Aaliyah Edwards' stellar performance shines a light on the Lunar Owls' challenging reality this season. The Lunar Owls' second season has kicked off with a rough start, and it's clear they face an uphill battle. First, they lost Napheesa Collier to surgery on both ankles, sidelining her for four to six months. Then, they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Chelsea Gray and Rose BC.
Gray's impressive 35-point performance led Rose BC to an 80-60 victory over the Lunar Owls. Despite the loss, Aaliyah Edwards stood out as a beacon of hope, showcasing a scoring masterclass with an efficient 23 points and 12 rebounds against a formidable Rose big rotation, including Azura Stevens and Shakira Austin. Marina Mabrey also contributed over 20 points, though her shooting efficiency was less impressive, going 8-25 from the field and 1-12 from beyond the arc.
Edwards was the Lunar Owls' primary offensive weapon, delivering a consistent scoring threat. But here's where it gets controversial... Despite her exceptional play, the Lunar Owls lost by a significant 20-point margin. The outcome might have been different with Skylar Diggins in the lineup, but the substantial loss, even with Edwards' strong performance, hints at a deeper issue: the Lunar Owls don't seem poised to contend this season. They could face even greater offensive struggles if Edwards were to miss any time due to a late-game fall in the third quarter.
Can the Lunar Owls turn things around?
While one game isn't enough to write off the Lunar Owls entirely, it's reasonable to assume they won't be serious contenders this season, even with Skylar Diggins' potential return.
Replacing Napheesa Collier with Temi Fagbenle isn't sufficient to compensate for the absence of last season's MVP. Fagbenle is a solid starting-level center, but she doesn't possess Collier's versatile, MVP-caliber skillset. This puts considerable pressure on Edwards, Mabrey, and Diggins to perform, especially if Fagbenle, Rachel Banham, and Rebecca Allen continue to struggle offensively. Fagbenle took only one shot in over nine minutes of playing time, and the other two combined for just four made field goals.
If the Lunar Owls hope to achieve any success this season, they'll need other players to score efficiently alongside Aaliyah Edwards. Mabrey and Diggins have the potential to contribute, but given the talent on other teams and the loss of their most important player, the Lunar Owls' prospects for a competitive season appear dim.
And this is the part most people miss... To add insult to injury, Allisha Gray, whom the Lunar Owls didn't protect in the draft, had a strong debut for Mist BC, scoring 21 points and fueling a high-scoring offense that positions the Mist as a serious contender early in the season.
The Lunar Owls' next challenge comes against the Phantom on Saturday.
What do you think? Do you believe the Lunar Owls can overcome these early setbacks, or are they destined for a challenging season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
