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Every Moment Counts in AU Pro Basketball
by Rich and Laura Lynch
The Athletes Unlimited (AU) Women's Pro Basketball tournament will be hosted at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium February 5th – March 2th 2025 which means every moment counts in this compelling competition.
Athletes Unlimited set up shop in Nashville for their 2025 season of women's basketball.
The Athletes Unlimited (AU) Pro Basketball features a fast-paced, full-court, 5-on-5 format that combines traditional points paired with an innovative scoring system. AU Pro Basketball showcases top talent on the court and the sidelines, including WNBA All-Stars, Champions and Hall of Famers. When not playing the game the athletes are ambassadors for the league within the local community and beyond via an extensive social media presence.
One of the many unique components of these competitions is that the top four players become new captains and draft lineups for each week's games. The scoring is also different. For example, WIN points are all about the team's performance. They accumulate during both individual quarters and overall contests.
Each quarter is worth +60 points and overall games are worth +180 points. In the case of a tie the points roll over to the next quarter and in overtime there is a five-minute scrimmage. If the match is still tied the first squad to score 7 points is the winner.
There is also an additional element of points on individual performances and stats. Various skills such as assists, blocks, steals and more are worth points. However, players can lose some credit for certain actions, such as committing fouls, turning over the ball or missing a shot. Unlike the WNBA and other league sports - the ultimate goal is to crown one player the overall season champion at the conclusion of the proceedings.
There was a lot of competitive action on the floor as athletes competed for points and an individual title in AU.
Music City Nashville had the pleasure of attending opening weekend on Friday, February 02, 2025. Most of the reasonably priced tickets include a doubleheader of two games complete with an abundance of family entertainment available on the concourse and on the court after a match. On one side of the court was a colorful scoreboard that kept us up to date on the game and AU scores along with each individual's points. At this time, the league is not associated with a city and the teams change each week and will go by the name of its captain. The first match was between Westbrook in orange against Colson sporting white and purple.
The next competition featured Team Harrison in black trimmed in gold verses Bell in blue. So, you might find yourself cheering for the squad with a player you admire or perhaps pick your favorite color or better yet just enjoy the games as the ladies show off their savvy and skills.
"Every Moment Counts" was a motto that was flashed on the video screens throughout the night. In the context of AU the idea is not only to win a game but also points. So, if one team is behind by a lot they can still get WIN points for a good quarter plus their performance is adding to personal scores so there is an additional incentive to do your best up until the last second.
For example, on Friday, Team Bell won by a decisive 98 to 71, however when the MVPs for that game were announced #2 was Maddy Siegrist of Team Harrison (60 points) the other stars of that scrimmage were #1 Odyssey Sims (Team Bell) earning 90 points and #3 Desi-Rae Young (Team Bell) adding 30 points to her overall score.
#22 Evina Westbrook greets the press after her squad's opening victory; Alysha Clark feels right at home with the Belmont cheer squad in the house.
Team Westbrook was also dominate in their competition against Colson so moments after both games were completed the leaderboard impact was that Team Westbrook closed out that evening with 10 of the top 11 spots on the leaderboard including guard Tyasha Harris, who has 1,258 points. Siegrist holds on to the No. 8 spot with 917 points, while Sims rises into 12th with 809 points after only acquiring two leaderboard points in her season debut Wednesday night.
Along with the action on the court there were activities and a shop on the main concourse plus some players were signing autographs after the match. Theme nights are also on the roster. Friday was Belmont University night so their mascot Bruiser along with some members of their cheer squad were there to entertain. This must have made the one-time Lady Bruins, Alysha Clark, feel right at home. The local hero and three-time WNBA Champion is also being celebrated as the poster girl for the 2025 incarnation of the league. Number #7 was quite active and impressive working to gather individual points even as her squad came up short against the team in Orange.
More community support for AU was on hand in the form of a number of local youth groups who were announced in attendance including The Green Hill Step Team who presented an animated program of claps and steps. AU filled the night with sports, music and more thus making every moment count. Fans outside of Nashville can watch select games for free on the WNBA App. Also, ESPN+ and more participating networks in addition to a variety of scheduled watch parties offer even more viewing opportunities. Please check out the AU website for specific listings for each game.
The 2025 Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball teams are among many athletes to have played at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. The structure was built in 1962 as a multi-purpose facility that has hosted historic concerts during its long history. Other sporting events including the return of the Nashville Kats Arena Football team are scheduled for later this year so please check out the Nashville Municipal Auditorium's website for more information.
Athletes Unlimited received a warm and enthusiastic welcome to Nashville.
Related Links:
For more information on ATHLETES UNLIMITED and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -
Athletes Unlimited |
Belmont Bruins |
Green Hill Step Team |
Nashville Municipal Auditorium
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