| Revision as of 21:52, 16 December 2024 editAFC Vixen (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,955 edits Article start; basic merge of Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball, Athletes Unlimited Pro Lacrosse, Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball, and Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball, as all four were rather short, of questionable individual notability, and share a lot of common information that could be better suited as a single, modestly-sized article. |
Latest revision as of 11:17, 28 December 2024 edit undoEpluribusunumyall (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users26,859 edits Athletes Unlimited template addedTag: Visual edit |
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'''Athletes Unlimited''' (also known by its ] '''AU''') is a ] ] organisation that organizes and administers competitions in the sports of ], ], ], and ] in the United States. It was founded in 2020 by ] and ]. Athletes Unlimited leagues employ formats in which individual players are crowned champions, with the exception of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, which has traditional ]. |
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'''Athletes Unlimited''' (also known by its ] '''AU''') is a ] ] organisation based in the United States that organizes and administers competitions in the sports of ], ], ], and formerly ]. It was founded in 2020 by ] and ]. Athletes Unlimited leagues employ formats in which individual players are crowned champions, with the exception of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, which has traditional ]. |
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== History == |
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== History == |
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=== Lacrosse === |
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{{Infobox sports league |
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| title = Athletes Unlimited Pro Lacrosse |
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| sport = Women's lacrosse |
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| inaugural = 2021 |
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| champion = Taylor Moreno |
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| champ_season = 2024 |
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| titles_label = Broadcaster |
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| titles = {{Hlist|]|]}} |
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On October 20, 2020, Athletes Unlimited announced that they would be adding ] as its third league. Michelle DeJulius, who had founded and was the CEO of the now defunct Women's Professional Lacrosse League was named the Senior Director of Lacrosse.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Athletes Unlimited Adds Women's Pro Lacrosse as Third Sports League |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/women/athletes-unlimited-adds-womens-pro-lacrosse-as-third-sports-league |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> Athletes Unlimited Pro Lacrosse features a "short-form, fast-paced" format. It is played 10-a-side rather than 12-a-side. The field length is shorted to 90 yards as opposed to the traditional 110 yards. The field width remains at 60 yards. There is a 60-second shot clock, and layers can score two-point goals by scoring goals from outside of an 8-meter perimeter. The games are also 10-minute quarters.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/softball/story/_/id/29886463/aleshia-ocasio-draft-eligible-softball-athletes-unlimited-absence |title=Ocasio draft-eligible again in Athletes Unlimited |website=ESPN.com |date=September 14, 2020 |access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Women's Professional Lacrosse |url=https://auprosports.com/lacrosse/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Athletes Unlimited |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Athletes |date=2021-07-31 |title=How Athletes Unlimited is innovating Lacrosse |url=https://auprosports.com/read/how-athletes-unlimited-is-innovating-lacrosse/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Athletes Unlimited |language=en-US}}</ref> The game has also been described as more physical, with less fouls called compared to other levels of the game. There are also no shooting space calls (shooting space being a penalty where a defender cannot stand between the goal and a player looking to shoot unless actively guarding another player).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> |
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The inaugural 2021 season took place from July 19 to August 22 in ] at ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=A League of Their Own: Women's Lacrosse Enters New Era with Athletes Unlimited |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/a-league-of-their-own-womens-lacrosse-enters-new-era-with-athletes-unlimited |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> The 2022 season took place from July 21 to August 14 at ] in ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Athletes Unlimited to Play 2022 Lacrosse Season at USA Lacrosse |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/athletes-unlimited-to-play-2022-lacrosse-season-at-usa-lacrosse |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Athletes Unlimited CEO Jon Patricof Confirms Lacrosse Season 2 |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/athletes-unlimited-ceo-jon-patricof-confirms-lacrosse-season-2 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> and returned there for the 2023 season from July 20 to August 13.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Athletes Unlimited Announces Roster, Broadcast Schedule for Season 3 |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/athletes-unlimited-announces-roster-broadcast-schedule-for-season-3 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> Goalie Taylor Moreno became the first player to win two Athletes Unlimited championships.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Taylor Moreno Edges Sam Apuzzo by 12 Points to Win Athletes Unlimited Season 3 |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/taylor-moreno-edges-sam-apuzzo-by-12-points-to-win-athletes-unlimited-season |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cora |date=2023-08-13 |title=Athletes Unlimited {{!}} Taylor Moreno repeats as Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse Champion |url=https://auprosports.com/read/taylor-moreno-repeats-as-athletes-unlimited-lacrosse-champion/ |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=Athletes Unlimited |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" |
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|+ AU Pro Lacrosse champions |
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! Year !! Champion !! Points !! Ref |
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| 2021 || Taylor Cummings || 1,943 || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Taylor Cummings is Inaugural Champion of Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/taylor-cummings-is-inaugural-champion-of-athletes-unlimited-lacrosse |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> |
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| 2022 || Taylor Moreno || 1,798 || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Ever-Mindful Taylor Moreno Wins Athletes Unlimited Crown in Nail-Biter |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/ever-mindful-taylor-moreno-wins-athletes-unlimited-crown-in-nail-biter |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> |
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| 2023 || Taylor Moreno || 1,679 || <ref name=":7"/> |
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| 2024 || Taylor Moreno || 1,314 || |
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{{Infobox sports league |
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{{Infobox sports league |
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| title = Athletes Unlimited Softball League |
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| title = Athletes Unlimited Softball League |
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| logo = Athletes Unlimited Softball League.svg |
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| logo_upright = 0.7 |
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| alt = A black silhouette of a softball pitcher, surrounded by an orange arc. |
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| sport = Fastpitch softball |
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| sport = Fastpitch softball |
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| inaugural = 2025 (planned) |
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| inaugural = 2025 (planned) |
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| 2024 || Brittany Abercrombie || 4,521 || |
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| 2024 || Brittany Abercrombie || 4,521 || |
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== Defunct leagues == |
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=== Lacrosse === |
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{{Infobox sports league |
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| title = Athletes Unlimited Pro Lacrosse |
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| sport = Women's lacrosse |
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| inaugural = 2021 |
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| titles_label = Last season |
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| titles = 2024 |
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| most_champs = Taylor Moreno (3) |
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On October 20, 2020, Athletes Unlimited announced that they would be adding ] as its third league. Michelle DeJulius, who had founded and was the CEO of the now defunct Women's Professional Lacrosse League was named the Senior Director of Lacrosse.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Athletes Unlimited Adds Women's Pro Lacrosse as Third Sports League |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/women/athletes-unlimited-adds-womens-pro-lacrosse-as-third-sports-league |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> Athletes Unlimited Pro Lacrosse features a "short-form, fast-paced" format. It is played 10-a-side rather than 12-a-side. The field length is shorted to 90 yards as opposed to the traditional 110 yards. The field width remains at 60 yards. There is a 60-second shot clock, and layers can score two-point goals by scoring goals from outside of an 8-meter perimeter. The games are also 10-minute quarters.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/softball/story/_/id/29886463/aleshia-ocasio-draft-eligible-softball-athletes-unlimited-absence |title=Ocasio draft-eligible again in Athletes Unlimited |website=ESPN.com |date=September 14, 2020 |access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Women's Professional Lacrosse |url=https://auprosports.com/lacrosse/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Athletes Unlimited |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Athletes |date=2021-07-31 |title=How Athletes Unlimited is innovating Lacrosse |url=https://auprosports.com/read/how-athletes-unlimited-is-innovating-lacrosse/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Athletes Unlimited |language=en-US}}</ref> The game has also been described as more physical, with less fouls called compared to other levels of the game. There are also no shooting space calls (shooting space being a penalty where a defender cannot stand between the goal and a player looking to shoot unless actively guarding another player).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> |
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The inaugural 2021 season took place from July 19 to August 22 in ] at ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=A League of Their Own: Women's Lacrosse Enters New Era with Athletes Unlimited |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/a-league-of-their-own-womens-lacrosse-enters-new-era-with-athletes-unlimited |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> The 2022 season took place from July 21 to August 14 at ] in ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Athletes Unlimited to Play 2022 Lacrosse Season at USA Lacrosse |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/athletes-unlimited-to-play-2022-lacrosse-season-at-usa-lacrosse |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Athletes Unlimited CEO Jon Patricof Confirms Lacrosse Season 2 |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/athletes-unlimited-ceo-jon-patricof-confirms-lacrosse-season-2 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> and returned there for the 2023 season from July 20 to August 13.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Athletes Unlimited Announces Roster, Broadcast Schedule for Season 3 |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/athletes-unlimited-announces-roster-broadcast-schedule-for-season-3 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> Goalie Taylor Moreno became the first player to win two Athletes Unlimited championships.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Taylor Moreno Edges Sam Apuzzo by 12 Points to Win Athletes Unlimited Season 3 |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/taylor-moreno-edges-sam-apuzzo-by-12-points-to-win-athletes-unlimited-season |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cora |date=2023-08-13 |title=Athletes Unlimited {{!}} Taylor Moreno repeats as Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse Champion |url=https://auprosports.com/read/taylor-moreno-repeats-as-athletes-unlimited-lacrosse-champion/ |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=Athletes Unlimited |language=en-US}}</ref> After the conclusion of the 2024 season, Athletes Unlimited suspended its lacrosse operations, citing the "availability of the sport's most elite athletes during the summer months over the next few years" as its primary reason for doing so.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kinnear |first1=Matt |title=Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse Suspends Operations, Citing Player Availability |url=https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/athletes-unlimited-suspends-operations-citing-player-availability/64358 |website=] |access-date=December 18, 2024 |archive-url=http://archive.today/20241218232018/https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/athletes-unlimited-suspends-operations-citing-player-availability/64358 |archive-date=December 18, 2024 |date=December 18, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Athletes Unlimited suspends lacrosse operation |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/12/18/athletes-unlimited-suspends-lacrosse-operations |website=] |access-date=December 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218231907/https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/12/18/athletes-unlimited-suspends-lacrosse-operations |archive-date=December 18, 2024 |date=December 18, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
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{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" |
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|+ AU Pro Lacrosse champions |
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! Year !! Champion !! Points !! Ref |
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| 2021 || Taylor Cummings || 1,943 || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Taylor Cummings is Inaugural Champion of Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/taylor-cummings-is-inaugural-champion-of-athletes-unlimited-lacrosse |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> |
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| 2022 || Taylor Moreno || 1,798 || <ref>{{Cite web |title=Ever-Mindful Taylor Moreno Wins Athletes Unlimited Crown in Nail-Biter |url=https://www.usalaxmagazine.com/pro/athletes-unlimited/ever-mindful-taylor-moreno-wins-athletes-unlimited-crown-in-nail-biter |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.usalaxmagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> |
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| 2023 || Taylor Moreno || 1,679 || <ref name=":7"/> |
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| 2024 || Taylor Moreno || 1,314 || |
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{{Athletes Unlimited}}{{Major women's sport leagues in North America}} |
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{{Major women's sport leagues in North America}} |
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{{Top sport leagues in the United States}} |
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{{Top sport leagues in the United States}} |
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{{Volleyball in the United States}} |
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{{Volleyball in the United States}} |
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There are no team owners, and league investors are capping their returns. Athletes share in the league profits, and are involved in the daily decision making. Players are not committed to one team but switch teams every week of the season through a draft. The top four players who earned the most points each week become captains for the next week and form new teams. Players earn points based on both their team and individual performances, and are ranked accordingly. The champion is the player with the most points at the end of the season.
Formerly known as Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball, its inaugural season was played in Rosemont, Illinois from August 20 to September 28, 2020. Two games were played each Saturday, Sunday, and Monday over the five week period, 30 games all together (15 per player). The top four players were named the medalists and Haylie McCleney was named the Defensive Player of the Year.
On June 4, 2024, Athletes Unlimited announced the plan to launch the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) in May 2025. The AUSL will feature four teams playing a 30-game season in a traditional format, complementing the existing AU Pro Softball Championship season. ESPN has signed on as a founding broadcast partner. The AUSL will become a city-based league beginning in 2026, while the inaugural season in 2025 will be touring with games in six to eight different cities. The average salary for a player will be $40,000–45,000, with salaries up to $75,000 achievable through bonus payments.
On December 21, 2021, Athletes Unlimited Softball announced a new two-week competition titled AUX Softball. The competition will provide more playing opportunities and compensation to athletes. The inaugural competition featured 42 athletes playing 18 games and took place from June 13 to 26, 2022, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Title IX on June 23. Danielle O'Toole won the inaugural AUX softball competition with 1,436 points. Rachel Garcia won the 2023 AUX competition with 1,392 points. Bubba Nickles won the 2024 AUX competition with 1,344 points.
