WNBA Training Camp Watch: AU Players to Follow
With WNBA training camps tipping off on Sunday, a handful of Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball players will be launching from one season of action to another. AU Pro Basketball Season 4 in Nashville was a hotspot for free agency signings, and while stars like Isabelle Harrison, Lexi Brown, Sydney Colson and more signed on with new WNBA squads, four AU Pro hoopers secured training camp contracts, meaning the 2025 W season could mark their return to the league, or in some cases, their breakthrough moment.
Here’s a closer look at the AU players who have signed WNBA training camp contracts, and why they’re each worth watching as rosters start to take shape.
Crystal Bradford → Las Vegas Aces
Crystal Bradford is heading to Vegas with some big-time momentum. The six-foot forward was one of the top performers in Nashville, averaging 16.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game and finishing third on the AU leaderboard. A former lottery pick (7th overall, 2015), Bradford last saw WNBA action in 2021 with the Atlanta Dream and is still very much a two-way threat with a deep international resume to back it up.
Her stint with the Shanghai Sharks (17.7 PPG, 12.4 RPG) proves she’s a consistent performer, and Vegas could use someone like Bradford, who knows how to make an impact fast.
In AU: Bradford secured third place with a record-breaking Champions Week showing. She set an AU single-game record with 10 three-pointers and posted a career-high 38 points to open Week Four against Team Sims. She finished with 5,304 leaderboard points, eight game wins, and six MVP awards, serving as captain for two weeks. With ten double-digit scoring games and a league-record 16 career double-doubles, she also earned All-Defensive Team honors.
Christyn Williams → Minnesota Lynx
After a tough, injury-induced break, Christyn Williams looks ready to write her WNBA chapter. After being drafted 14th overall by the Mystics in 2022 but sidelined with a season-ending knee injury, she flashed her old UConn form in Nashville, most notably with a 23-point statement in Week 1.
She was a threat on both ends during her time with the Huskies, and the Lynx might be the perfect landing spot if Williams keeps trending upward.
In AU: Williams averaged 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, capping her season with three double-digit scoring efforts and a steady two-way presence.
Kiara Leslie → Minnesota Lynx
Another Lynx invitee with something to prove, Kiara Leslie brings versatility, maturity, and solid pro experience. She last played in the league with the Mystics (2020–2021) and has international reps under her belt, most recently in Puerto Rico.
In AU: Leslie averaged 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game across 12 contests. She shot 42.3% from the field and looked confident in her role in Nashville. Leslie’s size at the guard spot (6-foot) and defensive prowess make her an intriguing piece in Minnesota’s camp mix.
McKenzie Forbes → Dallas Wings
Don’t let the modest AU stats fool you — McKenzie Forbes knows how to heat up. After getting drafted 28th overall by the Sparks in 2024 and waived shortly after, Forbes has been on a global tear with a title in Australia’s NBL1 South and a 39-point explosion in New Zealand’s Tauihi league.
She kept that spark alive stateside, showing off her versatility in Nashville, and will now link back up with familiar faces in Dallas: General Manager Curt Miller (who originally drafted her) and Head Coach Chris Koclanes (from her USC days). If the Wings are looking for a glue guard who’s capable of clutch scoring sprees, Forbes has a shot.
In AU: Forbes averaged 4.1 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. Her season high came in Week Three with 12 points against Team Harrison, and she ended the year with plenty of efficient outings under her belt.
As training camps open across the league, these AU standouts head in with different stories, but the same mission — earn a roster spot and make their mark. Whether it’s a comeback, a breakthrough, or a second chance, don’t be surprised if some of these names are still around on opening weekend.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
