In WNBA history, only two guards have ever averaged at least 15 points and five assists per game while shooting 45% or better from the field - Paige Bueckers and Chelsea Gray . After dismantling Kate Martin in the opening round, she took down teammate Arike Ogunbowale 12-4 in the second round.
It led to Bueckers locking horns with Gray in the quarterfinals of the Unrivaled 1v1 tournament.
Drafted by the Dallas Wings as the number one pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, Paige Bueckers has already made a name for herself in the WNBA. She became the fastest player in league history to reach 200 points, 50 rebounds and 50 assists. She also became the eighth WNBA rookie to be named an All-Star starter. A few months ago, the 24-year-old joined hands with Angel Reese to promote the Reese's OREO Cup.
Meanwhile, Chelsea Gray is in a different phase in her WNBA career. Drafted in 2014, Gray has played for three different franchises in the WNBA. She has four championships to her name - one with the Los Angeles Sparks and three with Las Vegas Aces, the most recent one being in 2025. She was named the Finals MVP in 2022.
After two convincing wins in the previous rounds, Gray posed a different challenge for Bueckers. The veteran controlled the game from the onset and raced off to a 9-2 lead. The frustration was visible on Bueckers' face. It was clear that her frustrations took over when she lashed out at the referee over a call. To make matters worse, she had a poor shooting night as she made just one shot in six attempts.
Gray sealed a 11-2 victory after knocking down both free throws. After the buzzer, an animated Bueckers gave Gray a quick hug and walked off the court, hence, putting an end to her Unrivaled's 1-on-1 tournament run.
Gray advanced to the semifinals and will take on former teammate Kelsey Plum. It promises to be a fascinating semifinal.
Bueckers' reaction to the loss was not surprising as emotions often do get the better of people in such circumstances. However, the rising star storming off quickly went viral across social media and the internet did not waste any time in reacting to it.
Several fans were in support of Bueckers and applauded her competitive spirit. But in the end, the night belonged to Gray due to her experience and execution.
While her 1v1 tournament has come to an end and she lost her shot at the $200,000 grand prize, her season is far from over. Bueckers now has to return to her leadership role with Breeze BC, where she has been one of the most dominant players in the 3-on-3 format.
The 2025 WNBA Rookie of the year leads the Unrivaled 3 v 3 assists charts with 6.7 assists per game. Her playmaking has been elite but her scoring is up there as well. She is currently among the top three scorers with 25 points per game. Her production has been elite in the 3v3 format so far.
With Unrivaled's regular season all set to wrap up on February 27, and the postseason tipping off the very next day, only the top four teams will advance. Hence, Bueckers will be expected to get over her loss to Gray quickly and shift her focus to Breeze BC for a deep playoff run.
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