NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Alysha Clark is eager to challenge the misconception that professional leagues like Athletes Unlimited and Unrivaled create conflict among women basketball players. She argues that these leagues should be seen as providing additional opportunities for athletes to earn a living while staying closer to home during the WNBA offseason, rather than presenting players with a difficult choice between two competing leagues.
“It addresses the issues that we’ve had as players for so many years,” Clark stated. “We’ve all had to go overseas and sacrifice time away from family and friends to make a living … But now there are options.” This season marks Clark’s debut with Athletes Unlimited, which is currently in its fourth season. A former Tennessee high school star who played collegiately at Belmont and Middle Tennessee, Clark finds that both leagues offer unique opportunities. Unrivaled, which launched on January 17, provides a platform for star players looking for offseason competition, while Athletes Unlimited focuses on developing skills for players aiming to secure or maintain their positions in the WNBA.
The emergence of multiple professional women’s leagues in the United States provides more choices for players than what was conceivable just 15 years ago. “It’s beautiful for our game, and I’m excited to be a part of it,” Clark expressed. She hopes that both leagues will continue to grow and provide additional avenues for women athletes, stating, “It’d be amazing that this continues to expand, and now players have many options.”
Distinctive features set Athletes Unlimited apart from Unrivaled. Athletes Unlimited hosts a four-team league where players engage in 24 traditional 5-on-5 games at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville over the coming month. In contrast, Unrivaled features a six-team competition playing 3-on-3 games, with a total of 44 regular-season contests in Miami.
Kia Nurse, a seasoned Olympian, opted for Athletes Unlimited to best prepare for her upcoming WNBA season due to its full-sized court and the scheduling fit with her role as a broadcast analyst for the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. “This was the perfect opportunity at the right time,” she noted, appreciating the condensed nature of the season that wouldn’t interfere with her commitments to the Raptors.
In terms of player capacity, Athletes Unlimited accommodates 40 roster spots, while Unrivaled has 36, allowing nearly twice as many players the chance to remain in the United States instead of heading overseas for basketball opportunities. “It’s growing the game,” Nurse remarked, highlighting the importance of increasing visibility for women’s basketball.
Many other WNBA players, including Maddy Siegrist, Kiersten Bell, and Lexie Brown, are participating in Athletes Unlimited. The structure of AU allows players to earn points for team victories and individual achievements, with a large scoreboard tracking performance. Rosters are reconfigured weekly, enabling the top four players to take over as team captains and engage in hands-on management and coaching.
The competitive landscape concerning player salaries is also noteworthy. While Megan Perry, AU’s basketball director, declined to provide specific figures, she mentioned that the contracts are structured to attract elite talent. Unrivaled is reported to have the highest average salaries among women’s professional leagues, with many players earning six-figure sums for the eight-week season, averaging over $220,000, closely approaching WNBA maximum salaries.
Both leagues will vie for audience attention on Fridays and Saturdays as their game schedules overlap. Athletes Unlimited broadcasts games on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays via ESPN+ and the WNBA app. Conversely, Unrivaled matches are featured on TNT and TruTV during Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays.
For Theresa Plaisance, a WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces, the timing of her third season with Athletes Unlimited aligns excellently within the sports calendar. “We love non-breakage in women’s sports,” she remarked, appreciating how this league fits seamlessly into the transition to March Madness and the WNBA draft.
Several players in Athletes Unlimited have connections to Tennessee, including Isabelle Harrison, a Nashville native, who is playing alongside her sister, Dorie. The league’s decision to host games in Nashville this season celebrates Tennessee’s storied history in women’s basketball. Recently, league officials announced intentions to bring a WNBA expansion franchise to the city, with fan turnout likely influencing the assessment of potential new teams. Clark has observed a strong interest in women’s basketball across Tennessee and is optimistic about the support for these leagues. “That’s the legacy that’s here,” she stated emphatically.
