Las Vegas Aces player Chelsea Gray named MVP of the Unrivaled League
By Doug Feinberg
The Associated Press
March 3, 2026 - 11:40 am
NEW YORK — The Unrivaled League's Most Valuable Player was announced on Monday, and it's none other than Las Vegas Aces star guard Chelsea Gray. Gray, a standout player for Rose BC, received the award before the semifinal games at the sold-out Barclays Center.
"I'm grateful to everyone who voted for me," Gray said. "I love this sport and strive to be exceptional every night. That's my constant goal. Women's basketball is where it's at, and it's amazing to see all of you here, cheering us on every night."
Gray's performance this season has been exceptional. She averaged 24.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists, breaking her own single-season assists record with an impressive 85 assists in just 14 games. Her scoring prowess is evident with nine games of 20 or more points and 10 games with five or more assists. Additionally, she tied the league's single-game 3-pointers record with an impressive 10 3-pointers.
Another former Aces star, Kelsey Plum of the Los Angeles Sparks, led her team to the championship game with a 31-point performance. Plum's team, Phantom BC, secured an 83-75 win over Vinyl, with Dearica Hamby, another former Aces player and Sparks member, leading Vinyl with 30 points. Hamby's performance was a testament to her skill and experience.
In the other semifinal, Arike Ogunbowale, celebrating her 29th birthday, hit a crucial 3-pointer to secure a 73-69 victory for the second-seeded Mist over Breeze. Ogunbowale's birthday celebration was a highlight, showcasing her ability to perform under pressure.
The championship game will take place on Wednesday at Unrivaled's home arena in Miami. The winning team will claim a substantial prize pool of $600,000, which will be shared among its six players. This event has been a huge success, drawing over 21,490 fans to Philadelphia in late January, and the move to New York for the semifinals further solidified its popularity.
The star-studded crowd on Monday included basketball legends Carmelo Anthony and Sue Bird, as well as actors Ashton Kutcher and Jason Sudeikis. The event also attracted gold medal-winning U.S. hockey player Hilary Knight, adding to the excitement and prestige of the Unrivaled League.
