January 7, 2022
Athletes Unlimited reveals broadcast and streaming schedule
By Tee Baker
Houston Comets legend and Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes joins Carol Ross and Cindy Brunson to form the broadcast team
Athletes Unlimited announced the broadcast and streaming schedule for its inaugural women’s basketball season. The Athletes Unlimited Basketball season will run from January 26 to February 26. Two games will be played each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday during the five-week season (30 games total).
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FOX Sports (14 games) and the Bally Sports regional sports networks (8 games) will broadcast 22 of the season’s 30 games. The CBS Sports Network will televise three games. The five remaining games will stream live across Athletes Unlimited’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Houston Comets legend and Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes joins Carol Ross and Cindy Brunson to form the broadcast team. Swoopes and Ross will provide color commentary for the games while Cindy Brunson will handle play-by-play duties. Carol Ross is a former SEC Coach of the Year and WNBA Coach of the Year. She has covered women’s basketball for both the SEC Network and ESPN. Brunson has served as a sports anchor and play-by-play commentator and analyst for several networks including Bally Sports and ESPN.
New to AU? We got you 🏀 pic.twitter.com/mQZYowtQVA
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) January 7, 2022
“We are thrilled to be bringing fans 30 basketball games and 30 volleyball matches on national TV and digital channels in 2022,” Jon Patricof, CEO and Co-Founder of Athletes Unlimited said. “I want to thank CBS Sports and FOX Sports for their continued support of Athletes Unlimited and welcome Bally Sports as a new partner for live game distribution. Most of the games on Bally Sports will take place before or after NHL or NBA games, ensuring a great lead-in audience for our broadcasts.”
In an Athletes Unlimited Basketball season, athletes have the chance to score points for both individual and team wins and individual statistics, including rebounds, steals, assists and more. Athletes are ranked based on their cumulative stats. The top four on the leaderboard each week are captains. Captains choose their team for the week and the four teams compete in round-robin play. The athlete with the most points at the end of the season is the champion.
Several current and former WNBA players including Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud and WNBA veterans Sydney Colson and Tamera Young have signed with the league. Indiana Fever forward Jantel Lavender, Seattle Storm forward Kiki Harrigan and former Atlanta Dream player Courtney Williams have also committed to play in the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Basketball season. Essence Carson, who played 13 seasons in the league, also will join the league. Carson most recently competed on a WNBA roster during the 2020 “wubble” season.
Live weekly drafts will stream every Sunday at 3:00 PM ET on the Athletes Unlimited Facebook page. The first draft of the season is on Jan. 26.
Written by Tee Baker
Tee has been a contributor to The Next since March Madness 2021 and is currently a contributing editor, BIG EAST beat reporter and curator of historical deep dives.
