Basketball Season 4: Movers of Week 1

Week One is always interesting because all players begin with a clean slate, each starting at zero points on the leaderboard. This means the point disparities between players are still relatively small, but Week One provides valuable insight into who other athletes should keep an eye on as they all work their way up the leaderboard.

It’s also worth noting that the majority of the top positions on the leaderboard are currently occupied by players from the most successful team: Team Westbrook. The Orange team looked nearly unstoppable for most of the week, only suffering a loss to Team Harrison (Gold Team) in the final game. Westbrook’s 2-1 record was impressive while it lasted, and it’s likely that most of Week Two’s captains will emerge from this group. However, Maddy Siegrist, not a member of the Orange squad, snuck into the top four, making her mark as a solo captain.

Here’s how each team shook out the win points:

• Team Westbrook: 2-1, won 9 quarters (900 Win Points)
• Team Harrison: 2-1, won 5 quarters (660 Win Points)
• Team Bell: 1-2, won 5 quarters (480 Win Points)
• Team Colson: 1-2, won 5 quarters sets (480 Win Points)

Sitting at the top: Crystal Bradford

Guard Crystal Bradford leads the standings after Week One with 1,525 points. Playing for the dominant Orange squad contributed 900 of those points from wins, but Bradford also racked up an impressive 300 points for 2-pointers made and 130 for assists. Bradford has scored in double figures in six of her last seven AU Pro Basketball games, including all three this season. It also marks the sixth time in her career that she’s surpassed 20 points in a game.

Coming in Hot: Maddy Siegrist

Maddy Siegrist made an impressive jump, moving up six spots to claim the No. 2 position on the leaderboard. She earned 523 points after leading Team Harrison to victory, recording 16 points and eight rebounds, and earning MVP honors. Siegrist has now scored in double figures in 15 consecutive games dating back to last season, solidifying her reputation as one of the league’s top players and now a first-time captain.

Making a Splash: Kia Nurse

Kia Nurse has made a grand entrance into AU this season. She’s scored 15 or more points in each of her first three appearances, and she’s already elevated herself to the role of Blue team captain for Week Two. Despite the loss in this week’s finale, Nurse stood out with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. Averaging 26 points per game and ranking fourth in stat points with 440, Nurse has shown off her impressive midrange shooting ability.

Players to watch: Odyssey Sims

Odyssey Sims made history in Week One by becoming the first player in Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball history to score 1,000 career points. She was instrumental in helping Team Bell end their losing streak, delivering her 20th career 25-point game with a 27-point performance earlier in the week. Sims cracked the top three in stat points with 497, though her lack of win points prevented her from reaching a captain’s spot. As the season progresses, Sims is sure to remain a force to be reckoned with, and she’s one to watch closely in Week 2 as she moves up the leaderboard.

Week Tw0 Schedule

The competition for Week Two starts on Wednesday, Feb. 12 with two games on ESPN+. Team Nurse will take on Team Siegrist at 11:30 a.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. CT followed by Team Bradford vs. Team Harris 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT.