The stakes are high! Will anyone be able to stop Paige Bueckers from dominating Unrivaled's inaugural Free Throw Challenge and snatching the massive $50,000 prize? Let's dive in and see who's in the running!
The challenge requires players to not only achieve the highest free throw percentage but also participate in at least three of their team's first five games, attempting a minimum of six free throws. With the clock ticking down to the January 19th deadline, the competition is heating up.
The Frontrunners: Still Perfect
Paige Bueckers (Breeze): Leading the pack, Paige has a perfect record of 8-for-8 from the line. What sets her apart is the volume of her attempts, ranking fourth overall. Considering her knack for drawing fouls, she's in a prime position to maintain her lead. During the 2025 WNBA season, she showcased her skills with an impressive 88.8% free throw accuracy, missing fewer than 20 of her 152 attempts.
Veronica Burton (Mist), Dominique Malonga (Breeze), Azurá Stevens (Rose): These players are all currently at 5-for-5, but they need to reach the six-attempt threshold to qualify. With their starting roles and average playing time exceeding 12 minutes per game, they have a solid chance to increase their free throw attempts. Among them, Stevens stands out as the one most likely to get fouled and head to the line. She's also proven herself in Unrivaled competitions, reaching the semifinals of last season's 1-on-1 Tournament. Burton had the best percentage of the three during the 2025 WNBA season with 87.8% from the line. Her 189 attempts were also the ninth-most in the W last season, an indication that she could quickly collect more trips to the line.
High-Volume, High-Percentage Contenders
Marina Mabrey (Lunar Owls): Marina is a strong contender, currently 8-for-9 from the line, ranking third in Unrivaled with 9 free throw attempts. If Paige falters, Marina is ready to capitalize. In the 2025 WNBA season, she shot an impressive 87% from the free throw line.
Breanna Stewart (Mist): With 7 free throw attempts, Breanna's rate aligns with her foul-drawing tendencies. However, her free throw percentage in the WNBA was 83.7%, and she hasn't exceeded 85.1% in her career, outside of the 89.4% she shot in the 2020 Wubble.
Chelsea Gray (Rose), Jackie Young (Laces): Could Chelsea Gray win it all? She has the potential to dominate the free throw line. With her 88.5% free throw percentage in the 2025 WNBA season and multiple seasons exceeding 91%, she's a serious threat. She is currently 5-for-6, as is Jackie Young, who shot almost 90% during the 2025 WNBA season and an even better 94.5% during the Aces’ playoff run.
But here's where it gets controversial...
Two more players, Sonia Citron and Monique Billings, are also at 5-for-6. However, they might not get enough attempts to climb the leaderboard. Billings' high-activity style could lead to fouls, but her free throw history is not as strong, shooting below 70% last WNBA season.
A Dangerous Dark Horse
- Kelsey Plum: Despite only attempting one free throw and making it, Kelsey has the potential to shake things up. In the 2025 WNBA season, she averaged 5.7 free throws per game and shot at 89.3%. If she can get to the line frequently, she could challenge for the crown.
So, who do you think will be crowned the free throw queen? Will Paige maintain her perfect streak, or will Marina or Chelsea steal the show? Share your predictions and thoughts – I'm eager to hear them! What do you think about the potential of Plum? Is it fair to consider players with so few attempts at this point? Let's discuss!
