Kate Martin (No. 20), driving to the net against the Rose BC’s Azurá Stevens (No. 23), knows the Breeze BC can get back to their winning ways ahead of Monday night’s Unrivaled nightcap game against the Mist BC. (Photo: Unrivaled Basketball)
MIAMI — The Breeze BC faced a humbling test on Saturday night against a veteran Vinyl BC squad, falling 81-66 in a contest at Sephora Arena that showcased the speed, intensity, and learning curve of the Unrivaled Basketball league. Despite the loss, sophomore guard Kate Martin highlighted lessons learned, leadership principles, and the importance of maintaining focus in a compressed 14-game season.
“I think we know how quick this league is. We only have 14 regular season games, so you really have to study film, watch it, learn from it, and move on,” Martin said.
Noted for their youth and enthusiasm, the Breeze BC struggled defensively in the first half, giving up nearly 50 points. While the team attempted a rally in the fourth quarter, the deficit proved too large against the well-drilled Vinyl BC anchored by veterans like Dearica Hamby, Brittney Griner, and Rhyne Howard.
Head coach Noelle Quinn praised her team’s late-game effort and framed the defeat as a critical learning opportunity.
“I loved the fourth quarter effort,” Quinn said. “When we get into that target score, the game is not over. The fight is important, the execution, taking a position at a time, and I thought we had some really good momentum in that quarter.”
Quinn emphasized the value of experiencing adversity early in the season.
“This is a young team, and we have to be students of the game,” she said. “Defensively allowing 50 in the first half, we can’t win games like that. But just knowing that we have so much room to improve and grow and understanding how the group works, I’m actually happy it happened to us early. I’d rather it happened now than later.”
Martin also spoke about the performance of star guard Paige Bueckers, who scored 13 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter after a slow offensive start.
Kate Martin tipped her cap to Breeze BC teammate Paige Bueckers for her determined effort in Saturday night’s tough outing against the Vinyl BC. (Photo: Unrivaled Basketball)
“I was gonna go in for her, and then I just sat right back down because when she’s ready to take over a game, she has that ability,” Martin said. “I was happy that she kept shooting it. Her midi wasn’t going in the first half, and she stuck with it. That’s what good shooters do. She makes the right reads, comes off ball screens great, and definitely kept us in the game.”
Beyond individual performance, Martin highlighted the educational value of facing a veteran opponent.
“I think it’s great for our group,” she observed. “We know the adjustments we need to make to make that a winnable game for us. They’re a really good team, but we know that we can play better. It’s good to get that experience, put it under our belt, and learn from it so we can make adjustments.”
Asked about the team’s defense and forcing turnovers, Quinn praised the Breeze BC’s second-half adjustments and physical play.
“We play pretty conservative defensively, but in the second half, we had more aggressive coverage on the ball, a little more physicality,” Quinn said. “We were locked into the actions and schemes based on the personnel coming off those actions. I liked our effort and the physicality in that half.”
The brief turnaround between games in the Unrivaled schedule emphasizes mental as well as physical preparation. The league’s 14-game season compresses opportunity and consequence, making every matchup critical. Players and coaches alike must absorb lessons quickly, adjust on the fly, and maintain perspective through highs and lows.
For the Breeze BC, the loss to Vinyl BC serves as both a cautionary tale and a roadmap. Learning from veteran teams early provides insight into rotational schemes, decision-making under pressure, and the pace required to compete at this level. Quinn sees the early adversity as foundational for growth.
“You look at this league in a series, so we’re going to see them again,” Quinn said. “We can even the series out, and we have to make sure we’re being students of the game and taking this game and looking at where we need to improve upon.”
Kate Martin has been a catalyst for the Breeze BC, slotting in regardless of the situation. (Photo: Unrivaled Basketball)
Martin’s approach to leadership emphasizes example, patience, and consistency. She encourages her teammates to embrace each game as a chance to improve, regardless of immediate outcomes.
“Our goal is to keep building, stay locked in, and make sure every game teaches us something,” Martin said. “We know what we’re capable of, and every day is a chance to get better.”
The Breeze BC will carry these lessons into their next contest against the well balanced Mist BC on Monday night, a true test for the league’s youngest squad. With both Quinn’s coaching perspective and Martin’s leadership philosophy, the team has a blueprint to navigate the season’s challenges while maximizing development and cohesion.
The loss, while disappointing, underscores the learning curve of a young team in a high-intensity, fast-moving league. By focusing on fundamentals, film study, and team chemistry, the Breeze hope to transform early-season setbacks into measurable progress.
Martin’s mantra for the team is clear: learn quickly, focus on execution, and avoid getting bogged down by mistakes. This mindset, coupled with guidance from Quinn, could define the trajectory of the Breeze BC’s inaugural Unrivaled season.
“We’re gonna watch film, we’re gonna break it down,” Martin said. “Coach is gonna put a great session together for us, and we’ll get better from here.”
For the Breeze BC, the lesson is simple but vital: adapt quickly, absorb the teaching moments, and keep moving forward. In a league where every game matters, Kate Martin’s leadership and the team’s commitment to growth may be the defining factors as the season progresses.
