Ariel Atkins, a prominent player for the Chicago Sky, will switch from Unrivaled to Athletes Unlimited for the upcoming season. The Sky’s guard participated in the 3-on-3 league developed by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart during the previous offseason. Now, Atkins will compete in Athletes Unlimited, which returns to Nashville in February for the second year in a row.
Athletes Unlimited will begin its fifth season on February 4 at the Municipal Auditorium, after recording record attendance in Music City earlier this year. Maddy Siegrist, from the Dallas Wings of the WNBA, won the individual title at the end of the league on March 2. The league features 40 professionals competing for four weeks in a traditional 5-on-5 format, with $500,000 in prize bonuses, with rules established by the players. Atkins commented that she spoke with several players who have competed in the league, including Theresa Plaisance, Elizabeth Williams, and Alysha Clark.I’m very excited. They’ve been building something for a while.
Ariel Atkins
Atkins had nothing negative to say about Unrivaled. She played there for a few weeks as a substitute player, filling in for teams that had injuries.I had deep conversations to understand how it is and they all really enjoy it.
Ariel Atkins
Atkins has played abroad in the past, but for now she only plans to play in the Athletes Unlimited season. In addition to Atkins, among the first to register are three members of the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA: NaLyssa Smith, Kiah Stokes, and Aaliyah Nye, and two from the New York Liberty: Isabelle Harrison and Jaylyn Sherrod. Other notable players include three-time WNBA champion Clark, Lexie Brown of the Seattle Storm, who chairs the AU Pro Basketball players’ executive committee, two-time WNBA champion Sydney Colson, and WNBA rookie Te-Hina Paopao. Megan Perry, vice president of basketball for Athletes Unlimited, expressed her excitement about returning to the Municipal Auditorium after being welcomed in Nashville last season. With a roster that combines proven leaders and exciting new faces, AU Pro Basketball is where legends rise and new stars are born. AU Pro Basketball debuted in Las Vegas in 2022 and played the 2023 and 2024 seasons in Dallas.They were doing a phenomenal job and the players are well taken care of.
Ariel Atkins
