WHO WILL CAPTURE THE CHAMPIONSHIP?

Postseason basketball is always a treat. After a great regular season, the intensity reaches new heights and we get to see players go deeper into their bag of tricks. To win in the playoffs, it takes special play, teamwork, and a little bit of luck. We’re drawing closer to the playoffs, but before we get there, Unrivaled welcomed one of its young stars back to the court in a special way.

Rickea Jackson returned to the court on February 21. She’s been away from the league for a few weeks for personal reasons following a recent domestic incident in which she was attacked in Florida by her former partner.

While she’s been away, the basketball community has come together to offer support and love for Jackson. When she entered the court, the fans at Sephora Arena gave her a nice standing ovation once she was announced in the starting lineup

Once the game started, Jackson was back in action. The young forward scored 22 points and collected three steals as Breeze BC picked up a critical win against Vinyl.

Following the game, Paige Bueckers showed some love and appreciation to her teammate:

Community matters. Being there for someone and making sure they’re ok matters so much. By doing so, you create a better and safer environment for everyone. It’s wonderful to see Rickea Jackson back, and I hope she continues to receive the love and care from the community.

Breeze’s win helped their playoff chase, but they needed some help to secure their spot in the big dance. They got it when Phantom defeated Hive on February 22. The win secured a first-round bye for the league-leading Phantom and a trip to Barclays Center for the semifinals on March 2.

Phantom has been sensational, featuring two MVP candidates in Kelsey Plum and Aliyah Boston.

Laces had a chance to get one step closer to a bye with a win, but lost a thriller to Chelsea Gray and Rose BC. The win secured Rose’s spot in the first round of the playoffs on February 28.

The Mist and Laces have the same record at 9-4, but due to a +34 advantage in point differential, the Mist have the tiebreaker and can secure a trip to Barclays Center with a win or Laces loss on February 27. The

Unrivaled’s on-court play has been top-notch in 2026. We’ve seen new players step up and make names for themselves. As the postseason approaches, we’ll see who can do a bit more to bring home the championship.

AN INTERNATIONAL ICON

As part of Black History Month, we here at the Women’s Basketball Roundup will spotlight some icons who have made the game what it is today.

Today, we’ll discuss the M’VP as she prepares for a World Tour.

A’ja Wilson is the best basketball player in the world. The four-time MVP and three-time WNBA champion serves as an inspiration to fans and her peers alike. She's turned the Las Vegas Aces from a wandering franchise to one of the gold standards in professional basketball. As her reign continues, her leadership is what draws her teammates to her.

“Her relatability, her being down to earth, makes her a great superstar,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon told the Associated Press. “Her skill set is unmatched, but she’s also the easiest player to coach. To have that mixture of humility, grace, and skill, there’s a reason why she’s doing things that have never been done.”

One of those things is a world tour! Wilson was the first Black woman to have her own signature sneaker line since Candace Parker, and the A’Ones have been a box office sensation. Wilson's international will take her across Europe as she will visit Paris, London, Berlin, and the Netherlands starting in early March. With the second edition of her shoes set to hit the market this spring, this trip is a tremendous opportunity to reach even more fans.

Even as she enters new spaces, Wilson always makes sure to bring people on the journey with her

As A'ja Wilson continues her career, her presence and excellence will set the tone for the rest of women's basketball. Her story is far from over and we can’t wait to see how the rest of it unfolds.

CONSTRUCTION TROUBLE

2026 was supposed to be the beginning of a new era for the Dallas Wings. They have the number one pick in the upcoming Draft and have the chance to pair another great young talent to go with superstar guard Paige Bueckers. However, there’s plenty of uncertainty as to when/if the WNBA season will even take place.

They were supposed to move into a new practice facility this year, but that won't be happening any time soon. We’ve started to learn about the struggles behind getting the facility built, and a heck of a lot is happening all at once.

This week, the Dallas City Council met to discuss the Wings’ facility. They revealed that the cost of building the facility has increased from $54 million all the way up to $81 million. Thanks to the delays and rising costs, the Council is hesitant to provide $58 million in grant funds to cover the rising costs. The city is trying to figure out why there are delays, and we’re starting to figure out why.

Andrew Haubner of No Cap Space reported that in the meeting, Rosa Fleming, the Director of Convention and Event Services, informed the council that the delays were, in part, caused by the facility looking to add new whirlpools and more exercise equipment to be compliant with WNBA league standards. Concerningly, there are issues with the developers, McKissack & McKissack, as they have changed leadership and have had "persistent problems. Whether the team or the developer is most responsible for the delays, the City Council's patience is running thin.

“The Wings have also changed what they've been asking for,” councilman Chad West said, “and our contractor in this case, which is McKissack, has severely sat back on their haunches and missed deadlines on this. So, for those joint reasons, a lot of the costs have escalated and caused this delay and all of the confusion that's come with it.”

The Wings need to figure this situation out. In a hyper-competitive league, they have to make the most out of every opportunity available. By building a world-class practice facility, they will put themselves on the path back to respectability. Anything less is asking for trouble.

At Black Rosie Media, we love to give flowers to other writers and creators in the women’s basketball community.

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