With all the buzz around Project B and Unrivaled’s second season, Athletes Unlimited is flying a bit under the radar. However, Athletes Unlimited deserves just as much attention as the other two leagues. After all, it paved the way for WNBA players to stay in the United States in the offseason while playing against great competition and making extra money.
Athletes Unlimited will tip off its fifth season on February 4 in Nashville. Players will compete in five-on-five games and raise money for different charities. It is a great opportunity for WNBA players to work on their game, secure bigger roles than they would have on their W teams, and prepare for the next summer of playing against the top competition. For Lexie Brown, it is also an opportunity to prepare for a future after basketball.
Brown just finished her eighth WNBA season after entering the league as a first-round pick in 2018. Brown was also among the first players to sign with Athletes Unlimited in 2022 and is now a part of the Player Executive Committee—one of the more unique aspects of the league. Players (Brown, Theresa Plaisance, Sydney Colson, Isabelle Harrison, and Doris Harrison for basketball) have an active role in the decision-making process around rosters, rules, locations, and much more.
When Brown appeared on Good Follow with Ros Gold-Onwude, she explained, “We have weekly meetings. We handpicked the roster. We discussed uniforms, what refs we’re bringing in, if we’re doing any rule changes. We collectively decided to come to Nashville…We’re extremely hands-on.”
She also added, “I’m getting my feet wet in the front office role, GM role, that I want to have one day hopefully.”
Brown wouldn’t be the first former player to transition to the front office
If Lexie Brown truly has her eyes on a front office role after her playing career, she has some examples to look up to. She certainly wouldn’t be the first player to make the transition. Four current WNBA GMs played in the league before making the move to the front office.
Monica Wright Rogers, the Toronto Tempo’s first-ever GM was the second overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft and won two championships with the Minnesota Lynx—an important factor in Sandy Brondello’s decision to coach the Tempo. The Sparks, Brown’s former team, also have a former player as GM. Raegan Pebley played in Utah and Cleveland during the WNBA’s early seasons. Mystics GM Jamila Wideman also played in the W when it was in its earliest years, suiting up for the Sparks, Rockers, Fire, and Sun from 1997 to 2000. Sun GM Morgan Tuck played most recently, winning a title with the Storm in 2020.
Being a former player and knowing exactly what makes a good team work and what current players need to succeed is a huge asset for a GM. Experiences with Athletes Unlimited and Unrivaled also prove how important it is to include current players in important decisions—something former players understand when they move on to leadership roles. Brown obviously values the opportunity to be involved in the decision-making at Athletes Unlimited, and Unrivaled players have noted how great it is that the league listened to their concerns about child care, scheduling, and relief players, among other things.
Athletes Unlimited features a lot of interesting talent
Athletes Unlimited features a roster stacked with talent, ranging from WNBA stars like Tina Charles, Ariel Atkins, and NaLyssa Smith to younger talent in Te-Hina Paopao, Aaliyah Nye, Aneesah Morrow, Deja Kelly, and Sarah Ashlee Barker. The league will also highlight several proven WNBA veterans, like Lexie Brown, Alysha Clark, Sydney Colson, Isabelle Harrison, Natasha Mack, Kia Nurse, and Odyssey Sims.
Athletes Unlimited may not boast the same star power Unrivaled does or Project B promises to feature when it starts in 2026, but it is still an opportunity to watch great basketball and support WNBA players in the offseason.