Professional women’s basketball is set to tip off at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium Wednesday with Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball.
The league features stars from the Women’s National Basketball Association, the Southeastern Conference and around the basketball world. The monthlong competition begins as interest in the sport is especially high in Music City. In January, a group of investors launched a bid for a Nashville WNBA franchise, the Tennessee Summitt, which would begin play in 2028.
The league is a showcase for the sport in Nashville — something that’s not lost on players with local roots like Alysha Clark, who played at Mt. Juliet High School, Belmont University and Middle Tennessee State University before becoming a three-time WNBA champion.
"Izzy [Harrison, another Nashville native and WNBA veteran] and I were kind of talking about that," Clark says. "Not only do we get to play at home, but we're part of history right now. I know the support that’s here, and so I’m so excited for the fans here and everyone here to get to experience that.”
Women’s basketball experienced blockbuster growth in 2024. The women’s basketball national championship between South Carolina and Caitlin Clark-led Iowa was the most watched basketball game since 2019, and the WNBA saw a 170 percent increase in regular season viewers, according to ESPN. Two new WNBA expansion teams are already confirmed for the league in coming seasons with a group of investors led by former Gov. Bill Haslam vying for a team in Nashville.
AU Pro Basketball player Kia Nurse says there is value in bringing the sport to new markets. Nurse, a Canadian, played in last season’s WNBA Canada Game in Edmonton, Alberta. She says the experience helped generate buzz for the first Canadian team, the Toronto Tempo, which will take the court in 2026.
“This is an opportunity for the Nashville community — we already know its very rich history in women's basketball — to show up and show out and remind the WNBA," she says. "Not even remind them, just give them a little poke and say, ‘This is why you should be in this market.'"
How It Works
Athletes Unlimited launched its basketball league in 2022 as an option for players to supplement income and stay in playing shape during the WNBA offseason without having to play overseas. The organization also hosts softball and volleyball leagues in other cities.
It uses a unique scoring system that emphasizes efficient individual play: Each week of the season, four player captains choose teams to compete in five-on-five games. But since the teams shuffle each week, there are no team-based leaderboards. Instead, individual players are scored for their performance, earning points by making big plays, winning weekly MVP honors and — unsurprisingly — playing on a winning team. The top-scoring player at the end of the season is crowned as the season’s champion.
"Our scoring system rewards efficient, good basketball,” says Theresa Plaisance, who is entering her third AU season. “You have to be strategic, and you have to be intentional about the shots you take, and the passes you make, and make sure that you're taking care of the basketball, because everything will be graded on the leaderboard.”
Growing the Game
The league has drawn comparisons to Unrivaled, another domestic league for WNBA stars that features three-on-three basketball. Unrivaled features several All-WNBA players and has generated positive media buzz, but AU players say the leagues are complements, not competitors.
“All of us have had to go overseas and sacrifice time away from family and friends to make a living and sustain, but now, there's options,” says Clark. “There's enough for all of us to eat.”
Among the pool of players taking the court are a handful of athletes with local ties. One of the most experienced players taking part, Clark is a three-time WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces. Sisters Isabelle and Dorie Harrison, both Hillsboro High School grads, will be sharing the floor for the first time in a professional setting. Isabelle played her collegiate ball at Tennessee, while Dorie suited up for Lipscomb. In addition, Isabelle isn't the only former Lady Vol in town, with Storm's Jordan Horston a part of the league.
Other WNBA stars include Lexie Brown of the Los Angeles Sparks, Kierstan Bell of the Las Vegas Aces, and Nurse, who recently signed to the Chicago Sky. Alissa Pili was the first-round draft pick for the Minnesota Lynx in 2024 and will hope to build momentum heading into her sophomore season in Minneapolis. Theresa Plaisance and Sydney Colson, the self-proclaimed “Faces of the League,” are also set to take the court.
Tickets are available at auprosports.com/basketball.
Isabelle Harrison says she expects to see lots of familiar faces from her time in Nashville.
“This needs to be sold out," she says with a smile. "I need Nashville to come out and support."
Logan Butts contributed to reporting.
This story was originally published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
