Kalani Brown

AU Pro Basketball Adds 15 World-Class Athletes to Round Out 2024 Roster

© Athletes Unlimited, LLC 2024 / Credit: Jade Hewitt Media
Athletes Unlimited
Jan 30, 2024
  • New Signees Include AU Newcomers Haley Jones, Rae Burrell and Emily Engstler, Plus Returning Athletes Natasha Cloud, Kalani Brown, Isabelle Harrison, Lexie Hull, and Theresa Plaisance
  • Final 40-Player Roster Features Olympians, WNBA All-Stars & WNBA Champions; Third Season of AU Pro Basketball begins Feb. 29 in Dallas, Texas

Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball today added 15 world-class competitors to complete the roster that will take the court in Dallas for its third season, beginning Feb. 29 at Fair Park Coliseum. The complete 2024 AU Pro Basketball roster will feature 18 players who finished the 2023 WNBA season on a roster, along with 11 additional athletes with WNBA experience. 

Young WNBA standouts Haley Jones (Atlanta Dream), Rae Burrell (Los Angeles Sparks) and Emily Engstler (Minnesota Lynx) are among the new signees making their AU Pro Basketball debut, while veterans Natasha Cloud (Washington Mystics), Kalani Brown (Dallas Wings), Isabelle Harrison, Lexie Hull (Indiana Fever) and Theresa Plaisance will return. 

They will join previously announced standouts including Olympians, WNBA Champions and All-Stars, such as Olympic gold medalist Angel McCoughtry; Sydney Colson and Kierstan Bell, members of the 2023 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces; former South Carolina standouts Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream), Tiffany Mitchell (Minnesota Lynx), Zia Cooke (Los Angeles Sparks) and Laeticia Amihere (Atlanta Dream); Lexie Brown (Los Angeles Sparks); Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever); and Odyssey Sims (Dallas Wings). 

In addition, three-time Olympic gold medalist, eight-time WNBA All-Star and 2011 WNBA Finals MVP Seimone Augustus will return to AU Pro Basketball as a facilitator this season, along with former WNBA champion Briann January (currently an assistant coach for the Connecticut Sun), Karima Christmas-Kelly (currently an assistant coach for the Indiana Fever) and former WNBA player and coach Chasity Melvin. Danielle Viglione (currently an assistant coach with the LA Sparks) will serve as Player Development Coordinator. 

With a four-week competition promoting playoff-level intensity in every game, AU Pro Basketball features world-class talent competing to be crowned individual champion.  The full roster can be found here. Tickets are now available at www.auprosports.com. National broadcast and streaming details will be announced at a later date. 

AU Pro Basketball is part of Athletes Unlimited, which was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in 2023 and features an Advisory Board comprised of an illustrious group of high-profile contributors from the worlds of sports, business and entertainment including basketball legend Sheryl Swoopes, two-time NBA champion and entrepreneur Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman of 35 Ventures; U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team superstar Abby Wambach, among many others.

Like its other leagues, AU Pro Basketball features a range of scoring innovations to bring athletes and fans a unique and intense version of the sport. Individual athletes earn points based on both team wins and individual performance and become the champions in team sports. Points are earned on every play and the leaderboard will change constantly. In addition, teams change each week, with the top four athletes in the standings serving as captains and drafting their teams. At the end of the four-week season, the player with the most points is crowned as individual champion. 

Partners for the 2024 AU Pro Basketball season include Air Force, Air National Guard, Baden, EY, Gatorade, Madam Paleta, Nike, SuperQuickQuestion and syd.

“Entering our third season and my first with AU Pro Basketball, I’m excited about the roster we’ve assembled and the caliber of talent that AU Pro Basketball will display in north Texas–one of the most vibrant women’s basketball communities in the world,” said Megan Perry, Director of Basketball for Athletes Unlimited. “We have a full roster that includes Olympic Gold Medalists, WNBA All Stars, and WNBA Champions both on the floor and on the sidelines. Overall, this is our youngest roster to date while also featuring 25 athletes returning to AU Pro Basketball, reflecting our success in attracting and retaining top talent.”