With all the buzz around Project B and Unrivaled\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u2014one 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Brown appeared on Good Follow<\/a> with Ros Gold-Onwude, she explained, \u201cWe have weekly meetings. We handpicked the roster. We discussed uniforms, what refs we\u2019re bringing in, if we\u2019re doing any rule changes. We collectively decided to come to Nashville\u2026We\u2019re extremely hands-on.\u201d<\/p>\n She also added, \u201cI\u2019m getting my feet wet in the front office role, GM role, that I want to have one day hopefully.\u201d<\/p>\n Brown wouldn\u2019t be the first former player to transition to the front office<\/p>\n 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\u2019t be the first player to make the transition. Four current WNBA GMs played in the league before making the move to the front office.\u00a0<\/p>\n