Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Breeze BC soared to new heights with a strong 24 point, 6 assist and five rebound effort against the Phantom at Sephora Arena. (Photo: Unrivaled Basketball)
MIAMI — Paige Bueckers has played on some of basketball’s biggest stages, but her Unrivaled Basketball debut on Monday night carried a distinctly different kind of intensity.
The pace was faster. The space was tighter. And the physicality left no room for easing in.
From the opening possession, the Breeze BC’s matchup against the Phantom felt less like an inaugural showcase and more like a statement game. The physicality and defensive pressure were constant, and each possession demanded full engagement from everyone on the floor. For Bueckers, the tone matched exactly what she anticipated entering the league.
“First impressions are that we are all highly competitive women, and we all wanna win,” Bueckers said. “And we might be cool and kick it off the court, but we’re ready to tear each other apart on the court. So that’s I think that’s the highest form of respect, and so I think that’s the most fun way to play basketball.”
The Breeze BC emerged with a win in their Unrivaled opener, but the result was only part of the story. More revealing was how the Breeze handled the physical and mental demands of a league designed to challenge elite players in ways traditional formats do not.
A Game Defined by Contact
Head coach Noelle Quinn made it clear that physicality would be a focal point against the Phantom, a team built to punish opponents who hesitate or overhelp. Early on, that challenge tested the Breeze BC’s discipline, particularly in ball screen coverage and interior defense.
“I think one of the keys today was being physical,” Quinn said. “The Phantom are a physical team, and in order to combat that, we had to showcase that as well.”
In a three-on-three setting, defensive mistakes are magnified with fewer rotations and far more responsibility placed on individual defenders. Quinn emphasized that matching contact was not optional if the Breeze wanted to control the flow of the game.
“Getting into bodies was the theme of the day, especially on ball screens,” Quinn said. “Those players on Phantom are very potent in that area. Those actions coming off, whether it’s shooting at three or getting downhill.”
Kelsey Plum and Tiffany Hayes showcased their veteran guile with strong performances on both ends of the floor against the Breeze BC. Aliyah Boston’s presence inside created early pressure, forcing the Breeze BC to make quick adjustments.
Quinn acknowledged that size mismatches required strategic positioning and consistent effort rather than scheme-heavy solutions.
“And then Boston was a load,” Quinn said. “So in order to try to negate some of what we’re giving up a little bit with size, we had to match that physicality, and I thought we did a better job as the game went on to position ourselves.”
Bueckers Thriving in Space and Contact
Paige Bueckers had a healthy offseason to help her excel in a fast, physical style of basketball with Unrivaled. (Photo: Unrivaled Basketball)
For Bueckers, Unrivaled’s format highlighted the importance of offseason preparation. With fewer players on the floor, every movement is visible and every physical exchange matters. Strength, balance, and conditioning become central to success.
“I think for me getting in the weight room this offseason, having a healthy offseason where I can grind and get better, stay in the weight room, I think definitely helps with this Unrivaled league and just how physical it is,” Bueckers said. “On the ball, off the ball, offensively, defensively, being able to still get to your spots and fight through the physicality.”
That physical base allowed Bueckers to play comfortably in isolation, absorb contact, and maintain efficiency as the game tightened. While her offensive skill set remains the most recognizable part of her game, her defensive activity stood out as the Breeze gradually took control.
Quinn pointed to that effort as part of the cumulative pressure applied over the course of the game.
“I thought we did a better job as the game went on to position ourselves,” Quinn said. “Especially on ball screens.”
With fewer defenders occupying the floor by design, Bueckers’ ability to defend in space and recover quickly became a stabilizing force for the Breeze.
Conditioning as an Immediate Test
Beyond physical contact, the pace of play presented another adjustment. Unlike five-on-five basketball, where players can occasionally float off the ball, Unrivaled demands constant involvement.
“I think there’s a few adjustments, but today, I felt the conditioning aspect of it,” Bueckers said. “Definitely down the fourth, a lot of the shots were short.”
She noted that the nonstop nature of three-on-three leaves little opportunity for recovery within possessions.
“There’s never a possession where you’re not in any of the action on both ends of the floor,” Bueckers said. “In five-on-five, you can get stuck in a corner or be out of the action for a few possessions. Here it’s extremely fast-paced.”
Monday night’s game also marked the first extended run for many players, with Unrivaled games featuring longer quarters than preseason scrimmages.
“Our scrimmages were five-minute quarters, so this was extended to seven,” Bueckers said. “Feeling that out, getting the lungs under us and getting used to playing solid basketball.”
Establishing an Identity Early
While the Breeze secured a win, Quinn emphasized that the team is still in the early stages of building cohesion. Training camp provided a foundation, but real growth will occur through live competition.
“I think we still have a lot of room to grow,” Quinn said. “But I think we’ve been intentional about our work, utilizing the training camp to install, but also not putting our players in positions where they’re most successful.”
Quinn credited her players for their attention to detail and willingness to absorb new concepts quickly.
“We have a cerebral group,” she said. “Honestly, it’s not me, it’s them. Their will to come in here every day and work and get better, what they’re retaining is really good to see.”
Rather than overloading the team with complex sets, Quinn focused on principles that allow players to read space and react naturally, all pivotal with catalyzing the strengths from Bueckers, Dominique Malonga, Cameron Brink, Kate Martin, Rickea Jackson and Ari McDonald.
“I just wanted to put in principles of play and allow us to understand movement and space and all those things,” Quinn said. “As we grow through these weeks, we’re gonna continue to get comfortable with one another.”
Unrivaled’s Broader Statement
Paige Bueckers and the Breeze BC hope for more nights like Monday in their team’s inaugural season in Unrivaled. (Photo: Unrivaled Basketball)
For Bueckers, the opener was also an opportunity to reinforce what Unrivaled represents within the basketball landscape. She was direct in rejecting any notion that the league exists as a secondary option.
“This is not a secondary league,” Bueckers said. “This is really good competitive basketball.”
She described the league as both a developmental environment and a compelling product for fans, particularly those interested in seeing players operate in a different format.
“People are used to the five-on-five,” Bueckers said. “So to be able to watch three-on-three in different players in a different setting, in a different format, it’s just really, really fun to watch.”
She also emphasized the community aspect of the league, noting the excitement of building something new with teammates and coaches.
“It’s just been really fun to grow with this team,” Bueckers said. “To be under the new coaching staff, to meet new teammates, and to compete that way against the best women in the world.”
A Strong First Step
Even with the victory, Quinn remains focused on incremental improvement rather than early results.
“I think for day one, we found some cohesiveness in times of play, ways to get buckets and get stops,” Quinn said. “And that’s good.”
For the Breeze BC, Monday night’s opener was less about perfection and more about establishing habits. Physical defense, accountability in space, and resilience under pressure formed the foundation of that first performance.
If the opening night was any indication, Unrivaled is not designed to ease players into its vision. It demands readiness, toughness, and adaptability from the jump.
And for Paige Bueckers and her determined Breeze teammates and coaching staff, that challenge already feels like familiar territory heading into Friday night’s matchup against the Hive BC.
