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– 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

–  WNBA App to Unveil Lineup of Premium Content and New Features for WNBA Fans in 2025 –
 NEW YORK, May 15, 2025 – With its 29th season set to tip off on Friday, May 16, the WNBA today announced the return of the Tip-Off Test Drive presented by CarMax in addition to an expansive array of content offerings and new features on the WNBA App, the league’s global digital platform.
For the third consecutive season, the Tip-Off Test Drive presented by CarMax will provide fans with an opportunity to enjoy WNBA action through complimentary preview access to WNBA League Pass, the league’s direct-to-consumer offering that provides access to live out-of-market games.
Fans can take advantage of the initial free preview window from May 16-21 and stream up to 12 games, live or on-demand, for free in the “Watch” tab of the <a href="https://wnba.onelink.me/yKxu/6sj26a2a">WNBA App</a> with no subscription or credit card information required. Fans will also have additional opportunities to take the Test Drive by CarMax during other select stages of the 2025 season.
At the conclusion of the free preview window, WNBA App users can continue to access live games <a href="https://www.wnba.com/schedule?season=2025&amp;month=all&amp;broadcaster=WNBA%20League%20Pass">throughout the season</a> with a WNBA League Pass subscription ($34.99/year or $12.99/month). Certain live games are subject to local blackouts.
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-198377 aligncenter" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/05/ttd.png" alt="" width="785" height="980" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/05/ttd.png 785w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/05/ttd-240x300.png 240w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/05/ttd-768x959.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 785px) 100vw, 785px" />
The award-winning WNBA App is fans’ go-to destination for WNBA coverage and access. Featuring up-to-the-minute coverage from around the league that includes the latest schedule, stats and scores, real-time highlights, and behind-the-scenes stories, the WNBA App is the easy and free way for fans to stay connected with what they love most about the WNBA.
“On the heels of triple-digit increases in monthly active users of the WNBA App and in subscriptions to WNBA League Pass last year, we continue to enhance and expand the offerings available through the WNBA App in order to provide fans with an even more unique and engaging experience,” said Colie Edison, Chief Growth Officer, WNBA. “WNBA digital platforms are the ultimate destination for fans of the W and provide advanced features and content that touch on everything from basketball, to style, to culture, and beyond. And the Tip-Off Test Drive presented by CarMax is just one more way we are looking to grow the game and grow our fan base.”
This season, fans can go behind the scenes and beyond the court with WNBA Originals. The lineup includes the following series that provide fans with exclusive access to the teams and players they love:
<ul>
<li>YEAR 1 will follow a group of WNBA rookies throughout the season as they navigate a year of firsts in the league, taking fans behind-the-scenes in the life of a rookie.</li>
<li>OFF TOP will return for its fourth season with host Ari Chambers facilitating lively conversations with WNBA teammates, who share candid perspectives and untold stories from their experiences and career journeys.</li>
<li>MADE presented by CarMax, back for its third season, will continue to give an all-access look at four athletes as they balance their on-court and off-court personas.</li>
<li>Fans also can expect additional original series to drop throughout the season and beyond, with all episodes available on the WNBA App and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/wnba">WNBA YouTube channel</a>.</li>
</ul>
In addition to the content offerings, new and enhanced features will increase personalization and ensure fans can experience the WNBA, their way. Fans can select and follow their favorite players and teams in order to receive personalized alerts and homepage content, set Game Alerts for specific matchups they don’t want to miss, view the full Where to Watch options for each game on their home screen, and filter the game schedule by platform, team, or season.
The 2025 regular season tips off Friday with three games on ION. Action gets underway when 10-time All-Star Brittney Griner leads the Atlanta Dream into Washington to face No. 4 overall draft pick Kiki Iriafen and the Mystics (7:30 p.m. ET), and 2024 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier leads the Minnesota Lynx into Dallas to meet No. 1 overall draft pick Paige Bueckers and the Wings (6:30 p.m. CT/7:30 p.m. ET). ION will then spotlight the inaugural game for the Golden State Valkyries, who host the Los Angeles Sparks (7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET).
Action continues on Saturday when three-time Kia WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces visit two-time MVP Breanna Stewart and the defending champion New York Liberty in the first game of an ABC doubleheader (1 p.m. ET). In the second game, the Indiana Fever, led by back-to-back Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year winners Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, host the Chicago Sky, which includes 2024 WNBA All-Rookie Team picks Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese (3 p.m. ET).
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WNBA Announces Return of the Tip-Off Test Drive presented by CarMax on the WNBA App

&#8211;League Also Sets New Records for Merchandise Sales, Social Media Engagement, League Pass Subscriptions and App Downloads with Triple-Digit Growth Across All Categories&#8211;
NEW YORK, June 10, 2024 – The WNBA’s unprecedented growth continues as the league, which just tipped off its 28th season on May 14th, finished May with its highest attended opening month in 26 years and its most-watched start of season across each network ever: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, ION and NBA TV.
The WNBA also saw complementary viewership marks amongst diversified audiences. Notably, viewership grew 60% year-over-year among people of color, with the most-represented demographics in that category – Hispanic and Black fans – notching a 96% and 67% year-over-year growth in viewership, respectively. Additionally, Tip-Off Week presented by CarMax saw a 124% increase in Under 35 viewership and a 139% growth in young girls tuning in.
From preseason through the end of May, the 2024 rookie class contributed meaningfully on the court and continued to drive fan engagement. Throughout Tip-off Week, four of the five moments that drove the most engagement on social channels featured highlights of Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese, Los Angeles Sparks’s Cameron Brink or Las Vegas Aces’ Kate Martin. WNBA merchandise sales are seeing a 236% increase year-over-year, with Clark, Reese and Brink ranking in the top five for jersey sales during the first week of the season.
The growth of diverse audiences is also resulting in deepened and more frequent single-user engagement across digital platforms. WNBA App monthly active users is up 613% year-over-year, and League Pass subscriptions more than tripled in the first two weeks of the season with the highest average minutes watched in league history.
“What’s happening now in women’s basketball is confirmation of what we’ve always known: The demand is there, and women’s sports is a valuable investment,” said Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison. “We’re encouraged by growing engagement across all our verticals, especially as we welcome new and diverse audiences into our fandom. The WNBA continues to experience sustained growth as our league embraces this heightened momentum.”
Additional highlights for start of season include:
Attendance
Approximately 400,000 fans attended WNBA games since the tip of the season through the end of May, the most through the first month of the season in 26 years. More than half of all WNBA games were sellouts, which is a 156% increase from last year.
Additionally, WNBA arenas were filled to a 94% capacity, up 17% from last year.
Viewership
Across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and CBS, WNBA games are averaging 1.32 million viewers, nearly tripling last season’s average (462,000 viewers). Additional individual network highlights include:
<ul>
<li>ESPN2: The Opening Night matchup featuring the Indiana Fever vs. the Connecticut Sun (May 14) averaged 2.12 million viewers across ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+, peaking at 2.34 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA game on Disney platforms ever.</li>
<li>ABC: The Indiana Fever vs. the New York Liberty (May 18) on ABC averaged 1.71 million viewers, making it the most-viewed WNBA game on ABC ever and the second-most-viewed game across Disney networks ever (behind only this year’s Opening Night matchup featuring the Indiana Fever vs. the Connecticut Sun on ESPN2).</li>
<li>WNBA Countdown on ABC and ESPN2 has averaged 741,000 viewers, up +211% vs. last year’s full season Countdown average across ABC/ESPN/ESPN2.</li>
<li>ESPN: The Connecticut Sun vs. Indiana Fever (May 20) averaged 1.56 million viewers, making it the most-viewed WNBA game on ESPN ever.</li>
<li>CBS: In the Network’s first game of the season, the New York Liberty vs. the Minnesota Lynx (May 25) averaged 704,000 viewers, making it the most-viewed WNBA game on CBS ever.</li>
</ul>
Additionally, ION and NBA TV set new viewership highs during the start of the 2024 season:
<ul>
<li>ION:  ION, in its second-year airing WNBA games, saw its most-viewed WNBA game ever when the Indiana Fever vs. the Los Angeles Sparks averaged 724,000 viewers on May 24. ION’s average WNBA game viewership has increased by 51% households, comparing Weeks 1-3 of the 2023 season to Weeks 1-3 of the 2024 season.</li>
<li>NBA TV: The Los Angeles Sparks vs. the Indiana Fever (May 28) averaged 356,000 viewers, making it the most-viewed WNBA game on NBA TV ever. *Subsequently surpassed by the Fever at Liberty game (June 2) that averaged 430,000 viewers, making it the most-viewed WNBA game on NBA TV ever.</li>
</ul>
Merchandise
Since the start of the season, WNBAStore.com has already set the record for the most single-season sales in store history as overall transactions are up 756% versus the same time period last year.  
WNBA Social Media
WNBA social channels garnered 157 million video views through the first week of the season, the most viewed WNBA tip-off week on social media ever and up 380% vs. last year.
WNBA League Pass 
May set an all-time high for WNBA League Pass subscriptions with a 335% increase vs. last season.
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WNBA Opens 2024 Season with Highest Attendance in 26 Years and Most-Watched Games Ever on National TV

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-177676" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/05/COVERIMAGE_carmax2-2-1024x363.png" alt="" width="1024" height="363" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/05/COVERIMAGE_carmax2-2-1024x363.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/05/COVERIMAGE_carmax2-2-300x106.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/05/COVERIMAGE_carmax2-2-768x272.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2023/05/COVERIMAGE_carmax2-2.png 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
The all-new WNBA App is here, and so are free games.
With the 2023 season starting Friday, unlock access to the action with the Tip-Off Test Drive by CarMax.
Go to the Watch tab of the WNBA App to stream the below games for free, Live* or On-Demand, through May 28th.
<a href="https://smart.link/yl1qhcknxmsqh">Download</a> now to get in the game.
Friday, May 19
New York at Washington, 7:00 p.m. ET
It’s the debut game of the NYC super team as Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Courtney Vandersloot, Sabrina Ionescu and company look for their first win against a Mystics squad featuring a healthy Elena Delle Donne, who enters the 2023 season without limitations.
Connecticut at Indiana, 7:00 p.m. ET
We get our first look at No. 1 overall pick Aliyah Boston as the Fever host a Sun team featuring a new coach in Stephanie White and a new starting center as the reigning Sixth Player of the Year, Brionna Jones, takes over for the departing 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones.
Chicago at Minnesota, 8:00 p.m. ET
These teams met Saturday in the first-ever WNBA Canada Game, with Kahleah Copper scoring 18 points to lead Chicago to the win. Minnesota looks to turn the tables in Friday’s regular-season opener, which includes the debut of No. 2 pick Diamond Miller.
Sunday, May 21
Washington at Connecticut, 1:00 p.m. ET
This is a rematch of the 2019 WNBA Finals, won by Washington in five games, with both teams still featuring many of the core pieces from that matchup: Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones and Natisha Hiedeman for the Sun; Delle Donne, Natasha Cloud, Kristi Toliver, Ariel Atkins, Myisha Hines-Allen, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Tianna Hawkins for the Mystics.
Indiana at New York, 2:00 p.m. ET
These two teams enter the season with disparate expectations. After their marquee offseason additions, the Liberty join the defending champion Aces as title favorites; meanwhile, Indiana looks to lay the foundation for future success and build with a young roster.
Tuesday, May 23
Connecticut at Washington, 7:00 p.m. ET
It’s Game 2 of the 2019 WNBA Finals rematch, this time in Washington, DC. This will be the second meeting in three days between the Sun and Mystics as half of their season series will be completed in Week 1.
Atlanta at Minnesota, 8:00 p.m. ET
These two teams have a history, with Minnesota sweeping Atlanta to win their first two titles in 2011 and 2013. However, no players on either roster were a part of those Finals matchups. Both teams finished outside the playoffs last season at 14-22 and look to return to the postseason in 2023 and compete for championships again in the near future.
Friday, May 26
Washington at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. ET
This matchup features the 2019 and 2021 WNBA champions. Chicago has only three players returning from that title team from just two years ago (Copper, Dana Evans and Ruthy Hebard, who is out on maternity leave), while Washington still has seven of the 11 players from its title team from four years ago.
Dallas at Seattle, 10:00 p.m. ET
Let&#8217;s make this prediction official: Jewell Loyd will win the 2023 scoring title. Loyd finished 10th last season while playing alongside scoring champ Breanna Stewart. With Stewart in New York and Sue Bird retired, expect a jump in usage for Loyd and more buckets as she takes center stage for the new-look Storm.
Saturday, May 27
Los Angeles at Las Vegas, 9:00 p.m. ET
The 2023 Aces look to become the first repeat champions in the WNBA since the 2002 Sparks. LA last won the title in 2016 and there are currently more players from that team on the Aces (Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray) than the Sparks (Nneka Ogwumike). This game also marks the return of Dearica Hamby to Las Vegas following a bitter exit over the summer, although she remains on maternity leave as the season approaches.
Sunday, May 28
Indiana at Atlanta, 3:00 p.m. ET
The two most recent No. 1 overall draft picks – Rhyne Howard (2022, Atlanta) and Aliyah Boston (2023, Indiana) – meet for the first time in the WNBA. Howard is the reigning Rookie of the Year, an award that has been won by the top pick 13 times in the award’s 25-year history.
Dallas at Chicago, 6:00 p.m. ET
The Wings added a new coach (Latricia Trammell) and a pair of All-Stars (Diamond DeShields and Natasha Howard) as they look for their first winning season since relocating to Dallas in 2016. During their run to the 2021 title, Chicago eliminated Dallas in the opening round as Copper (23 points) outdueled Arike Ogunbowale (22 points).
*Local Blackouts Apply
Longtime WNBA reporter Brian Martin writes articles on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

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With WNBA League Pass, enjoy on-demand access to every game from the 2025 season, plus timeless classics from the archives.