Crowning the One: A Preview of the 1 on 1 Tournament Presented by Sprite

MIAMI (Feb. 11, 2026) — Unrivaled players are set to compete in the league’s second annual 1 on 1 Tournament Presented by Sprite, tipping off on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The tournament carries a $300,000 total prize pool: $200,000 for the champion, $50,000 for the runner-up and $25,000 for the semifinalists.

Unrivaled co-founder Napheesa Collier won the league’s inaugural tournament in 2025, defeating Aaliyah Edwards in the best-of-three final round. Edwards took the first game but Collier came back to win the next two and claim the title.

With a mix of returning players and ambitious newcomers, this year’s 1 on 1 Tournament promises high-stakes matchups and exciting performances as the league once again aims to "Crown the One.”

Returning Stars

Headlined by Edwards, other notable returners include Rae Burrell, Allisha Gray, Arike Ogunbowale and Courtney Williams, all of whom reached the quarterfinals in 2025. Ogunbowale advanced to the semifinals before falling to Edwards, 11-2.

Shakira Austin is eager to improve on her debut performance from last year's tournament after being eliminated in the second round by Azurá Stevens, 11-4.

“I’m excited to show my game and be more free,” Austin said. “I think I went in last year a little uptight—I just have to go in and be myself and be confident.”

Fresh Faces

The remaining players will be making their 1 on 1 debuts, setting the stage for compelling first-time clashes. Among the newcomers are Paige Bueckers and Kelsey Plum, both ranked in the top five in points and assists per game in Unrivaled.

Dominique Malonga—one of four players currently averaging a double-double, will step onto the 1 on 1 stage for the first time. Malonga will face last year’s runner-up, Edwards, in the opening round. Edwards enters the matchup fresh off averaging career numbers, with 22.3 points and a league-high 13.6 rebounds.

“It’s a really good opportunity to just go out there and play,” Malonga said. “I’m really competitive; I’ll do my best, but I think it’s just going to be fun to compete one-on-one against other players.”

Kelsey Mitchell, averaging 17.4 points per game for Hive BC, is also looking forward to using her first 1 on 1 outing as a chance to sharpen her skills.

“It’s another opportunity to really see where your game is,” Mitchell said. “I’m going to trust the work I’ve put in, trust the process, and make sure it’s about fun. I think if I keep it about fun, it’ll be fun.”

Tournament Format

Every game prior to the final will be played to either 11 points or 10 minutes, whichever comes first. The final will be a best-of-three series, with each game played to seven points. All games will feature a seven-second shot clock, and the clock will run continuously, ensuring a fast-paced and high-energy environment.

The bracket is divided into four pods, determined by votes from fans, players, coaches and media members. Kelsey Mitchell, Paige Bueckers, Allisha Gray and Breanna Stewart are the top seeds in their respective pods.

Pod A

Rachel Banham - Lunar Owls

Veronica Burton - Mist

Natisha Hiedeman - Hive

Kelsey Mitchell - Hive

Kelsey Plum - Phantom

Courtney Williams - Breeze

Pod B

Paige Bueckers - Breeze

Natasha Cloud - Phantom

Chelsea Gray - Rose

Aziaha James - Development Pool

Kate Martin - Breeze

Arike Ogunbowale - Mist

Brittney Sykes - Laces

Jackie Young - Laces

Pod C

Rae Burrell - Vinyl

Sonia Citron - Hive

Allisha Gray - Mist

Rhyne Howard - Vinyl

Marina Mabrey - Lunar Owls

Saniya Rivers - Vinyl

Pod D

Shakira Austin - Rose

Aliyah Boston - Phantom

Aaliyah Edwards - Lunar Owls

Dearica Hamby - Vinyl

Dominique Malonga - Breeze

Breanna Stewart - Mist

Li Yueru - Mist

Notable Matchups

Several first-round matchups add extra intrigue to this year’s tournament, including battles between teammates and familiar foes.

Paige Bueckers vs. Kate Martin

Breeze BC teammates Paige Bueckers and Kate Martin will face off in their 1 on 1 Tournament debuts. Bueckers currently leads Breeze in scoring with 25 points per game and a league-high 6.7 assists per game. Martin is averaging 6.6 points and 3.6 rebounds. The two have appeared in 10 games together for the Breeze this season.

Brittney Sykes vs. Arike Ogunbowale

Two dynamic guards hitting their strides at the right time meet head-to-head in Sykes vs. Ogunbowale. Bringing their skills to new clubs this season, both are averaging career highs in points. Ogunbowale totaled 29 points with a career-high five 3-pointers off the bench for the Mist in her last outing, as Sykes has become the offensive engine of the Laces. Sykes has recorded four different games with 20+ this season after not tallying any in 2025.

Marina Mabrey vs. Sonia Citron

As Unrivaled’s leading scorer, Mabrey is averaging a dominant 26.8 points per game for Lunar Owls BC. She will face one of the league’s top newcomers and fellow Notre Dame alumna in Citron, who is putting up 16.6 points per game for Hive BC. Although Mabrey boasts the league single-game scoring record on her resume, Citron recently notched a career-high 32 points in the Hive’s 2-point win over the Breeze on Feb. 6. This will be the first 1-on-1 tournament appearance for both players.

Tournament Schedule

The three-day tournament will take place at Sephora Arena with the first round beginning Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. ET on truTV and HBO Max. The second round and quarterfinals will be Friday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. The tournament concludes Saturday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. ET, with the semifinals and finals also broadcast on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max.