Fans and players alike are eager for tonight’s tip-off between the Laces and the Phantom. After yesterday’s successful inauguration, it is evident that fans want more! However, in an unfortunate turn of events, Laces BC and Aces star Jackie Young has been ruled out of the game against Phantom BC. The former first-overall pick from Notre Dame plays guard for the Las Vegas Aces, putting up impressive averages of about 16, 4, and 5 in the W. Her three years as a Fighting Irish set her up for success, as her scoring averages only went up afterwards.

According to various reports, Young has been ruled out due to a left knee injury. This comes as a huge blow for Laces BC fans, who had been looking forward to seeing the six-foot guard hoop.  There is no given timeline for her recovery so far. The extent of the injury is unclear, with no information being available right now.

In addition to Jackie Young, there are three injuries to the Phantom BC squad. Marina Mabrey, Natasha Cloud, and Natisha Hiedeman are not going to be taking the floor tonight.

It seems to be an unfortunate matchup for both sides thus far. Regardless, the game will definitely be fun to watch as stars like Sabrina Ionescu and Alyssa Thomas are going to be battling it out. The talent is plenty, and the stage is set. If injuries do not intervene, fans are in for a treat!

Unrivaled injury plague

Injuries seem to be never-ending for the new 3X3 league. Satou Sabally-led Phantom BC has lost three of its key players before their very first matchup. Star guard Marina Mabrey got injured during the training camp itself, straining her right calf. She is going to be re-evaluated after a minimum of two weeks.

On Friday, the Phantom BC announced that they were signing Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman on a relief contract to replace Marina Mabrey. Luck was not on Phantom’s side, however, as Hiedeman was listed as questionable in their pre-game injury report. Apparently, the decorated WNBA guard is down with illness.

The league also suffered a major blow due to the injury of Cameron Brink. The six-foot-four forward for the LA Sparks suffered a brutal ACL tear, ending her rookie season in the W. This meant that she would only be able to take the Unrivaled court in its sophomore season in 2026. Her star power would have been a game-changing addition to the player-owned 3×3 league.

Despite the injuries, the excitement for Unrivaled is at an all-time high. It will be interesting to see how this new league unfolds. The rules are new and exciting, the players are pumped and ready to go, and fans are waiting for more!