February 28, 2025, New York, N.Y. - As season four of Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball – its first in Nashville – draws to a close this weekend with record attendance and significant community engagement, Nashville city officials and Athletes Unlimited are proud to announce that they have reached a multi-year deal for AU Pro Basketball to return to Music City in 2026 and beyond.
With intense competition among a deep and diverse roster of talent featuring Olympians, WNBA Champions and emerging young players, Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball has brought a unique brand of basketball to Nashville that the city has fully embraced, with Tennessee’s rich basketball history and extensive support from the community contributing to record crowds for AU Pro Basketball at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium throughout February.
The current season concludes this weekend, with limited tickets still available for the remaining games on Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2 (action begins at 3:00pm CT each day). The 2026 AU Pro Basketball season will take place from February 4-28. Additional details and ticket information will be released at a later date.
By all measures, Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball has been a hit with fans and the community. Attendance at Nashville Municipal Auditorium for the four-week event has been by far the best in the four-year history of AU Pro Basketball, projected to finish +77% above last year’s previous high. Similarly, merchandise sales are up +97% over last year, while social media engagement is up +69%.
On the court, fans have been treated to world-class basketball featuring WNBA talent, emerging young players and athletes with local ties, including Alysha Clark, Isabelle Harrison, Kia Nurse, Lexie Brown, Sydney Colson and Alissa Pili, among many others.
Highlights of community engagement have included: an Opening Day breakfast gathering with local business leaders co-hosted by the Nashville Sports Council Women in Sports Committee, Athletes Unlimited and Bank of America Private Bank, marketing support and engagement from the Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators, Nashville SC, Vanderbilt University and Belmont University, a Community Day hosted by AU and presented by Gray Line Tennessee benefitting YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Mount Juliet Youth Academy and Purpose Preparatory Academy, as well as a Youth Day where AU hosted more than 1,000 local school children for a mid-day game on February 12.
Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball was the first winter pro women's basketball league to launch in the United States when it began in 2022 and remains the only platform in the U.S. offering professional women the opportunity to play five-on-five full court basketball outside of the WNBA. Innovative in its player-focused approach, AU Pro Basketball provides an ability for WNBA players to stay in the U.S. during the offseason while also providing playing opportunities for elite pro players not currently on WNBA rosters. Like other Athletes Unlimited leagues, AU Pro Basketball is led by a Player Executive Committee, and players share in long-term profits of the company. National broadcast and business partners for AU Pro Basketball include ESPN, the WNBA, FanDuel Sports Network, Nike, Baden, EY, Gatorade, the U.S. Air Force, Gray Line Tennessee, Noughty, Sequel and Madam Paleta.
AU Pro Basketball is part of Athletes Unlimited, which was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies and features an Advisory Board comprised of an illustrious group of high-profile contributors from the worlds of sports, business and entertainment including basketball legend Sheryl Swoopes, two-time NBA champion and entrepreneur Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman of 35 Ventures; and U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team superstar Abby Wambach, among many others.
“As a national and global property, Athletes Unlimited was looking for a global home, and Nashville fits that description perfectly. We had high hopes for this season in Nashville, given the city’s level of interest in bringing AU Pro Basketball here and the rich basketball history throughout the state of Tennessee, but the level of reception and embrace from the community and fans here has exceeded even our highest expectations,” said Jon Patricof, CEO and Co-Founder of Athletes Unlimited. “Nashville Municipal Auditorium is an outstanding, historic venue, and our players have raved about their experience in the city over this past month. We are thrilled to say AU Pro Basketball has found its home, and look forward to becoming an even bigger part of the community in the months and years to come.”
“We are proud to welcome Athletes Unlimited back to Music City in 2026 after such an incredible, record-breaking success this year,” said Deana Ivey, President and CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “Setting a new attendance record underscores the unparalleled enthusiasm of our fans and the unforgettable experience Nashville offers. Our city thrives on the energy of live sports, and we look forward to making this professional women’s event an even bigger draw for athletes, fans and visitors next year.”
“After a historic fourth season, we are thrilled that Athletes Unlimited is returning to Music City in 2026!” said Monica Fawknotson, Executive Director, Metro Nashville Sports Authority. “Great basketball + great fans is always a winning combination.”
“We appreciate the confidence in Athletes Unlimited in Nashville to be awarded a second year of professional women’s basketball,” said Scott Ramsey, resident, and CEO of the Nashville Sports Council. “We look forward to working with AU to continue to grow the successful foundation that was established this year.”
"What an incredible February for women’s basketball in Nashville and Athletes Unlimited has played a pivotal role and contributed to the excitement!” said Sheila Gibson, Nashville Leader & Women in Sports, Chair. “In January, I challenged the city of Nashville to “Show-Up” and for AU to “Show-Out”, and both have delivered spectacularly! I am so excited that AU will return to Nashville for the 2026 season, providing the opportunity to continue to build on this new partnership and create even more opportunities to impact our city and women’s athletics.”
Former Councilmember and current Nashville Municipal Auditorium (NMA) Commissioner, Nancy VanReece was encouraged by a staff report showing 906 seasonal jobs were provided beyond the AU staff. “NMA is proud to be the people’s venue and is beyond thrilled to have been able to see both incredible community gathered in our space as well as important seasonal employment for our treasured hospitality industry.”
About Athletes Unlimited:
Named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in 2023, Athletes Unlimited is a new model of pro sports, where athletes are decision-makers and individual players are champions of team sports. Athletes Unlimited owns and operates professional women’s softball, lacrosse, 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 mothers 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.
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