg injury kept Young out for the start of the Unrivaled season, but she finally made her debut this week.

Young came out the gates firing, literally: She went 8-of-11 from deep over the weekend. It would appear that ducking under picks against her remains a bad idea.

The finishing wasn't quite there, as to be expected with that kind of absence and injury maintenance, but her strength on her drives popped immediately on film. I just hope her return isn't short-lived.

Which leads me to...

Something to keep an eye on: The injury report

This is boring, and I apologize in advance. But, man.

Thomas didn't play this week. Young took multiple bumps over the weekend; the outing vs Rose BC was especially rough. Tiffany Hayes left the Rose BC game to be evaluated for a concussion.

First and foremost, I hope everyone is OK and heals as soon as possible. As for the Unrivaled context, I have no earthly idea who's going to be available heading into this week's games. They may wind up sliding by default in next week's power rankings.

Last Week's Ranking: 1st (No movement)

Week in review (2-0): 75-73 win over Laces BC, 85-68 win over Vinyl BC

What to like: Allisha Gray's two-way excellence

This isn't a new take of mine, but Gray's been a joy to watch this season.

She's an incredibly rude driver, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. She does not waste time attacking, either in transition or when playing off the gravity of a Napheesa Collier touch. If you're in her way, you can expect to get a shoulder, elbow or forearm in your chest on her way to two points.

If that isn't enough, she went 5-of-10 from deep over the weekend. And if that doesn't do it for you, she's been elite defensively at pretty much everything she's been asked to do.

Tremendous player, and the league's most unintentionally hilarious player if we could put that to a vote at some point.

Something to keep an eye on: Shakira Austin's offense

There isn't much to nitpick with the Lunar Owls at this point, and even this section doesn't really classify as a concern for me.

I will say that I'm waiting on a true breakout game from Austin. This context feels great for her, considering her skill set. Among her position group, she's an aggressive driver, a capable mid-range shot maker and one of the most versatile defenders we have.

We've seen flashes of all of those things in Unrivaled play, but it'd be nice to get a complete game of Shakira Awesome (I'm not sorry) soon.