Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball

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Athletes Unlimited Basketball
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 Athletes Unlimited Basketball season
SportBasketball
Founded2022
First season2022
CountryUnited States United States
Most recent
champion(s)
NaLyssa Smith
TV partner(s)WNBA League Pass (25 games)
CBS Sports Network (5 games)
Bally Sports
Women's Sports Network[1]
Official websiteAthletes Unlimited

Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball is a women's professional basketball league in the United States, founded in 2022. Athletes Unlimited announced the intention to create a basketball league on October 12, 2021, following the creations of Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball, Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball, and Athletes Unlimited Pro Lacrosse.[2]

League History[edit]

Athletes Unlimited was founded by Jonathan Soros and Jon Patricof.[3] There are no team owners, and league investors are capping their returns. Athletes share in the league profits, and are involved in the daily decision making.[4] [5]

The format in which teams are redrafted each week allows athletes to accumulate points for both individual and team performances, culminating with one individual winner. [6]

The first season of AU Pro Basketball featured 44 players competing in a five-week season from January 26 through February 26, 2022 and took place in Las Vegas.

The second season was played in Dallas, Texas and ran from February 22 to March 26, 2023.[7]

Champions[edit]

Year Champion Points Runner-up Ref
2022 Tianna Hawkins 6,831 Natasha Cloud 5,919
2023 NaLyssa Smith 6,811 Naz Hillmon 6,660

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "WHERE TO WATCH". auprosports.com. AU Pro Sports. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  2. ^ "ATHLETES UNLIMITED TO LAUNCH BASKETBALL LEAGUE IN 2022". auprosports.com. AU Pro Sports. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  3. ^ Latimer, Jolene (September 2, 2020). "The Creation of Athletes Unlimited". auprosports.com. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Thomas, Louisa (June 3, 2021). "What if Pro Sports Leagues Were Controlled by Their Players?". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  5. ^ "NATASHA CLOUD: ATHLETES UNLIMITED ADDS "A LITTLE SPICE" TO BASKETBALL". auprosports.com. AU Pro Sports. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Athletes Unlimited Basketball Tips Off Inaugural Season In Las Vegas". Forbes. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Athletes Unlimited Basketball to feature more WNBA players for 2023 season". onherturf.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.