• All Feature Articles AU Basketball Wraps Up a Golden Month and Crowns a New Star of the Women's Game in Nashville by Rich and Laura Lynch It's an exciting time for Women's Basketball and the city of Nashville has just experienced their own fair share of the "Caitlin Clark" effect as the Athlete's Unlimited Basketball tournament concluded their month long stay at the Municipal Auditorium. On Sunday, March 02, 2025 - the doubleheader dubbed "Champion's Night" by the league - included two action-packed games that led to the crowning of Forward Maddy Siegrist as the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball Champion. It was Champion's Night in Nashville on March 02, 2025 at the Muncipal Auditorium. Yes, you heard that right - an individual player was named league champion and that is just one of several unique innovations that makes AU a standout off-season showcase for 40-plus women stars of the hardcourt game. AU Pro Basketball features top talent on the court and the sidelines, including WNBA All-Stars, Champions and Hall of Famers. Off the court, the athletes recruit fellow pros, create league rules and retain equity in the league. On the court, the top four players become new captains each week and draft their teams from scratch for each week's games. The AU scoring system differs from traditional rules in that every player can lose or win points during every game. Athletes score points as individuals and as a team to win MVP titles and cash bonuses. After each game, players and fans get a chance to vote for their MVP. Now, just concluding their fourth season and the first in Nashville -- Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball has just announced an exciting multi-year renewal signing with Music City to ensure that AU Pro Basketball returns to the region for the 2026 season and beyond. In Tennessee - AU found significant community engagement, consistent enthusiasm from fans and attendance numbers that were by far the best in the league's four-year history. AU action concludes with Maddy Siegrist crowned as the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball champion. Leading up to the final weekend AU Pro Basketball was projecting to finish 77 percent above last year's previous high attendance numbers. With merchandise sales seeing a 97 percent overall climb from last year and social media engagement also seeing a two-thirds boost it's clear that Nashville was the perfect choice to host women's basketball at a time that coincides with more interest and a growing national spotlight on the sport. "It's been great. I mean, we're in a great spot. I think there's a lot going on. Besides from a couple of cold weeks there's not too much to complain about," said AU 2025 Pro Basketball Champion, Maddy Siegrist in a post game press conference when asked about playing in Music City. "I think the facility has been great. Where we stay is great. It's been a first-class experience and seeing the way the city of Nashville has shown up I think is huge." "When we think about women's sports - that's who we are - and we want to represent that in multiple fashions. We think that the platform that Nashville has provided us to do so has been, as Maddy says, first class," replied Megan Perry, Vice President of Basketball, Athletes Unlimited, echoing the sentiments of her newly crowned star player at the same presser. "There are so many organizations that have tapped into us and we are eager to share that love right back with them." Music City welcomed halftime performer Britney Spencer. On Sunday, forward Maddy Siegrist was crowned as the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball Champion. The WNBA 2024 rookie on the Dallas Wings finished the four-week season atop the 41-player leaderboard with a league-record 7,052 leaderboard points at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium marking her first championship with Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball. Siegrist joins guard Allisha Gray (2024) and forwards NaLyssa Smith (2023) and Tianna Hawkins (2022) as AU Pro Basketball Champions. Guard Odyssey Sims (6,595 points) placed second in the final league standings, while guard Crystal Bradford followed in third place with 5,304 leaderboard points. Forward Maya Caldwell completed the medalist quartet after collecting 4,860 points. Guard Shey Peddy was honored as the AU Pro Basketball Defensive Player of the Year, while Sims, Bradford, center Elizabeth Williams and forward Alysha Clark joined her on the All-Defensive Team. In addition, guard Tyasha Harris was voted as Newcomer of the Year by the league's players and facilitators. Throughout the season AU also brought exciting entertainment for the enthusiastic and impressive crowds gathered downtown. We witnessed youth basketball matches, cultural dance exhibitions and singer-songwriters during the halftime segments. The final performer for the season was the convincing and commanding country artist Britney Spencer who definitely made some new fans during her three-song showcase on Champion's Night. Now, we can't for 2026 to watch how Athletes Unlimited will build upon their momentum gained in Music City. Whatever happens - as their slogan says - we know they'll make every moment count when they return next February. AU will return to Nashville in 2026 where the golden confetti will fly once again at the historic arena. Related Links: For more information on ATHLETES UNLIMITED and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - Athletes Unlimited | Every Moment Counts in AU Pro Basketball | Nashville Municipal Auditorium

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Do you like MCN??? Did you know that the easiest way to support this site is to BUY our founder's DEBUT ALBUM on BANDCAMP? At check out you can even throw in a bit more to really say "we appreciate you"! Thanks!!! • Jason Isbell Is Stark and Stoic at The Pinnacle in Nashville • Country Artist Bobby Joe Ryman Gets Back to the U.S.S.R. With Long Lost Release From Behind the Iron Curtain • March Madness Continues in Music City Courtesy of the Always Thrilling SEC Men's Basketball Tournament • True Rescue Is a Truly Inspiring Animal Shelter in Mt. Juliet • Canadian Clayton Bellamy Pays Tribute to Tom Petty in Nashville • AU Basketball Wraps Up a Golden Month and Crowns a New Star of the Women's Game in Nashville • Little Feat Let It Roll at the Eastside Bowl in Madison • Ringo Starr Adds Palpable Star Power to the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville • TobyMac's Deep Hits Tour Stop Is a Bountiful Blessing at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville • Talking Turkey at the Annual NWTF Convention in Nashville • TPAC Announces New Season As Broadway Hit & Juliet Makes Much-Anticipated Debut in Nashville • Every Moment Counts in AU Pro Basketball • Alejandro Medina III Is Ready to Breakout with a Genre-Bridging Repertoire in Nashville • The 35th Annual Antiques & Garden Show Cultivates a Big Crowd at Music City Center in Nashville • Chief's On Broadway Puts Out the Fire During Hot Chicken Week in Nashville • The Music Valley Village Has a Lot to Offer Both Tourists and Locals Alike in Nashville, Tennessee • Well, Hello Dolly - Beloved Global Icon Set to Unveil a New Musical in Nashville Before Great White Way Debut in 2026 • The Circus Is Back in Town at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville • His Heart Will Go On - A Celebration of Life for Acclaimed Songwriter Will Jennings at the Ford Theater in Nashville • Michael W. Smith Brings Every Christmas Home For the Holidays at The Fisher Center in Nashville • Ringo Starr - Look Up • Warren Haynes - Million Voices Whisper • Pure Prairie League - Back on Track • Dan Tyminski - Live From The Ryman • Kim Richey - Every New Beginning • Jack McKeon - Talking to Strangers • Avery Anna - Mood Swings • Dex Green - Imaginary War • Jon Muq - Flying Away • Don McLean - American Boys • Meet Rich and Laura Lynch.

MADDY SIEGRIST CROWNED 2025 ATHLETES UNLIMITED PRO BASKETBALL CHAMPION – Odyssey Sims, Crystal Bradford and Maya Caldwell Round Out Medalists – – Shey Peddy Named Defensive Player of the Year – – Tyasha Harris Named Newcomer of the Year – – AU Pro Basketball to Return to Nashville February 4-28, 2026; Season Ticket Deposits Available Now – – Championship Footage Can Be Found HERE – March 2, 2025, Nashville – Forward Maddy Siegrist has been crowned as the 2025 Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball champion after finishing the four-week season atop the 41-player leaderboard with a league-record 7,052 leaderboard points on Sunday evening at Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Guard Odyssey Sims (6,595 points) placed second in the final league standings, while guard Crystal Bradford followed in third place with 5,304 leaderboard points. Forward Maya Caldwell completed the medalist quartet after collecting 4,860 points. Guard Shey Peddy was recognized as the AU Pro Basketball Defensive Player of the Year, while Sims, Bradford, center Elizabeth Williams and forward Alysha Clark joined her on the All-Defensive Team. In addition, guard Tyasha Harris was voted as Newcomer of the Year by the league’s players and facilitators. Amid record attendance and community engagement in Nashville (click here for a recap video), Athletes Unlimited and the City of Nashville announced earlier this week that they have reached a multi-year deal for AU Pro Basketball to return to Music City in 2026 and beyond. The 2026 AU Pro Basketball season will take place from February 4-28 at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Fans can make season ticket deposits for the 2026 season by visiting AUProBasketball.com/tickets. To commemorate her victory, Siegrist will receive a medal designed and hand-fabricated by Lisa Issenberg, founder of Kiitellä, inc. Kiitellä is a Finnish word meaning “to thank, applaud or praise,” and Issenberg creates awards that are innovative, mixed-media, non-traditional works of art, pieces that celebrate accomplishment, humanity, and philanthropy. Kiitellä is committed to being a responsible steward of our environment, with each step in the process, from design to fabrication to delivery, using minimal energy and material. Siegrist, who joins guard Allisha Gray (2024) and forwards NaLyssa Smith (2023) and Tianna Hawkins (2022) as AU Pro Basketball Champions, ended her second AU season as the league’s second-leading scorer with a 24.3 point per game average. She also ranked second in the circuit with 105 total rebounds, including a league-best 41 offensive rebounds. The former Villanova standout set a new Athletes Unlimited record by garnering Game MVP honors in 11 consecutive games, finishing with a league-best 780 MVP points. She also established a new league record by securing 3,540 win points after authoring a 9-3 record with a league-best 32 quarter wins. Siegrist’s squads authored a 7-2 record in her three weeks as a captain, including a perfect 3-0 mark during Week Two. “This has been a great experience and thank you to Nashville and AU,” said Siegrist. “I couldn’t be more happy to play with all of these players. This has been an amazing experience and getting to compete against so many great players and learn from them has been great.” Peddy, a former Temple standout, ranked fourth in the league with 20 steals during her first AU campaign, including a season-high four takeaways against Team Sims on February 23. She captured MVP 3 notice on February 19 after netting 15 points with three rebounds and a pair of steals against Team Harrison. “I was honestly shocked because I didn’t expect to win this award,” Peddy said. “I feel like I did a pretty good job, so I am thankful to everyone who voted for me for this award. Playing in the league this season has really boosted my confidence. Things started a little slow for me over the first couple of weeks, but once I got the hang of it around Week Three, my confidence grew and I was able to play my game more.” Harris registered double-digit scoring performances in 10-of-11 outings this season, including four contests with 20 or more points. The former South Carolina standout grabbed five Game MVP certificates, including a pair of MVP 1 honors, and earned a spot in the captain’s chair during Week Two and Week Four, finishing with a 3-3 record. She stayed inside the top seven positions on the leaderboard throughout the season, including a stint as the league leader following the doubleheader on February 7. “I am very blessed and happy to have the opportunity to play with a great group of girls this season,” Harris said. “It was competitive all the way until the end and I am just happy to be here and have a chance to showcase my talents. This format fits my game perfectly because there are times where I do things on the court that don’t show up on the stats sheet, so this was a good opportunity for me.”. “Congratulations to Maddy Siegrist for earning the AU Pro Basketball Championship, Shey Peddy for winning Defensive Player of the Year and Ty Harris for being named Newcomer of the Year,” said Megan Perry, Vice President of Basketball for Athletes Unlimited. “By every metric, this was the most successful season in AU Pro Basketball history. I want to thank the incredible basketball community in Nashville for embracing us with open arms, as well as our broadcast and business partners for all their support throughout the season. We are thrilled to have found our home here in Nashville, and are looking forward to bringing our unique brand of basketball back to Music City next year and beyond.” 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.