The Captain's Journal: Lexie Brown

When she’s done being a pro athlete herself, Lexie Brown wants to be a pro sports general manager one day.

It’s been a long time dream of hers and everything about her experience as an Athletes Unlimited captain has solidified that. Rising to No. 2 on the leaderboard after Week 1, she’s hung out in that spot and established a few things: she and Taj Cole are one of the core Athletes Unlimited Hoops dynamic duos and she can put together a team.

She remains in orange for Week 3 (she’s yet to wear any other color) after going 3-0. We meet our captain at the draft.

Draft Day

It must be maddening to start all over after assembling the “perfect” team that played together less than 24 hours ago. But Brown sits in the captain’s chair at the Week 3 draft, ready to try and do it again.

“The biggest thing for me in the draft is like understanding how I want to play and knowing that there’s multiple players here that can play the way that I want to play,” Brown said. “I think the biggest thing I took away from last week is how important it is to have a high character group.  Willing to talk to each other, help each other, stick together when things get tough.”

Brown had the third pick of the draft and there was little doubt about who she was going with. For the second week in a row, she secured Taj Cole on her team first and built her squad from there.

https://t.co/Yp37FTv2lK pic.twitter.com/8uG3DQEZ6A

— Lexie Brown (@Lexiebrown) February 6, 2022

Cole wasn’t the only repeat pick. Team Brown returned Cole, Becca Wann-Taylor and center Imani McGee-Stafford from Week 2.

“Essence was so amazing for me last week, which I was sick when Natasha picked her,” Brown said. “I knew she was gonna steal somebody from me, but I got my girl Lo [Lauren Manis] back.”

For Brown, there are traits that are a must for her in who she picks.

1. Defense
2. Outside shooting

Game Day: Wednesday

The defense proved to be there in many ways for Team Brown in their first game of the week.

They authored an Athletes Unlimited Basketball season high 16 steals versus Team Cloud on Wednesday night. The offense came out firing as well; they sprinted to an early lead putting up 30 points in the first quarter and hitting hitting 12-of-19 shots from the floor. Team

But Team Cloud was looking for vengeance after finishing out Week 2 falling to Team Brown. Momentum shifted in the third quarter. Team Cloud’s defense dominated, Brown’s offense struggled to hit shots, especially in the last four minutes of the game as things closed in. Team Brown fell 85-80 which their captain largely takes responsibility for.

“I held myself accountable for that loss – you know, not having everybody comfortable in the offense, but it was something that I wanted to try out, try some new plays.”

Thursday Practice: Scrap it and start over

Admit when you’re wrong and start over? Not easy to do.

At practice on Thursday, Team Brown worked to put in a new offense and looked like they were having a blast while doing it.

They cheered each other on while they worked on installing the sets, yelling out for teammates as if they score the game-winning shot when really they were shooting unguarded at about 70% speed. You could hear “one down” or “orange cut” echoed by 11 voices. It was hard not to smile while watching them work.

When asked to explain this group she’s assembled, Brown talked affectionately.

“We have a lot of heart, we have a lot of energy. They’re quick learners. Today I trashed our entire offensive package that we used and they picked up this new group of offenses so much easier, I think. I think it’s allowed them to be more free in the offense. And I think they had a lot more fun with it today. So I’m really excited to see us put it together tomorrow.”