Current season, competition or edition: 2023 Athletes Unlimited Basketball season | |
 | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2022 |
| Inaugural season | 2022 |
| Country |  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 website | Athletes Unlimited |
Athletes Unlimited 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 Softball, Athletes Unlimited Volleyball, and Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse.[2]
League History
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 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
| 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
References
- ↑ "WHERE TO WATCH". auprosports.com. AU Pro Sports. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ↑ "ATHLETES UNLIMITED TO LAUNCH BASKETBALL LEAGUE IN 2022". auprosports.com. AU Pro Sports. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ Latimer, Jolene (September 2, 2020). "The Creation of Athletes Unlimited". auprosports.com. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ↑ Thomas, Louisa (June 3, 2021). "What if Pro Sports Leagues Were Controlled by Their Players?". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ↑ "NATASHA CLOUD: ATHLETES UNLIMITED ADDS "A LITTLE SPICE" TO BASKETBALL". auprosports.com. AU Pro Sports. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ "Athletes Unlimited Basketball Tips Off Inaugural Season In Las Vegas". Forbes. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ↑ "Athletes Unlimited Basketball to feature more WNBA players for 2023 season". onherturf.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.