Basketball: History of Champions & Medalists

2024 | Season 1

Champion: Allisha Gray

Allisha Gray finished the season with 6,918 leaderboard points, becoming the 2024 Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball Champion. Her margin for first place is the largest any Basketball champion has claimed the title by, 872 points ahead of the Odyssey Sims in second place.

She also inked it in the AU record books. Gray set a new league record for leaderboard points and scoring average in a single season. She surpassed 2022 Champion Tianna Hawkins’ 6,831 point total and eclipsed Sims’ average of 26.1 points per game from 2023. She paced the league in total points scored (349) and free throws (92), and tied for the league lead in 3-pointers (35) with Kierstan Bell.

Gray put up stellar performances night after night, garnering votes for MVP in 15 of her last 16 contests. Gray collected a league-high 11 Game MVP nods this season, tying Hawkins for the single-season standard set during her 2022 title-winning season. This is the second time in league history a player has won 10 or more Game MVP awards in a single season.

Gray posted 20 or more points in 11 outings this season and a league-best eight games with 25 or more points.

2nd-place medalist: Odyssey Sims

Odyssey Sims (6,046 leaderboard points) showcased her ability to get a bucket while serving as a floor general, point guard, and captain. It’s clear through Sims becoming the first player to record two triple-doubles in an AU season. She joined Natasha Cloud as the only two players to garner one in league history.

She also led the league in assists (117) and ranked third in steals (23).

Sims is now the first athlete in AU Pro Basketball to serve as a captain every week during consecutive seasons and joins lacrosse attacker Sam Apuzzo as the only player in any AU sport to accomplish the feat.

3rd-Place medalist: Kierstan Bell

All Kierstan Bell (5,689 leaderboard points) did in 2024 was win, win, win. She came out on top in 26 quarters and 9 games finishing as the second-most point earner in the win category. She closed the season a perfect 3-0 week leading her team as a captain.

Her stroke all year was true; Bell shot 48.9% from the floor and 38% from three.

4th-place Medalist: Natasha Cloud

Guard Natasha Cloud (5,602 leaderboard points) finished the season as the third-winningest player in 2024, winning 28 quarters and an 8-4 record. She finished the year with 17 straight double-digit scoring efforts and was second in assists this season with 113.

This is Cloud’s second medal-earning season, she finished 2nd overall on the leaderboard in 2022.

Defensive Player of the Year

• Emily Engstler

Newcomer of the Year

• Tiffany Mitchell

All-Defensive Team

• Laeticia Amihere
• Natasha Cloud
• Sydney Colson
• Emily Engstler
• Lexie Hull

2023 | Season 2

Champion: NaLyssa Smith

NaLyssa Smith finished her season attaining the status she chased all season: golden.

Smith entered AU Hoops as one of the most anticipated athletes of the season. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA draft concluded her rookie year with a record-setting performance, posting 50 points in a single game, and the 2023 Athletes Unlimited Basketball Championship.

In Smith’s dominance in the league, she broke the record for the most rebounds in a season with 184 in 2023 — 54 from offensive rebounds and 130 defensive rebounds. She also broke the record for double-doubles in a season (12) and most leaderboard points in a single game (863). She ranked second in free throws made (86) and points scored (363), and finished with 6,811 points on the leaderboard.

2nd Place Medalist: Naz Hillmon

In the final week of competition, Naz Hillmon accomplished one of the toughest feats at AU, going 3-0. She picked up eight quarter wins, including three in her final game of the season. She concluded the season with an 8-4 record in the captain’s chair.

Her season was marked by her impressive ability to lead teams as one of the youngest athletes and despite the league’s fast pace. She totaled 6,660 leaderboard points and dominated two of the point system categories.

She was the winningest captain and medalist of the year with 3,300 win points acquired from quarters (33) and games (11). Hillmon also led the league in MVP points with 540 MVP points — she was voted the honors nine times.

Hillmon shot an efficient 49.5% from the field, ranked second in rebounds (153), posted 269 points and 11 double-doubles.

3rd Place Medalist: Odyssey Sims

Odyssey Sims finished her season in the No. 3 spot. She totaled 6,383 points and led the league in assists (106), minutes player (560), points scored (392), free throws made (89). She became the first player in Athletes Unlimited Basketball history to score 700 career points.

Sims was the first Athletes Unlimited Basketball player to serve as a captain in all five weeks during a season and finished with a (8-7) record leading her teams.

She produced double figures in 28-of-30 career Athletes Unlimited appearances, including every game this season except the final game of the season.

4th Place Medalist: Allisha Gray

In Allisha Gray’s last game of the season on Team Hillmon, she moved up two spots to earn the medal.

Gray was the confidant and first pick at the draft for Atlanta Dream teammate Naz Hillmon all season. The pair spent four weeks together on the same team. Gray logged 5,748 total points on the leaderboard. She had an impressive 46.3 field goal percentage and shot 91.8% from the free throw line on 73 trips to the stripe.

Defensive Player of the Year

• Lexie Hull

All-Defensive Team

• Jordin Canada
• Natasha Cloud
• Allisha Gray
• Lexie Hull
• Ty Young

Teammate of the Year

• CC Andrews

2022 | Season 1

Champion: Tianna Hawkins

After rising to No. 1 overall on the leaderboard in Week 3, Tianna Hawkins never relinquished that spot. Hawkins finished the season with 6,836 points, becoming the inaugural Hoops Champion.

She led the league in rebounds (166), ranked second in points scored (357), and owns single-game records for points (43), leaderboard points (790), and field goals (19).

She also recorded a league-high 11 double-doubles.

The three-time captain of the gold squad led her teams to a 7-2 record. She led the league in stat points (3,336) and MVP points (750), earning MVP 1 honors six times, MVP 2 honors twice, and MVP 3 honors three times.

2nd Place Medalist: Natasha Cloud

Natasha Cloud finished the season ranked No. 2 on the leaderboard with 5,919 points overall – 917 points behind Tianna Hawkins.

Cloud, who was an advocate for the addition of a women’s professional basketball league in Athletes Unlimited, recorded league single-game records in 3-pointers (6), free throws (16), and assists (15). She also holds the league record in assists (133) and registered the first-ever triple-double in league history ​​with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists on Feb. 12. It was also the first triple-double of Cloud’s career.

3rd Place Medalist & Defensive Player of the Year: Isabelle Harrison

Securing the No. 3 spot with 5,373 points is Isabelle Harrison. She was a four-time captain, joining Natasha Cloud as the only players this season to be a captain during four of the five weeks, and netted 275 points and 45 assists throughout the five weeks.

Harrison was also selected as the Defensive Player of the Year by the players, facilitators, and members of the Unlimited Club. Harrison finished the season with 109 rebounds, 31 steals and 11 blocks. She received a medal and a $5,000 bonus.

4th Place Medalist: Lexie Brown

Lexie Brown rounded out the top four on the leaderboard with 5,317 points. Brown recorded 210 points, 70 assists, and 63 rebounds. She ranked second in steals, grabbing 38 from her opponents.

Brown, Isabelle Harrison, and Natasha Cloud are the only three players to remain in the top five spots of the leaderboard since the season began.

All-Defensive Team

• Isabelle Harrison
• Lexie Brown
• Nikki Greene
• Lauren Manis
• DiJonai Carrington

Sportsmanship Award

The Sportsmanship Award is awarded to an individual player who exemplifies the attributes of good character, integrity, and sportsmanship. The 2022 recipient of the award was CC Andrews.

Learn More about Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball.

Editor’s Note: This article was updated on March 23, 2024, to reflect the 2024 Champions and Medalists.