AU Pro Basketball Week 3 Preview: Odyssey Sims Enters Familiar Territory
After a record-setting performance in Week Two, Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball veteran Odyssey Sims was back in a familiar place during Monday’s draft.
Sims, who’s been in the league since its inception in 2022, became the first player in league history to serve as captain at least once in all four seasons when she earned captainship for an AU-record 12th time.
Sims, who comes in with records for games played as a captain (33) and wins by a captain (16) entering Week Three, ranks No. 1 overall with 3,570 leaderboard points this season after registering a league-record 2,503 leaderboard points in Week Two.
Sims, who averages 25.0 points, 6.3 rebounds per game, and 5.8 assists, is halfway to earning her first gold medal at Athletes Unlimited.
Sims, who has never finished lower than sixth, has been a medalist the last two years with a third-place finish in 2023 and a second-place finish last year.
During the 2024 WNBA season, as a member of the Dallas Wings, Sims said being a part of AU Pro Basketball in all three years of the league’s existence helped her rekindle her passion for basketball because it enabled her to play in a league where she could “just play free.”
The idea of being a part of a player-controlled league, where there are different captains every week helped fuel her competitive spirit. She also said her frequent trips to the captain’s chair helped her hone her leadership skills, allowing her to understand and implement gameday strategies while learning how to talk to her teammates.
Former AU Pro Basketball star Kalani Brown was a teammate of Sims in Dallas and said the veteran guard has leadership and success running through her veins.
“She knows what it’s gonna take,” Brown said. “She’s been in those places as far as playoffs go … she brings that vet leadership. I love playing with O because she makes me play harder, she makes me run harder, she makes me want to be up at the point of attack as far as defense goes. So, yeah, just her presence alone (helps) tremendously.”
Joining Sims in the draft were fellow captains Maddy Siegrist, Isabelle Harrison, and Maya Caldwell.
A look into Week Three:
POTENTIAL GAME OF THE WEEK
Team Siegrist vs. Team Harrison (Thursday 5 p.m. CT) – Seeded second and third respectively, Siegrist and Harrison have high-scoring players on their rosters — including themselves — and this Week Three opener could set the tone for both teams. Siegrist has three players on her team averaging at least 19.5 points per contest, including herself with a team-high 24.0 points per game. Harrison, meanwhile, has four players averaging 11.5 points or more per game, led by Lexie Brown and Bria Hartley each with a team-high 15.3 per outing.
STEAL OF THE WEEK
Speaking of Team Harrison, forward Alissa Pili was taken third and could be in a good spot to have her best week. With defenses potentially focusing on Brown, Hartley, and Harrison, it could leave Pili to turn on her offensive charm from either the perimeter or the paint. Pili, who ranks 30th on the leaderboard with 1,125 points, is scoring 11.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. But it’s her 34.3% shooting percentage that is a far cry from what she’s capable of producing. Pili has scored in double digits in four of six games played, and surprisingly, has yet to make more than one 3-pointer in a game. Pili, a career 51.9% gunner in college, hit .426 and .404 from long range in her final two years at the University of Utah. Don’t be surprised to see Pili have her biggest week of the season.
CAPTAIN IZZY
Harrison, also a charter member of AU Pro Basketball, is also familiar with the team leader role, as she earned her eighth trip to the captain’s chair and moves into a tie with former AU guard Natasha Cloud for most weeks as a captain. She can also tie Cloud for games played as a captain (24) at the end of Week Three. If Harrison’s Blue squad wins at least two games this week, she will also pass Cloud for the second-most victories by a captain in league history. Cloud compiled 11 victories over three seasons, while Harrison is 10-11 all-time as a captain.
RING MY BELL
Fan favorite Kierstan Bell made the biggest move in this week’s draft, bumping from 14th overall last week to the fourth overall choice this week by Sims. Bell is sitting 31st overall with 1,083 leaderboard points this season, while she’s averaging 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. It marked the fourth time the two-time WNBA champion’s AU was taken in the first round of a draft.
QUARTER QUEEN
Brown, the Player Executive Committee chair, became the first player in AU history to earn 100 career quarter-wins after taking 3-of-4 frames in Saturday’s win over Team Nurse. The charter member now owns 101 career quarter-victories in four seasons with AU Pro Basketball. Brown is currently seventh on the overall leaderboard with 2,453 points.
W.G. Ramirez is a 38-year veteran sports reporter in Southern Nevada, serving as a correspondent for Athletes Unlimited. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez
Related Articles
