Breaking Down the Impact of AU Athletes on NCAA Sweet 16-Bound Programs
As the NCAA Sweet 16 tips off, the fingerprints of Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball stars can be found all over the tournament. Eight of the remaining teams have ties to AU athletes—former college standouts who helped build the programs now competing for a national title.
While they’re no longer wearing their school’s colors, their legacy lives on, from the culture they helped shape to the competitive standard they set. We’re taking a look at the AU athletes whose alma maters are still dancing, as well as the foundation they helped lay for this moment.
Regional 1 – Spokane
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 5 Ole Miss
When examining the alumni of the teams in this UCLA-Ole Miss matchup, Charisma Osborne’s impact on UCLA from 2019-2023 is undeniable. Osborne led the Bruins in scoring during both her junior and senior seasons and reached the NCAA tournament twice, helping lead her team to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2023.
No. 3 LSU vs. No. 2 NC State
There are current AU athletes with ties to both sides of the upcoming LSU-NC State meeting. LSU alum Theresa Plaisance (2010-2014) still holds a place in the Tigers’ record books, ranking fifth in program history with 147 career blocked shots.
On the other side, NC State graduate Kiara Leslie made her mark after transferring from Maryland. She started 61 of 69 games for the Wolfpack, averaging 14.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Regional 2 – Birmingham
No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 4 Maryland
Tyasha Harris put together a prolific four-year career at South Carolina and helped lead the Gamecocks to a national title in 2017. Victaria Saxton followed in her footsteps, becoming a national champion in 2022 and helping South Carolina reach three Final Fours over her four seasons.
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No. 3 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Duke
Lexie Brown made a significant impact at Duke after transferring from Maryland in 2016, cementing her place as one of the program’s all-time greats. She built an impressive career résumé and became one of just three players in NCAA Power Five history to surpass 2,000 career points while recording at least 500 assists, 300 steals, and 300 made three-pointers.
Elizabeth Williams spent all four years of her collegiate career with the Blue Devils. She holds the second-most career starts in program history with 132 and is one of just three players in Duke women’s basketball history to have her jersey retired.
Regional 3 – Birmingham
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 5 Tennessee
Tennessee’s rich basketball tradition extends beyond the collegiate game, with several former Lady Vols making their mark in Athletes Unlimited. Jordyn Horston (2019-2023), Isabelle Harrison (2011-2015), and Meighan Simmons (2010-2014) each left their mark on the program, combining for eight NCAA tournament appearances.
Regional 4 – Spokane
No. 1 Southern California vs. No. 5 Kansas State
Two AU pros are among the former USC standouts. McKenzie Forbes spent one season at Southern California as a graduate student in 2023-24, starting all 35 games and earning an All-Pac-12 Conference Team nod. She was joined by Kaitlyn Davis, who also made a stop at USC for her graduate year, helping the two-time national champions to an NCAA tournament appearance last season.
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No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 2 UConn
The Athletes Unlimited pros with UConn ties are a testament to the program’s legacy, with their roots running deep in Huskies history. Kia Nurse (2014-2018), Evina Westbrook (2020-2022), Christyn Williams (2018-2022), and Bria Hartley (2010-2014) all suited up for UConn, with some of their careers overlapping. Collectively, they helped power the Huskies to 12 NCAA tournament appearances and played key roles in securing four of the program’s 11 national championships.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
