Rising Stars Set to Shine in AU Pro Basketball Season 5
In less than a month, Nashville will once again become the site of seasoned pros battling for the Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball championship, but the group of rising stars set to take the court brings its own level of star power. Nine rising stars, including six members of the 2025 WNBA Draft class, will compete in Season 5, representing the next generation of game changers and influencers in women’s basketball.
From top-10 picks to undrafted prospects who fought their way into training camps, these young stars are looking to build on their rookie campaigns and prove themselves against some of the country’s most experienced players. Here’s a look at the rising stars who will make their mark in Nashville this winter.
Te-Hina Paopao
Te-Hina Paopao is fresh off her rookie season with the Atlanta Dream, after being selected 18th overall in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft. She averaged 5.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game during her first professional season. The guard’s college journey took her from Oregon to South Carolina, where she became part of the Gamecocks’ undefeated 2024 national championship squad.
Paopao wrapped up her collegiate career holding the second-best three-point shooting percentage in South Carolina program history. Her sharpshooting and championship pedigree give her the tools to thrive in AU’s format, which rewards both individual excellence and team success.
Aneesah Morrow
Aneesah Morrow was selected seventh overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2025 WNBA Draft and logged significant minutes during her first professional season. She averaged 7.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game while ranking eighth in total minutes, second in rebounds, and sixth in blocks among the 38 players in the draft class.
Her college numbers tell the story of sustained dominance: 2,852 points and 1,714 rebounds across stops at DePaul and LSU. The four-time All-American became the first Tiger to claim the Katrina McClain Award. She missed part of her first W training camp and the first two games with a knee injury before working her way into a major role, establishing herself as a reliable contributor who can handle heavy responsibilities.
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Jacy Sheldon
Jacy Sheldon is now in her second pro season after being selected fifth overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She was traded to the Connecticut Sun in February 2025, where her role expanded. She averaged 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game in 2025.
The Ohio State product compiled 2,009 career points and joined exclusive company as one of just three Buckeyes to eclipse 1,900 points, 400 rebounds, 350 assists, and 200 steals. Her experience navigating different team systems during her WNBA career should serve her well in AU’s week-to-week draft format that constantly creates new lineups and challenges.
Deja Kelly
Deja Kelly went undrafted in 2025 but earned a training camp invitation from the Las Vegas Aces. She made waves with a preseason game-winner, showing she had the chops to fit in on a professional roster.
In her collegiate career, she produced over 2,000 points across four seasons at North Carolina and a graduate year at Oregon. She’s also built a strong presence in the media landscape by hosting Front Office Sports’ NILOSOPHY podcast and founding the DK25 Empowerment Camp.
Kaitlyn Chen
Kaitlyn Chen’s basketball journey has hit multiple high notes: Ivy League Player of the Year at Princeton, a UConn national championship ring, and a playoff berth in her first WNBA season. The Golden State Valkyries selected her 30th overall in the third round of the 2025 WNBA Draft, and she quickly became a fan favorite in Golden State.
She accumulated 1,276 points, 359 assists, and 313 rebounds at Princeton while earning First Team All-Ivy honors multiple times. She transferred to UConn for her graduate season and started all 40 games during the Huskies’ title run in 2025. AU’s format could provide Chen with more opportunities to showcase the complete skill set she’s developed.
Sarah Ashlee Barker
Sarah Ashlee Barker was selected ninth overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2025 WNBA Draft and developed into a reliable bench option during her rookie season. Her best outing came in the regular season finale against Las Vegas, where she logged 38 minutes and scored 15 points–both season highs.
Her final college season at Alabama produced 18.2 points per game while she led the team in steals. She crossed the 1,500-point threshold and posted ten games with 20-plus points, highlighted by a school-record 45-point explosion during the 2025 NCAA Tournament. After averaging 3.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists during her WNBA debut, she’ll look to expand her production against experienced competition in Nashville.
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Aaliyah Nye
Aaliyah Nye is one of the most prolific three-point shooters in college basketball history. The Las Vegas Aces selected her 13th overall in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft, and she appeared in 35 games during her rookie campaign while recording multiple career-best performances.
She departed Alabama as the program’s all-time leader in three-pointers made with 1,739 career points. With her long-range accuracy, she’s sure to seek plenty of open looks from beyond the arc in Nashville.
Bree Hall
Bree Hall’s rookie season took her through multiple stops after the Dallas Wings selected her 20th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft. She signed a hardship contract with Indiana and also spent time with Golden State, gaining early exposure to the professional game’s demands across different organizations.
She contributed to back-to-back national championships at South Carolina and set a program record by appearing in 147 games. She ranked sixth in Gamecocks history for career three-point percentage and held down a starting role throughout her senior campaign.
JoJo Lacey
JoJo Lacey will make her professional debut at AU Pro Basketball after going undrafted in the 2025 WNBA Draft and signing a training camp contract with Washington. She comes off a graduate season at Rutgers, where she started all 33 games and averaged 31.5 minutes per contest. She provided consistent double-figure scoring and delivered multiple 20-point performances for the Scarlet Knights.
She spent four seasons at Boston College before transferring, including a breakout junior campaign where she started every game and led the Eagles in three-pointers made. AU will give her a first professional platform to prove she can compete at the highest level.
AU Pro Basketball returns to Nashville, Tennessee, with elite talent and electrifying energy, for its fifth championship season on February 4, 2026, at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Tickets for the upcoming season are available now.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
