Player News

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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-205840" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/Thumbnail-2026-01-27T150807.832.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/Thumbnail-2026-01-27T150807.832.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/Thumbnail-2026-01-27T150807.832-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/Thumbnail-2026-01-27T150807.832-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/Thumbnail-2026-01-27T150807.832-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/Thumbnail-2026-01-27T150807.832-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will appear on Sunday Night Basketball on Feb. 1 and March 29.
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Caitlin Clark is headed to the NBA, at least for a couple of nights.
NBC announced Tuesday that Clark — the Indiana Fever star with an enormous following within the game — is joining the network’s pregame coverage for its debut of “Sunday Night Basketball” this weekend when the Los Angeles Lakers play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
It’s set to be a two-night gig for Clark, who plans to return to NBC in another pregame role on March 29 when the Knicks visit the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“There’s no more iconic figure in basketball in the women’s game right now, or the game in general,” Sam Flood, executive producer for NBC Sports, told The Associated Press. “So, we said, ‘let’s have a bigger conversation.’”
It’s a logical fit: NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, and Clark announced that she entered a marketing relationship with Xfinity in March 2024. Clark has done some television work before, including a cameo on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” in April 2024.
NBC is calling Clark “a special contributor” who will join the “Basketball Night in America” studio team of host Maria Taylor and analysts Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady — all Basketball Hall of Famers — for pregame commentary.
“I’m really excited to be part of the Basketball Night in America crew this season,” Clark said in a statement released by NBC. “Carmelo, Vince, and Tracy are legends of the game and Maria is a true professional. It will be really fun to join them a few times this season.”
Clark’s resume is stellar: She is a two-time WNBA All-Star and was an All-WNBA first-team pick in 2024 on her way to winning rookie of the year after being the league’s No. 1 draft selection that season. At Iowa, Clark became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history with 3,951 points and was the AP’s college player of the year twice — as well as the AP’s female athlete of the year in 2024.
Flood said he’s convinced Clark can handle this new role.
“She’s had cameras pointed at her for years, and she’s certainly always put on a show with a basketball in her hand. And after a game ends, she’s always a great interview,” Flood said. “She’s always so thoughtful in everything she says. And to have the ability to do that on this platform, with this team, it’s going to be a lot of fun to listen to it. That’s the beauty of who she is.”
Clark has dabbled in sports broadcasting before, going viral once for attempting to do some play-by-play while watching the Philadelphia Phillies, not knowing Fever teammate Lexie Hull was secretly recording her.
The Phillies gave Clark rave reviews and even invited her to come try it for real. And now, NBC is giving her that opportunity as well.
“She’s going to be in a basketball arena, like she always is, and in her comfort zone — which is on the court talking about the sport she loves and the sport that she shines in,” Flood said. “So, what better place for her to debut than in Madison Square Garden with this a great team of talent around her? We’re confident she’ll thrive, because a basketball court is her second home.”
Clark was limited to 13 games because of injury last season with the Fever, who made it to the WNBA semifinals and fell to the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces. She returned to the court in December, taking part in a camp with USA Basketball’s senior women’s national team.
When she’ll play a real game again remains unclear: The WNBA and its players remain in a labor dispute that could threaten the 2026 season. Clark has made her thoughts clear, saying last month that these talks are “the biggest moment” for the WNBA and that “there has to be compromise on both sides” to strike the right deal.
It’s unknown if she will address labor matters Sunday. But Flood dropped one tease about what might be coming during Clark’s debut appearance.
“We’re hoping to have Caitlin with a basketball in her hand,” Flood said.

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Caitlin Clark Joining Pregame Show For Debut of NBC's 'Sunday Night Basketball'

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. 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

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-205766" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/ATHLETIC-2560-x-100-1-2048x80-1.png" alt="" width="2048" height="80" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/ATHLETIC-2560-x-100-1-2048x80-1.png 2048w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/ATHLETIC-2560-x-100-1-2048x80-1-300x12.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/ATHLETIC-2560-x-100-1-2048x80-1-1024x40.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/ATHLETIC-2560-x-100-1-2048x80-1-768x30.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/ATHLETIC-2560-x-100-1-2048x80-1-1536x60.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" />
Editor’s Note: Read more WNBA coverage from the Athletic <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/wnba/">here</a>. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-205767" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2237612922-scaled.jpg" alt="Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever signs autographs before the game against the Las Vegas Aces during Round 2 Game 4 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2237612922-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2237612922-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2237612922-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2237612922-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2237612922-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/01/GettyImages-2237612922-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
The calendar turning to a new year also marks a milestone moment for Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. This spring, her long-anticipated signature sneaker will finally hit the market, a project <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5BYD-h4yPg" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-index="0">she opened up about Wednesday while appearing</a> on Jason and Travis Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast.
For Clark, the shoe represents far more than branding. It’s the product of months of trial, design tweaks and balance between performance and personality.
“It’s probably been, like, a year and a half now of, like, figuring out what exactly I want,” Clark said. “And I think probably the most challenging part of it is, like, you want it to be unique. But at the same time, like, I have to be comfortable wearing it.”
The 23-year-old Clark said the journey to create her own shoe began before her college career ended.
“The process started at the end of my senior year when I was at Iowa because I was deciding what shoe company I was going to go with,” Clark said. “And I talked to Nike, Adidas and Under Armour, and they all offered me a signature shoe.”
The decision ultimately felt natural. She shared that she “grew up wanting to be a Nike athlete. Every kid does. Nike Jordan, like, that’s the premier brand.” While Clark has long played in Kobe Bryant models, she made it clear that imitation wasn’t the goal. Her sneaker needed its own identity.
“I want it to be something very unique to me and a little bit different,” Clark said.
Part of that individuality, she believes, will come from the culture around the shoe — from colorways to availability.
“I think, like, just the chasability of them and, like, you want a certain sneaker or, like, you want a certain colorway. I think that’s, like, going to be probably the most fun part,” Clark said.
Performance, however, remains non-negotiable. Clark said she studied what works for her on the court and pushed Nike to take the technology further.
“I like a certain two Kobe models,” Clark said. “I knew whatever I was going to put in my own shoe would need to be the equivalent of that technology, or even better. And it’s going to be even better.”
She noted that some existing models focus on cushioning and support in limited areas — something she wanted to change.
“I need that technology everywhere … being comfortable and exactly kind of what I need. And the technology that we’re going to put into it isn’t anything that they’ve ever put into a basketball shoe before,” she said.
Travis Kelce pointed out that Clark is living out a dream shared by athletes across every sport by having a signature shoe. Clark reflected on how rare that opportunity is.
“LeBron’s on shoe 23 now, which is, like, crazy to think about how long his signature line has lasted,” Clark said.
The Kelce brothers are also part <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6918678/2025/12/25/caitlin-clark-nike-commercial/" data-index="2">of Clark’s recent Nike commercial</a>, which opens with her wearing apparel featuring her signature logo while shooting in a neighborhood driveway. The ad builds on a recurring challenge from people asking, “Can you make it from here?” Nike released the spot with the tagline “From Anywhere.”
“We’re honored to be a part of your Nike launch,” Travis said during the show.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Caitlin Clark is proof that you can make it From Anywhere. <a href="https://t.co/cFbxO5lOu3">pic.twitter.com/cFbxO5lOu3</a>
&mdash; Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/nikebasketball/status/2004206138502648039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Clark said the commercial felt personal in tone and in who appeared alongside her.
“It’s so exciting, and a lot of the people that were obviously in the commercial, you two, and Travis Scott was in it, my college basketball coach was in it, and then just some other people that have kind of like been huge fans throughout my career or, you know, have been a part since I was either in high school or not professionally,” Clark said. “I felt like the ad was, like, very me.”
Beyond footwear, Clark is also turning her focus back to basketball at the highest level. After injuries limited her to 13 games last season, she welcomed the chance to return to the court at USA Basketball camp held at Duke from Dec. 12–14.
“It kind of kicks off, like, the next cycle for, like, preparing for the Olympics. And then we have the World Cup in 2026.”
Clark acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting that the World Cup has historically been tougher for the U.S. to navigate than the Olympics due to the larger field. Still, her ambition hasn’t changed.
“Hopefully, I’m on the team for that. And obviously my goal is to be on the Olympic team in 2028.”
Denny Alfonso is a trending news writer for The Athletic. An Emmy Award–winning New Yorker, Denny previously covered the NBA, MLB, and MLS for ESPN, where she produced and reported the Soccer in America series, earning a Telly Award. She also covered the Rio Olympics for ESPN. Before joining ESPN, Denny worked as an investigative reporter for NBC Telemundo in Los Angeles and has been a contributor to both Yahoo and The Associated Press in New York.

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Inside Caitlin Clark’s Journey to Her First Signature Nike sneaker

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