The Best Athletes Unlimited Photos of 2024

Softball

All photos and captions by Jade Hewitt.

Kelsey Stewart-Hunter

Of the hundreds of thousands of photos I took in 2024, this one stands out the most.

On the first day of scrimmages in Rosemont, everyone was in the dugout, going through their usual pre-game routines. I was chatting with Stewie when her husband walked into the dugout with their newborn son. As Stewie started preparing to feed him, I said, “I’ll leave you to it,” and began to walk out of the dugout.

After a few steps, my instincts kicked in, and I froze. I turned back to Stewie and asked, “You can absolutely say no, but if you’re willing, may I photograph this?” To no surprise, Stewie said, “Of course!”

I spent the next 60 seconds photographing her feeding her son. Initially, I shot from the left side, but I couldn’t see her son clearly, so I moved to the right. That’s when I got the shot. In that moment, I knew it was a special photograph — one I couldn’t wait to share with Stewie and the rest of the women’s sports world.

I have so much love and respect for Stewie for allowing me to capture this absolutely beautiful moment.

Sashel Palacios

Week 3 of Championship Season was one of the most magical softball weekends I’ve ever witnessed. Team captain Sashel Palacios and her sister Sharlize Palacios were finally on the same team (perfectly named Sash’s Shawties), and you could feel there was something special about that group. The energy in the dugout was insane, and the Palacios sisters were on fire.

This photo was taken after Sash’s Shawties swept the series while Sashel was interviewed by Savanna. I spotted the troublemakers in the back moving forward with the Gatorade cooler and, as photographers, moments like these are like being kids in a candy store! Our eyes light up because we know we’re about to capture an incredible shot where the energy and excitement are unmatched. I truly loved being able to take this photo, capturing a huge moment for Sashel in her final season before retirement.

Haylie McCleney

I had heard whispers about Halo retiring in 2024 but didn’t have 100% confirmation. I wanted to focus on capturing something truly special for her, though I had initially anticipated taking a great “career” shot during pregame.

We were in Wichita for AUX, where the stands are elevated behind the backstop, providing a great vantage point to shoot from above the action. The little perch where I sat was just behind the batter, and if you waited for the right time of day, you could capture a stunning shadow on the hitter.

Halo has an iconic pre-pitch routine with a long bat point, and that was the moment I wanted to capture. The shadow looked so beautiful in the dirt, and I remember being really excited to sit down and edit this photo.

When I showed it to Halo, she said, “I’m going to post this when I retire.” As any photographer knows, that’s the best compliment you can get.

Player Executive Committee (PEC)

The Player Executive Committee (PEC) shoot is something I think about 365 days a year. After speaking with the PEC and getting their input, the overall consensus was to get out of Rosemont and into the city (which is more complicated than it sounds). When brainstorming locations, we said, “Go big or go home,” and decided on Cloud Gate — better known as The Bean.

There were a million people there, so getting everyone set up and capturing the right shot was tough! But when the athletes are dressed to the nines and the vibes are flowing, it’s worth the wait for the perfect shot.

This photo is particularly special to me because it represents our love and commitment to the city of Chicago, a pillar of professional women’s softball for over a decade. And honestly, what’s more iconic than shooting at The Bean?

Bonus: Retirements

We had four icons play their final games this year. It was a deeply emotional day for everyone involved, with a palpable sense of pressure to capture the occasion in a way they could cherish for the rest of their lives.

I set out to photograph each athlete as they walked onto the field for the last time. I’d never done it before, and though I was emotional in the moment (yes, I cried all day), I knew it was a shot you could only capture once in a career.

These photos make me emotional, but I also think they’re beautiful.

Volleyball

All photos and captions by Jade Hewitt.

Brittany Abercrombie

She’s our champ!

What you can’t see in this photo is the amount of stress I felt in the moment of confetti! It’s the shot we dream about all year, and the timing has to be just right. Brittany was all set on the riser and ready to bask in the confetti when all of a sudden I saw Natalia Valentin Anderson making a BEELINE for Britt! I was like, “OMG NO!!!!” because it caused the whole league to sprint up and converge on Britt. But what I didn’t realize was that this photo is the perfect representation of volleyball. I wanted it to be just Brittany, but AU Pro Volleyball is so much more. This whole league is such an incredibly supportive group of women who spend seven weeks lifting each other up, so it only makes sense that the “Champion” photo includes so many of the athletes.

Manami Kojima

I’d be lying if I said Manami is hard to photograph. She’s a walking ray of sunshine who, I’m convinced, has never stopped smiling on a volleyball court. I just met her this year, and although we didn’t have many interactions, I absolutely fell in love with photographing her.

She’s positioned so perfectly in the center of the frame, and her genuine thrill in that moment makes this one of my absolute favorites from the 2024 season.

Morgan Hentz

I’m not afraid to admit that I’m Morgan Hentz’s biggest fan. She’s one of the most talented, genuinely friendly, and intelligent, athletes I’ve ever had the privilege of photographing. While she’s known for her great celebrations, I especially love capturing her when she’s digging or passing.

This photo, in particular, represents a new angle I tried during the 2024 season. Shooting from the broadcast risers with a 300 mm lens was a challenge at first, but I was thrilled with how the images turned out! Capturing her from above instead of at eye level brought a whole new perspective. From this vantage point, you can truly appreciate her body control and the difficulty in her movements even more.

Player Executive Committee (PEC)

While I love all of our AU sports, there’s something about the Volleyball Player Executive Committee (PEC) shoot that always hits a little differently. Not only were they the first PEC shoot back in 2021, but the locations we’ve used in past years have been absolutely stunning, so there was definitely pressure for the 2024 shoot to live up to the hype.

With the season being in Phoenix, AZ, we knew we wanted to lean into the warmth of the desert and its surrounding beauty. We found a spot called Hole in the Rock and decided to set up the first group shot on the backside of the mountain. I’d never had the chance to position the athletes in a Vogue-style arrangement before, so I was thrilled when the images turned out so stunning.

Basketball

All photos and captions by Jade Hewitt.

Natasha Cloud

If you named the top five professional basketball players to photograph, Natasha Cloud would absolutely be at the top of that list. Her passion for life and for the game of basketball is unmatched, and she’s my go-to for the first “hype” photo of each season.

This photo was especially fun because it’s cropped in a way I don’t usually edit my shots. I wanted to get as tight on Tash as possible to capture her sheer force of energy, and I’m obsessed with how it turned out.

Allisha Gray

Our Champ pulls up from deep!

This photo was one I don’t normally take. I was sitting on the opposite baseline with a 70-200 mm lens trying to get tighter shots of athletes on my end of the court but threw up the camera at the last second. I really love how you can see “Athletes Unlimited” in the frame and Taj Cole jumping to block the shot.

Allisha Gray was not only our Champ but she was tied with Kierstan Bell for the most threes in a season with 35, so it’s only fitting that this image makes the list.

Kierstan Bell

There’s no one with the swagger of Kierstan Bell. In any situation, I look to photograph her because 100% of the time, I know I’m going to get a passionate, high-energy shot.

As the confetti was falling, KB happened to be standing right near me, so I quickly panned to my left and started clicking! Confetti photos are so special because you only have about 60 seconds to capture those banger shots — miss it, and the moment is gone. To no one’s surprise, KB delivered.

Sydney Colson and Theresa Plaisance

Syd and TP are, without a doubt, the faces of the league! During basketball season, I wanted to do a Dynamic Duo photoshoot featuring Syd and TP, as well as Izzy and Dorie Harrison. I love photographing athletes with great chemistry because they do all the work for you. Honestly, I don’t think I gave a single note of direction during this shoot — I just sat back and clicked.

This photo is Syd and TP. Total laughter to the point of breaking down, followed by even more laughing. We had so much fun at this shoot, and the vibes were so positive that it reminded me why I love what I do.

Lacrosse

All photos and captions by Mary Kate Ridgway.

Sunset

The sunset during Team Purple and Team Gold’s Thursday night game in Week Three was absolutely breathtaking. I was captivated by the dramatic interplay between the intense hues of the sunset and the silhouetted athletes. The vibrant sky provided a striking contrast to the players, highlighting their movement and infusing the scene with a palpable sense of energy.

Dempsey Arsenault

I made it a point to focus on the small, detailed moments of an athlete in motion. My goal was to draw attention to the turf particles suspended mid-air as Dempsey Arsenault warmed up on the field before her game.

Sam Apuzzo

A Sam Apuzzo scream that could be heard around the world. I was lucky enough to capture many of her iconic screams and celebrations during the 2024 AU Pro Lacrosse season, but this one is by far my favorite! It captured the exhilaration of the moment after she scored one of her many goals.

Sydni Black

I wanted this jersey photoshoot with Sydni to feel dramatic and striking. I had her take some shots on net while I focused on capturing her precision, balance, and strength. You can see how composed Sydni is — a quality that consistently translates to her performance on the field during game-time action.

Jade Hewitt is the lead photographer for Athetes Unlimited. Mary Kate Ridgway is a freelance photographer who has photographed Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse.