Player News

Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball brings 40 world-class athletes to the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, for four weeks of playoff intensity competition. All games will be available to stream for free on the WNBA App!
Players will be drafted to their Week 1 teams on Sunday, February 1, at 1 pm ET.
Check out a rundown of WNBA players participating in this year’s AU action!
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<h2>The Veterans</h2>
<div id="attachment_205830" style="width: 970px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-205830" class="wp-image-205830" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2234396956-scaled.jpg" alt="Tina Charles #31 of the Connecticut Sun looks on against Atlanta Dream during first quarter at Gateway Center Arena on September 08, 2025 in College Park, Georgia" width="960" height="633" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2234396956-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2234396956-300x198.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2234396956-1024x675.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2234396956-768x506.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2234396956-1536x1012.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2234396956-2048x1349.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />Tina Charles #31 of the Connecticut Sun</div>
Tina Charles, league leader in FGM and rebounds, highlights the veteran WNBA presence on the 2026 AU roster. Alysha Clark, Odyssey Sims, and Bria Hartley also each bring over 10 years of W experience to the roster. Nine-year veteran Aerial Powers, along with eight-year vets Ariel Atkins, Lexie Brown, and Kiah Stokes, are set to hit the floor as well. Emma Cannon, Isabelle Harrison, and Kia Nurse bring seven years of league experience, alongside six-year veterans Shey Peddy and Brianna Turner.
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<h2>The Next Generation</h2>
<div id="attachment_205831" style="width: 970px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-205831" class="wp-image-205831" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2232055092-scaled.jpg" alt="Te-Hina Paopao #2 of the Atlanta Dream smiles during the game against the Dallas Wings on August 29, 2025 at Gateway Center Arena at College Park in Atlanta, Georgia" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2232055092-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2232055092-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2232055092-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2232055092-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2232055092-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2232055092-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />Te-Hina Paopao #2 of the Atlanta Dream</div>
The 2025 WNBA Draft class highlights the wave of next-generation players set to hit the floor for 2026 AU action, including Aneesah Morrow, Te-Hina Paopao, Aaliyah Nye, Sarah Ashlee Barker, Kaitlyn Chen, and Bree Hall. Two-year veterans Jacy Sheldon and Jaylyn Sherrod are also on the roster alongside Zia Cooke and Grace Berger, who are both finishing up their respective third-year campaigns. NaLyssa Smith, Natasha Mack and Kierstan Bell round out the next generation on the roster, with four years of WNBA experience.
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The AU Pro Basketball season tips off Wednesday, February 4. Stream all games for FREE on the WNBA App!

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2026 Athletes Unlimited: The W Roster

WNBA App

– Sheryl Swoopes and Cindy Brunson Return to Lead Broadcast Team for
Fifth Straight Championship Season –
– With Interest in Women’s Basketball Surging, High Stakes Four-Week Sprint
Tips off February 4 in Nashville with Games Available Nationwide via
ESPN and WNBA App; Tickets On Sale Now –
January 21, 2026, New York – With interest in women’s basketball at an all-time high and the sport commanding unprecedented attention across media, culture and fandom, Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball is meeting the moment – unveiling its most ambitious broadcast experience yet for its milestone fifth season, delivered via ESPN and the WNBA App.
As the league enters 2026 with its most competitive roster yet, AU Pro Basketball is matching elite on-court talent with a bold, fan-first broadcast production and talent team designed to bring viewers closer to the game than ever before. All 24 games of the AU Pro Basketball season will be available via ESPN and the WNBA App, with additional regional coverage on Gray Media’s Tennessee Valley Sports &amp; Entertainment Network (TVSEN) – ensuring expansive, always-on access throughout the league’s fast-paced, four-week sprint.
Headlining the evolution is the addition of two-time WNBA Champion Sydney Colson, who – as she recovers from her recent injury and works towards her on-court return – joins the AU Pro Basketball broadcast team in a newly-created, dynamic on-air role that blends high-level analysis, personality and real-time connection. A founding AU Pro Basketball athlete and Player Executive Committee member who has competed in every season since the league’s launch in 2022, Colson brings championship credibility and authenticity to the coverage.
Colson joins a veteran, championship-caliber broadcast team led by Basketball Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes and longtime play-by-play voice Cindy Brunson, who return for their fifth consecutive season as the defining voices of AU Pro Basketball, anchoring coverage of what shapes up as the league’s most competitive and talent-rich season yet.
In addition to the iconic Swoopes-Brunson pairing, Colson will serve as a regular game analyst alongside Kevin Barnett, delivering real-time storytelling and high-level breakdowns across ESPN and the WNBA App. Each game will also feature “The Half Show,” an enhanced, high-energy halftime experience spotlighting in-depth analysis, player conversations, and celebrity and VIP guest interviews – with Colson leading the way. Play by play duties will also see appearances by veteran NBA and Milwaukee Bucks announcer, Lisa Byington, as well as legendary play by play broadcaster, Pam Ward. Anna Camden will serve as in-game reporter and halftime contributor.
In addition, former WNBA champion Theresa Plaisance – who is also not competing in AU Pro Basketball this season – will nonetheless have a significant presence in Nashville. She will serve as a co-host in the arena during games and participate in postgame fan appearances, while she and Colson will also co-host a social-first, digital series mockumentary that will be released weekly throughout the season.
At the center of the 2026 AU Pro Basketball broadcast experience is a new approach to bring fans closer to the game. Athletes Unlimited will debut a custom-designed, elevated, fan-facing broadcast booth positioned above the scorer’s table and adjacent to the team benches – and featured prominently on air through a live “small box” view, allowing fans at home to watch announcers react and engage in real time. The Half Show Interviews, certain game analysis and some direct fan engagement fun are included in the plans for the in-venue audience to also enjoy some broadcast &#8220;extras&#8221;.
The fifth AU Pro Basketball championship season returns to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium from February 4 through March 1, 2026, following a record-setting debut in Music City in 2025. Tickets are on sale now at AUProBasketball.com.
“This season of AU Pro Basketball is about innovation on every level – from the stacked roster to the physical spaces where games are called, and to how our broadcast talent moves, interacts, and tells the story of the game,” said Cheri Kempf, Chief Broadcast Officer for Athletes Unlimited. “Sydney represents that evolution perfectly, and will make a great addition to our broadcast team this season.”
“I’m really glad that we were able to figure out a way to keep me involved even though I’m physically unable to play,” said Sydney Colson. “AU has been such a special place to me as a player and now I’m excited to join Sheryl, Cindy, and Kevin on our broadcast team and hopefully make season five the best one yet. I’m not one for dramatics, but this will be the broadcast of a lifetime so just watch us.”
Forty elite professional athletes will compete in four weeks of fast-paced, 5-on-5 full-court action, with $500,000 in prize bonuses on the line and rules set by the players themselves, making every possession matter as athletes compete for the title of AU Pro Basketball Champion.
The league has already announced a robust group of signees for the 2026 season, featuring a dynamic mix of WNBA veterans and emerging fan favorites, including Tina Charles, Alysha Clark, Isabelle Harrison, Lexie Brown, NaLyssa Smith, Kaitlyn Chen, Odyssey Sims, Deja Kelly, Aneesah Morrow, Kia Nurse, Jaylyn Sherrod, Ariel Atkins, Aaliyah Nye, Te-Hina Paopao, Kiah Stokes, and Jacy Sheldon, among others.
AU Pro Basketball was the first winter pro women&#8217;s basketball league to launch in the United States when it began in 2022 and remains the only platform in the U.S. offering professional women the opportunity to play 5-on-5 full court basketball outside of the WNBA. Innovative in its player-focused approach, AU Pro Basketball provides an ability for WNBA players to stay in the U.S. during the offseason while also providing playing opportunities for elite pro players not currently on WNBA rosters. Like other Athletes Unlimited leagues, AU Pro Basketball is led by a Player Executive Committee, and players have the opportunity to share in long-term profits of the company.
AU Pro Basketball is part of Athletes Unlimited, which was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in 2023 and features an Advisory Board comprised of an illustrious group of high-profile contributors from the worlds of sports, business and entertainment including basketball legend Sheryl Swoopes, two-time NBA champion and entrepreneur Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman of 35 Ventures; and U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team superstar Abby Wambach, among many others.
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About Athletes Unlimited:
Named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, Athletes Unlimited owns and operates professional women’s softball, volleyball, and basketball leagues featuring world-class competition and fan experience, and stands out as an organization driven by the athletes that play in the leagues, with athlete representation on the company’s board of directors, each league led by a Player Executive Committee, and players sharing in long-term profits of the company, all while being proactive in shaping policies supporting the women that play in the league. Athletes Unlimited is the first professional sports league to be organized as a Public Benefit Corporation. For more information, visit AUProSports.com.

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Sydney Colson Joins Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball Broadcast Team as League Debuts Fan-First Broadcast Experience for 2026 Season in Nashville

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Game Recap: Aces vs. Mystics (8/23/25)

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Top Plays of the Day, 8/21/25

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Top Plays of the Day, 08/21/2025

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Connecticut Sun vs. Washington Mystics - Game Highlights

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Game Recap: Sun vs. Mystics (8/19/25)

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Game Recap: Mystics vs. Fever (8/15/25)

The 2025 WNBA regular season ends on Sept. 11. That’s exactly one month from today, which means the final sprint to the finish line begins now.
Here’s where the postseason races stand with a month to play:
In The Driver’s Seat: With a 6.5-game lead on the rest of the field, the Lynx’s path to the No. 1 overall seed is clear. With 12 games to play and an 11.5-game advantage on the 9-seed, the Lynx will likely have a chance to clinch a playoff berth this week.
Race For Home Court: Five teams – the Liberty, Dream, Mercury, Fever and Aces – enter the week at least four games over .500 and are separated by just 2.5 games in a race for the 2-4 seeds that earn home-court in the first round of the playoffs.
Race For The Playoffs: Four teams – the Valkyries, Storm, Sparks and Mystics – all hovering around .500 and separated by just 1.5 games are battling to secure a top eight finish.
Running Out Of Time: Three teams – the Sky, Wings and Sun – are each at least 7.5 games back of the current 8-seed. While no teams have been eliminated from playoff contention yet, these are the first three teams in danger.
1. Minnesota Lynx (27-5)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201634" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Last Week: 1 ↔️
This Week: Sat. vs. NYL
Despite the loss of league-leading scorer (and May, June and July Western Conference Player of the Month) Napheesa Collier to an ankle sprain on Aug. 2, the Lynx have kept rolling. Minnesota went 3-0 on the week to push their win streak to five straight, capped off by their second Finals rematch win over New York on Sunday behind Kayla McBride’s 18 points and four triples.
2. Atlanta Dream (20-11)
Last Week: 2 ↔️
This Week: Wed. at SEA, Fri. vs. SEA, Sun. at GSV
The Dream match the Lynx for the longest active win streak in the league at five in a row as they continue to climb the standings, pulling into a tie with the Liberty for the second-best record in the W. Atlanta also joins Minnesota as the only two teams with double-digit road wins, winning five straight outside of the A. The Dream will try to push both of their streaks (overall and road) to six when they visit the Storm on Wednesday, but may be without Jordin Canada, who left Sunday’s win with a right leg injury.
3. New York Liberty (20-11)
Last Week: 3 ↔️
This Week: Tue. at LAS, Wed. at LVA, Sat. at MIN
The Liberty have held the No. 2 spot in the standings every day since July 16, but their grip on that spot is in danger of slipping. New York is fending off Atlanta – both are 20-11 to open the week – via the head-to-head tiebreaker, while Phoenix is only a game back. After sweeping a home-and-home with the Wings, the Liberty fell to the Lynx at home in the second of four Finals rematches in a three-week span. Their next chance is Saturday in Minnesota, but the Liberty will still be without Breanna Stewart, who is targeting a return from a knee injury by the end of August.
4. Phoenix Mercury (19-12)
Last Week: 5 ⬆️
This Week: Fri. vs. LVA, Sun. at SEA
Sunday’s loss to Atlanta snapped a three-game win streak for Phoenix. In the game, the Mercury shot just 6-of-23 from 3-point range (they are 8-10 when hitting fewer than 10 3s, and 11-2 when making 10 or more) and scored just 66 points (they are 4-9 when scoring under 80, 13-5 when they score 80+). Already a top-tier defense (Phoenix’s 98.8 defensive rating ranks second in the W), finding consistency on offense will be key for the Mercury down the stretch.
5. Las Vegas Aces (18-14)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201633" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Last Week: 7 ⬆️
This Week: Wed. vs. NYL, Fri. at PHX, Sun. vs. DAL
A’ja Wilson made history on Sunday – posting the first 30/20 game in WNBA history as she finished with 32 points, 20 rebounds and 5 assists in Vegas’ win over Connecticut. It marked the Aces’ fourth straight win for their longest win streak of the 2025 season. Las Vegas’ hot streak will be challenged quickly as four of the Aces’ next five games come against opponents at least seven games over .500 entering this week – the Liberty, Mercury, Dream and Mercury (again).
6. Indiana Fever (18-14)
Last Week: 4 ⬇️
This Week: Tue. vs. DAL, Fri. vs. WAS, Sun. at CON
After putting together a season-long five-game win streak, the Fever dropped two straight before righting the ship on Sunday with a win over the Sky in the opening game of WNBA Rivals Week. Unfortunately, Indiana’s run of losing guards to injury continues as both Sydney Colson (ACL) and Aari McDonald (broken foot) have been ruled out for the season – along with the ongoing absence of Caitlin Clark. Indy signed veteran guard Odyssey Sims to a hardship contract to help fill the void.
7. Los Angeles Sparks (15-16)
Last Week: 9 ⬆️
This Week: Tue. vs. NYL, Fri. at DAL, Sun. at WAS
The busiest team in the league last week, the Sparks went 3-1 to improve to 9-2 over their last 11 games following their 6-14 start to the season through 20 games. During this 11-game stretch, the Sparks have been led by former Vegas teammates Kelsey Plum (19.5 ppg, 6.5 apg, 2.5 3pm) and Dearica Hamby (19.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 62.6% FG). Meanwhile, Cameron Brink has made an impact in her first six games back from last year&#8217;s torn ACL, averaging 7.0 points, 2.2 blocks and 46.7% 3P% in limited minutes (14.2 mpg).
8. Golden State Valkyries (15-15)
Last Week: 8 ↔️
This Week: Mon. vs. CON, Wed. at WAS, Fri. at CHI, Sun. vs. ATL
Saturday’s win over the Sparks helped the Valkyries avoid a three-game skid and get back to .500 ball in their inaugural season. Golden State is set to be the busiest team this week with four games on the schedule – including the first three against opponents under .500 as the Valkyries attempt to gain some separation in the jam-packed middle of the playoff race.
9. Seattle Storm (16-16)
Last Week: 6 ⬇️
This Week: Wed. vs. ATL, Fri. at ATL, Sun. vs. PHX
So far, August has not been kind to the Storm, who have dropped their first five games of the month – all by four points or less. No team has played in more clutch games – score within five points in the final five minutes – than the Storm with 22, but Seattle is just 10-12 in those games. While the wins have not gone in Seattle’s favor, this month has been a breakout for rookie Dominique Malonga. The 6-6 center from France is averaging 14.4 ppg on 64.6% shooting with 7.8 rpg in just 22.3 minutes in August, while becoming the youngest player in WNBA history (19 years old) to post back-to-back 20+ point games.
10. Washington Mystics (14-17)
Last Week: 10 ↔️
This Week: Wed. vs. GSV, Fri. at IND, Sun vs. LAS
Rookie All-Stars Kiki Iriafen (career-high 23 points, 10 reb) and Sonia Citron (18 pts, 6 ast) shined on Sunday as the Mystics defeated the Wings to snap a four-game losing streak. It was Washington’s first win since trading All-Star Brittney Sykes to the Storm in exchange for three-time WNBA champ Alysha Clark, young guard Zia Cooke and a 2026 first-round draft pick.
11. Chicago Sky (8-23)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201635" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Last Week: 12 ⬆️
This Week: Wed. at CON, Fri. vs. GSV
The Sky’s win over the Mystics on Tuesday was Chicago’s only win over the past 11 games. All-Star Angel Reese has only appeared in three of those 11 games due to a back injury that has kept Chicago’s leading scorer (14.2 ppg) and the league’s leading rebounder (12.6 rpg) out of the Sky lineup.
12. Dallas Wings (8-24)
Last Week: 11 ⬇️
This Week: Tue. at IND, Fri. vs. LAS, Sun. at LVA
Dallas enters the week looking to snap one streak while extending another. The Wings will look to end a five-game losing streak on Tuesday when they visit the Fever. During that game, rookie Paige Bueckers will look to score 10+ points for the 26th straight game to begin her WNBA career, which would break a tie with Ruthie Bolton for the fourth longest such streak in league history. The only players with more are Cynthia Cooper (92), A&#8217;ja Wilson (37) and Candace Parker (32) – a trio of legends that each won multiple MVPs and championships.
13. Connecticut Sun (5-25)
Last Week: 13 ↔️
This Week: Mon. at GSV, Wed. vs. CHI, Sun. vs. IND
The Sun close out a four-game road trip tonight against the Valkyries in San Francisco, looking to snap a pair of losing streaks – four straight overall and 12 straight on the road as the Sun’s only road win of the season came back on May 30. Tonight’s game will be the second in a Sun uniform for Aaliyah Edwards, who Connecticut acquired at the trade deadline. The former UConn standout was the sixth overall pick in the 2024 Draft.

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2025 WNBA Power Rankings: Week 10

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Game Recap: Mystics vs. Wings (8/10/25)

Latest

Alysha Clark

Career Highlights
<ul>
<li>2023, 2020 &amp; 2018 Champion</li>
<li>2023 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year</li>
<li>2020 WNBA All-Defensive First Team</li>
<li>2019 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team</li>
<li>2020, 2019 led WNBA in 3-point field goal percentage</li>
<li>Enters the 2024 WNBA season ranked <a href="https://www.acrossthetimeline.com/wnba/records.html#record=twopercent&amp;type=career">third in league history in two-point field goal percentage</a> (.577—Sylvia Fowles first,.599)</li>
<li>Enters the 2024 WNBA season ranked second in league history in <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/leaders/efg_pct_career.html">effective field goal percentage</a> (.577—Sylvia Fowles, .599)</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://aces.wnba.com/alysha-clark-bio/">Click here for more on Alysha Clark, including season-by-season, international, college and personal notes.</a>

Alysha Clark signed a Contract Amendment - Time-Off Bonus with the Washington Mystics.

Alysha Clark was traded from the Seattle Storm to the Washington Mystics.

Wraps up season with five points

Non-factor offensively

Scores six points in start

Gets starting nod

Quiet in 18 minutes

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