18 WNBA players in Athletes Unlimited

In all, 29 of the 40 AU players have WNBA experience.

The WNBA and its players once again are a big part of the Athletes Unlimited season.

Eighteen players in the 40-person league finished last season on a WNBA ros- ter, while 11 others, includ- ing two-time Olympic champion Angel McCoughtry, have experience in the league.

There has been a growth in the amount of WNBA play- ers competing in the fourweek league from its incep- tion in 2022. Originally 34% had some WNBA ties, with that number increasing to 72.5% this year.

With less options to play overseas because of the situation in Israel, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the WNBA’s prioritization rule that requires players to be in training camp or not be able to play in the upcoming season, AU has become a more attractive option.

Most of the games in the league will be available to watch for free on the WNBA App. It’s the second year of a collaboration between the leagues.

Current WNBA play- ers competing this season include the Atlanta Dream’s Laeticia Amihere, Allisha Gray and Haley Jones.

Athletes Unlimited started in 2020 and also has soft- ball, volleyball and lacrosse leagues in which there are no team owners and play- ers share directly in league profits. The basketball rules are similar to the WNBA, and there will be more than $1 million for the 40 players to earn, with the winner receiv- ing roughly $50,000.

The league redrafts its teams each week with the top four point-scorers serving as captains. The league — in Dallas for a second consec- utive season — tips off Feb. 29 and concludes March 23.

ABBIE PARR/ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE The Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray will play for Athletes Unlimited. For a variety of reasons, playing for Athletes Unlimited is becoming a popular option in the offseason for WNBA players.