AU Pro Basketball: Athletes Begin Title Chase with Different Ambitions
The wait is finally over! Season four of Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball tips off this week in Nashville, Tennessee, bringing four weeks of elite competition as 40 world-class athletes battle for the ultimate prize: the championship. With women’s basketball taking center stage in the sports world, the athletes of AU Pro Basketball are ready to seize the spotlight, delivering elite competition, nonstop action, and unforgettable moments.
Like all Athletes Unlimited leagues, AU Pro Basketball’s unique scoring system raises the stakes, making every play and performance — even every misstep — matter. This high-intensity format creates an environment where players, regardless of where they are in this stage of their career, have the opportunity to shine and succeed. With the 2025 season on the horizon, Athletes Unlimited provides a valuable platform for athletes on this year’s deep roster to maximize their offseason development and elevate their game.
What sets AU apart is the flexibility it offers each athlete to make the league their own. For some, it’s a platform for growth and development, while for others, it’s an opportunity to prove they can compete at the highest level.
Making A Return to the Court
This season’s roster features several standout athletes looking to make a strong return after suffering injuries. Among them is Elizabeth Williams, a 10-year WNBA veteran currently with the Chicago Sky. Williams’ 2024 WNBA campaign was cut short in June due to a season-ending torn meniscus but now she’s back and ready to compete. The 6-3 center averaged 14 minutes per game and shot 58% from the field during the AU preseason scrimmages. Known for her defensive dominance and shot-blocking ability, her return to the court will give fans a firsthand look at her recovery and progression post-injury.
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Emerging Talent Showcase
Unlike their male counterparts, WNBA players don’t have a dedicated developmental league or “G League” to refine their skills. In many ways, Athletes Unlimited fills that gap, providing a platform for young talent to sharpen their game and elevate their basketball IQ. With AU’s elite competition and unique individual scoring system, emerging players get the chance to perfect their craft while learning from seasoned veterans. One such rising star is Alissa Pili.
Selected eighth overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx, Pili made an early statement with a breakout 20-point performance, shooting flawlessly from deep against the Phoenix Mercury. Even more fitting, she achieved this rare rookie feat during the Lynx’s “Native American Heritage Night,” a meaningful moment given her Samoan and Inupiaq heritage. A former Pac-12 Player of the Year, Pili’s rookie season saw limited minutes, averaging 6.3 per game along with 2.4 points and 1.2 rebounds.
Now, AU gives her the opportunity to take her game to the next level. On an episode of “Live With Lex,” Pili shared that beyond developing her skills, this experience is also helping her grow as a leader.
“Something I need to work on is my leadership. Like, once I got to college as a freshman, it was something I needed to work on. But then I grew, I found my voice and I found my role in being a leader. You come to the WNBA and you’re a rookie. You kind of have to start over and find that again. … I think [AU] being player-led will help me out with stuff like that,” Pili said.
Home For Champions
What makes this league even more captivating is the incredible depth of talent on its roster. This season, AU Pro Basketball raises the bar with the addition of three-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark. A Mount Juliet, Tennessee native and Middle Tennessee alum and Hall of Famer, Clark joins a growing list of WNBA champions in the league, including Lexie Brown, Jaylyn Sherrod, Sydney Colson, and Kiersten Bell. From MVPs to champions to Olympians, the competition is fierce. In AU, iron sharpens iron — and in Nashville this season, that iron is razor-sharp.
A Place To Make A Name
This league doesn’t just draw viewers from across the country, it also captures the attention of coaches and league executives searching for the next breakout star or an overlooked talent deserving of a bigger stage. Over the past three seasons, AU has been a valuable catalyst for players looking to earn a place in the WNBA or make their way back.
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Making her AU Pro Basketball debut this season is Dyaisha Fair. The Syracuse standout has a prime opportunity to put her talent on full display. Fair, the third-leading scorer in NCAA Division I history, was selected 16th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Las Vegas Aces. Though she initially signed a rookie contract with the Aces, she was waived on May 26 before heading overseas to play in Saudi Arabia and Israel. Now, AU Pro Basketball gives her another shot to prove she belongs at the highest level, offering her a chance to showcase her skills on U.S. soil during the WNBA’s offseason.
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Whatever the goal and no matter the purpose, AU offers players a stage to show off their talents and delivers fans the excitement of high-energy, entertaining basketball. Get ready — the 2025 season is set to be an unforgettable ride.
The fourth season of AU Pro Basketball begins on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT on ESPN+ as Team Bell faces Team Westbrook. Tickets are on sale now.
Terrika Foster-Brasby is a women’s basketball analyst and former DII athlete, serving as a digital reporter for AU Pro Basketball. You can follow her on Instagram @sheknowssports_ & Twitter @sheknowssports.
