Get to know Athletes Unlimited, the other WNBA offseason alternative

Unrivaled, a new professional 3×3 basketball league co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, is creating a buzz during the WNBA offseason. The league will feature 30 WNBA players split into six teams and will host games in Miami for 8 weeks starting in January. With its innovative pay structure, TNT media deal, and star-studded player lineup, Unrivaled has been garnering attention in recent weeks.

While Unrivaled is making waves, it’s not the only US-based basketball league available to WNBA players during the offseason. Athletes Unlimited, which has been providing players with an offseason alternative since 2021, includes standout players like Allisha Gray, Kelsey Mitchell, Natasha Cloud, and Lexie Hull. This season, 40 women’s basketball players will participate in the 5-on-5 league, some of whom come from the WNBA.

In the 2024 season, 29 out of 40 players in Athletes Unlimited had WNBA experience, showcasing the league’s goal of offering opportunities to WNBA players while also allowing non-league pros to compete. Athletes Unlimited has previously held seasons in Las Vegas and Dallas, with this season’s games scheduled to take place in Nashville from February 5th to March 2nd. Players in AU Pro Basketball earn a minimum of $20,000 for the season, which can increase to $50,000 with bonuses, although the figures are not as high as Unrivaled or overseas leagues.

How Athletes Unlimited Operates

One of the unique features of Athletes Unlimited is its running leaderboard that tracks individual player points. Points are earned for wins, positive plays, and MVP votes, while deducting points for negative plays like missed shots, turnovers, and fouls.

Assists, steals, blocks, rebounds, and points all contribute to an individual’s total points, with the top four players each week becoming captains and drafting teams for the following week. The player with the most points at the end of the month is named the individual champion.

Six Confirmed Athletes in the League

Among the 40 players expected to participate in Athletes Unlimited, six names have been confirmed: Lexie Brown, Sydney Colson, Alissa Pili, Dorie Harrison, Isabelle Harrison, and Jordan Horston.

While these six athletes have been announced, more players are anticipated to join Athletes Unlimited in the upcoming weeks, expanding the roster of committed players.