No doubt, the Unrivaled 1-on-1 tournament is unlike anything women’s basketball has ever seen. It’s intense, fast-paced, and a true test of skill, endurance, and adaptability. And everything was on display in the first round, which kicked off this Monday. The biggest upset of the night came in the last game of the first round when Aaliyah Edwards defeated her Mystics teammate, Breanna Stewart, a top seed, by a staggering 12-0. But despite the unexpectedness and the thrill, fans couldn’t help but voice dissatisfaction.

It was the rules and regulations. The foundation of criticism, though, was laid by a national journalist. “Unrivaled 1-on-1 is intense! Survival of the fittest! 😮‍💨” she penned on X. And she’s right. The tournament’s competitive nature closely resembles Charles Darwin’s 161-year-old theory of natural selection, where only the strongest thrive in their environment.

And make no mistake—Unrivaled is a proving ground for the best. Featuring a single-elimination format, except for the best-of-three finals, the tournament is as much about mental toughness as it is about basketball skill. But there’s more to it. With a seven-second shot clock and the “make-it, take-it” rule, players must strategize every move under pressure.

Also, with a $250,000 grand prize on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Considering the level of competition, the runner-up takes home $50,000, while each semifinalist pockets $25,000. Not just that—players on the winning 3-on-3 team also receive $10,000 each. And so, big names like Napheesa Collier, Skylar-Diggins Smith, and Aaliyah Edwards among others have already shown their opponents what they are in for.

But still, not everything seems to be going smoothly. As the tournament’s first round kicked off, fans wasted no time diving into the comment section to share their thoughts.

Top Comment by Mom Wheeler

It’s exciting and intense. It’s also very rough on the players. Got to worry a bit about their health

Share your take

Debate

Despite exciting unique rules, fans debate for adjustment at Unrivaled rulebook.

While some love the format, others believe it needs tweaking. “Next year some rules need to be changed for the 3v3 and this 1v1!” wrote one spectator on X. Well, this isn’t the first time basketball has seen a 1-on-1 tournament.

In fact, it has already had its fair share, from Red Bull King of the Rock to the NBA’s King of the Court. But Unrivaled is the first of its kind in women’s professional basketball. So what really sets it apart? The newest women’s league, co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, has introduced unique rules that make this tournament a true test of skill.

At Unrivaled, players have only seven seconds to get a shot off, forcing quick decisions. On top of that, whoever scores keeps possession, putting defenders at an even greater disadvantage. But the problem arises with the fouls for fans.

Another user on X added, “Fouls and stuff shouldn’t be part of this 1v1 or at least shouldn’t be worth 2 points #Unrivaled #Unrivaled1v1.” 

Another fan wrote, “I don’t think we should have foul calls in 1v1 lol #Unrivaled.” The fouls at Unrivaled do work differently. A foul on a shot is worth the same as the attempt, meaning a foul on a three-pointer results in three points at the line. Moreover, the players are allowed unlimited fouls. Consecutive ones on non-shooting, however, will award a point to the opponent. Clearly, fans aren’t on board.

“These 1v1s would have had me like 😵 #Unrivaled,” another user added. Even the format is different. With 30 WNBA players battling it out, the tournament is divided into four pods, featuring stars like Jewell Loyd, Aliyah Boston, and Arike Ogunbowale.

Some fans believe that matchups in Unrivaled should be adjusted based on position. “I feel like they should have split guards and post players for this Unrivaled 1v1…” It’s a fair argument—having a 6’5” center like Shakira Austin go up against a 5’11” guard like Clesea Gray, where the three-time WNBA champ and the 2022 Finals MVP was outplayed 12-2, raises questions about balance.

However, the first round went quite well. The newest league saw eight winners on Day 1 moving to the next round. We had a rookie defeat veteran Breanna Stewart for the opening day. Can only imagine what’s more to come.