Mad Swish: Finals Recap 2026

It took an entire month to settle our championship matchup, as the FIBA World Cup bisected our two week Finals matchup between TeamBucketsJP and Kitron Needs 3PT Support. Our top two regular season teams faced a real marathon of a Finals, with Games Played featuring 62 for TeamBuckets and 57 for KitronNeeds3s. Whew, how do you even plan for that kind of action?

At the end of the first week, the score was still very close, as KitronNeeds3s held a 608-558 advantage from August 24-Aug 30. That meant once we returned to action in mid-September, there would be an eight day sprint to determine the Mad Swish title!

Both JP and James jostled back and forth that final week, working the waiver wire, trying to pick up a few extra Games Played, and immortalizing one-game wonders the likes Mackenzie Holmes, Shay Ciezki, Madina Okot, Jordan Horston, and Han Xu as the two GMs maneuvered to get every advantage they could.

At the end of the day though, it would be the stars that mattered. I’m gonna step aside and let AI take over the game stats analysis, but suffice to say, the matchup ended up 1470-1428, as last year’s runner-up, TeamBucketsJP, rose up and claimed their championship, the second in Mad Swish history! Note: We reached out to Justin for comment or celebration, but he has said nothing so far. Stay silent, earn a ring, that must be his franchise’s attitude! And with two Finals in the bag and one title, who can say it doesn’t work? Congrats to TeamBucketsJP on a stellar 2026 season!

Championship Recap: All Buckets, No Regrets

The matchup Mad Swish spent all season building toward delivered. #1 TeamBucketsJP defeated #2 Kitron Needs 3PT Support, 1470–1428, giving Justin the championship one year after finishing runner-up. It was also sweet revenge: James had crushed Justin 836–663 in Week 7, TeamBuckets’ worst loss of the season.

Justin’s championship was powered by his big three. Shakira Austin was the Finals MVP, leading everyone with 244 fantasy points, including 118 points, 64 rebounds, 11 steals and three double-doubles. Caitlin Clark, finally healthy when Justin needed her most, scored 226 in only five games, with 43 assists, 14 threes and 10 steals. Rhyne Howard added 224, including 16 threes and 13 steals. Together they produced 694 points.

James’s stars were nearly as devastating. A’ja Wilson scored 234, while Kiki Iriafen erupted for 223 with 77 rebounds and six double-doubles. Kiki Rice (207), Sonia Citron (193) and Natasha Howard (174) gave Kitron a ridiculous five-player core.

But this Finals was also won around the edges. Megan DiLeo contributed 115 for Justin, while Kiah Stokes and Makayla Timpson added 93 apiece. Short-term reinforcements mattered too: Janelle Salaün (65), Laeticia Amihere (64), Charlisse Leger-Walker (63) and Azura Stevens (58) each appeared only three times. Elizabeth Williams even squeezed 26 points from one game. James countered with Cecilia Zandalasini (79), Ezi Magbegor (38 in two games), Aziaha James (37) and Jordan Harrison (30).

Fittingly, TeamBuckets won threes 60–38 against the team literally named Needs 3PT Support, while surprisingly beating defensive-stat monster Kitron in both steals (69–54) and blocks (42–35).
James made one last charge, outscoring Justin 212–111 on the final day, erasing 101 points of a 143-point deficit.

But 42 remained.

After falling one win short last year, TeamBucketsJP is finally the Mad Swish champion. 🏆