A new league is coming to Nashville. Athletes Unlimited (AU) held a press breakfast, a Happy Hour Tour, and a basketball clinic for young girls this past weekend, announcing their presence in the city. Meghan Perry, head of AU Pro Basketball, along with AU Pro Basketball players Lexie Brown, Sydney Colson, and Theresa Plaisance, were on hand as Nashville officially welcomed Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball to the city with a formal resolution.
Athletes Unlimited will be at the Municipal Auditorium from February 5 to March 2, featuring former and current WNBA players, as well as current and former players who have played overseas. However, that’s where the similarities with the WNBA end. Athletes Unlimited and Las Vegas Aces guard Sydney Colson gave everyone a glimpse into how things work.
“The whole model for AU across their sports allows fans to be super-engaged during the games. You have the leaderboard up behind us while we’re playing. What we essentially have is a draft every week that changes. Your team changes based on how you are doing on the leaderboard, and your position on the leaderboard fluctuates based on positive statistics like points, steals, and assists, as well as negative statistics like fouls and turnovers. Fans are literally watching your points fluctuate during the game.”
Another difference Colson pointed out is how the games are structured quarter by quarter:
“We also have it where each quarter, you’re playing for game points. In any other league, a team could be blowing out another, and reserves come in, making those minutes less significant. In AU, you have to play every quarter to earn points, so there are no garbage minutes. There’s more incentive to stay locked in for the entire game so fans know they’ll still see teams competing.”
This unique brand of basketball sounds like a lot to keep up with, especially for those on the court, as Theresa Plaisance explains:
“We have games within the game. Your strategy may not only depend on whether we’re going to win the game but also if we’re going to win the quarter. When your team wins a quarter, everyone on the team earns 25 points. Even if you don’t play a single minute, you can still be in the positive if your team is doing well. It provides incentives for everyone from one to ten on that team to contribute in some form. Additionally, the top four players on the leaderboard become team captains and get to choose their teammates for the week.”
Along with the leaderboard, there’s another major difference, as Los Angeles Sparks guard Lexie Brown explained regarding team management:
“With the captains, there are no coaches. So we get to do exactly what we want to do as players, something we don’t have the freedom to do in other leagues.”
While it may seem complex, especially for the players and fans, Sydney Colson assures that it’s still just basketball at its core.
“For us, the goal is to encourage good basketball. And with our model, that’s exactly what it promotes.”
Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball, though similar, brings a fresh approach that aligns perfectly with Nashville’s growing sports culture. Given Tennessee’s strong connection to women’s basketball, this league presents an ideal opportunity to establish Nashville as a central hub for women’s basketball in the state.
