Well, the second edition of the Unrivaled 1-on-1 tournament is back with all the action set for Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, pitting the best of the best against one another. With last year’s champion, Napheesa Collier, sidelined by injury, this year has all the excitement building for a new champion. And with 32 players competing for their share of a $300,000 prize pool, the hype around this 1-on-1 duel is as real as it gets.

The first round is on February 11, while the second round and quarterfinals are scheduled for February 13. Then the semifinals and championship will roll out on February 14. So, without further ado, let’s dive into some of the exciting upcoming games.

1. Paige Bueckers vs. Kate Martin

One of the Unrivaled 1v1 Tournament games likely to draw the largest viewership will showcase Bueckers. And what a debut season Bueckers is having in the league:  25.0 ppg, 6.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists. It’s as if she carried over the form she built during her time in the WNBA. Bueckers is expected to take it all the way to the championship here and is the undeniable favorite.

Kate Martin is coming in as a heavy underdog and will be under immense pressure. The Golden State Valkyries player is having a below-average season for the Breeze. With a 32% shooting average on the court, it will be quite an uphill task for Martin to outplay Bueckers’ 48% efficiency.

2. Rachel Banham vs. Kelsey Mitchell

On one hand, you have Kelsey Mitchell with her shooting consistency and star-level pedigree, and on the other, you have Rachel Banham, known for her 3-point shooting. But will that be enough against Mitchell?

Kelsey has repeatedly outscored Banham. From the WNBA to Unrivaled, the statistic has not changed much. Take last year’s WNBA stats for example, where Banham’s 9.0 ppg dwarfs in comparison to Mitchell’s 20.2 ppg. On top of that, Kelsey is also having an impeccable season at Unrivaled this year (17.4 ppg), and that gives you the gist that this game won’t see a shortage of points.

3. Chelsea Gray vs. Natasha Cloud

Unrivaled has unlocked another side to Chelsea Gray’s game, it seems, and that should worry anyone who plans to go up against her. When an 11.2 ppg in the WNBA jumps to 26.1 in Unrivaled, you know that you have a player to contend with who does even better at shorter formats.

Natasha Cloud might not match her scoring ability, but she can be the perfect catalyst for her attacking game with her defensive intensity. The 3x All-Defensive selection is what will make the game competitive. If somebody can keep the “Point Gawd” in check, it’s definitely the Phantom player.

 4. Sonia Citron vs. Marina Mabrey

The clash between the two newcomers in the Unrivaled 1v1 Tournament is intriguing, as they were nearly neck and neck in last year’s WNBA stats. However, there is a noticeable gap in their Unrivaled numbers—Citron averaging 16.6 ppg compared to Mabrey’s 26.8 ppg—showing just how hard Mabrey’s act is to follow.

Marina is at the top of the list when it comes to scorers, leaving behind players like Chelsea Gray and Paige Bueckers, and although Citron has a history of efficiency (47% FG, 44.5% 3P) compared to Mabrey’s 36.7% FG and 27% 3P), it seems that the veteran might just be a little too overpowering in the form that she is in. Mabrey will just have to keep the youngster in discomfort, and the game will tilt in her favor.

5. Aaliyah Edwards vs. Dominique Malonga

Will this be Aaliyah Edwards’ year after being denied by Napheesa Collier last season? Edwards understands how the game works and how 1-on-1 contests are played in this setting, which puts her well ahead despite Dominique Malonga’s insane 55.1 FG%.

Edwards is versatile, strong on defense, and an expert rebounder. Malonga does have the height on her (6’6″), is physical, and a great finisher, though she struggles with perimeter shooting and working the arc. So either way, it sets the stage for an epic collision.

The stakes are higher, and whatever happens in the game is on you—so you’d bett