The 2026 Unrivaled 1v1 Tournament is already delivering thrilling surprises, with the first round shaking up the highly anticipated bracket. But did anyone see these upsets coming so early in the game?
Unpredictable Upsets in the Opening Round:
The tournament's opening round on Wednesday was a rollercoaster. Out of 11 matchups, four ended in upsets, leaving fans and analysts alike in awe. Sonia Citron, the Unrivaled rookie, set the tone with a thrilling 12-10 victory over the higher-ranked Marina Mabrey. This was just the beginning of the surprises.
No. 7 Rae Burrell's win over No. 2 Rhyne Howard (12-9) and No. 6 Shakira Austin's triumph over No. 3 Dearica Hamby (12-10) further fueled the excitement. But here's where it gets controversial: the biggest shock of the night was yet to come.
The Most Dramatic Matchup:
In a stunning display, 2025 WNBA Most Improved Player, Veronica Burton, completely shut out her opponent, Courtney Williams, with an impressive 11-0 score. This unexpected result left many wondering if the tournament favorites were truly invincible.
Top Seeds Advance, But for How Long?
While the upsets dominated the headlines, the top seeds, including Paige Bueckers, Breanna Stewart, and Kelsey Mitchell, advanced without much trouble. However, with the second round promising intense matchups, will they be able to maintain their dominance?
Second Round: Where Legends Collide:
Friday's second round features eight highly anticipated showdowns. The standout matches include Bueckers versus her Dallas Wings teammate, Arike Ogunbowale, and Stewart facing off against the formidable Aliyah Boston. But the drama doesn't end there—Shakira Austin will battle last year's runner-up, Aaliyah Edwards, and in a true underdog story, Sonia Citron will take on Rae Burrell.
Don't Miss the Action:
Catch the second round on Friday at 7:30 PM ET, followed by the semifinals and finals on Saturday at 6 PM ET in Miami. All the action will be broadcast live on TNT, so tune in to witness the rise of the new Unrivaled 1v1 champion. And this is the part most people miss—will the favorites hold their ground, or will we see more unexpected victories? Only time will tell.
