Tianna Hawkins Wins Inaugural AU Hoops Title
Photo by: Jade Hewitt/Athletes Unlimited
On Saturday, Athletes Unlimited Basketball wrapped up its inaugural season with a triple-overtime nail-bitter, a clash between Team Hawkins and Team Cloud featured the top two leaders in Tianna Hawkins and Natasha Cloud. Cloud and Hawkins were former teammates of the Washington Mystics, where they won a Championship title in 2019. Tianna Hawkins willed her team to a 116-108 win over Team Cloud, securing Hawkins the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Championship title. Hawkins finished first on the AU leaderboard with a total of 6,831 points, she also notched a league-high 11 double-doubles, 3,336 stat points and 750 MVP points. Coming off an emotional roller-coaster, Tianna Hawkins has taken a bold step in an attempt to prove herself. Last season, Tianna Hawkins was waived by the Atlanta Dream. Hawkins used that as fuel to power through the outstanding AU season as she was crowned the Inaugural season Champion.
“So many people have counted me out, so many people said I was trash. Atlanta said I was not going to be enough. And what i did? I took my ass to the gym and worked on myself, and now here I am. - Tianna Hawkins (Washington Mystics/WNBA)
The Washington Mystics Forward celebrated her Championship title with an inspirational speech that moved the building, highlighting the emotional journey it has been. Hawkins adds this Championship to her collection of hardware that includes a 2019 WNBA Championship title won alongside teammate Natasha Cloud who earned the second-place finish with 5,919 points. Behind Hawkins and Cloud, was Dallas Wings’ Isabelle Harrison, and the 2021 WNBA Champion Lexie Brown. 11 of the 44 athletes in the AU hailed from the WNBA and the league will aim to get 20 additional players for the 2023 season. In just its first season, Athletes Unlimited has set the professional sports world on fire, leaving no stones unturned. Athletes Unlimited CEO Jon Patricof has exceeded expectations as the AU Basketball league provides more basketball opportunities within the U.S.
Athletes Unlimited Hoops Create A New Sports Revolution For Pro Sports
Photo by: Jade Hewitt/Athletes Unlimited
The inaugural season of Athlete Unlimited Basketball has created a new sports revolution for the professional leagues. When observing the WNBA model, several underlining issues are still present. The pay equity gap is roughly 1.5 of the average NBA salary. The average WNBA player makes closer to $75,000, opposed to $7.7 M in the NBA. Due to the Pay disparity between the WNBA and NBA, several WNBA athletes go overseas to add to their salary earnings. According to Athletes Unlimited Co-Founder and CEO Jon Patricof, compensation for the 44 athletes equals over $1 million (more than $20,000 per player). Top performers can make between $40,000- $50,000 in the 5-week season, including bonuses. Patricof and the staff have done an outstanding job with the overall investment in the athletes. The athletes spoke highly on the investment made to enhance the player experience. Athletes were living in hotels throughout the season with access to rental cars, sports medicine technology, child-care and most meals covered. One of many competitive advantages of the Athletes Unlimited infrastructure in comparison to apparent women leagues.
“I just hope that we continue to be an option for players.. a good option”
The Adoption Of A Player-Driven Model In Pro Sports
Photo by: Jade Hewitt/Athletes Unlimited
“Our goal as athletes is to leave the sport better than we found it. So, that means progressing our sport and fighting for progression.”
A handful of the WNBA athletes have vocalized the importance of a player-driven model, a system created in which athletes have more control over their respective careers. The Athletes Unlimited model was set up to empower its athletes and what better way to do so than creating a player-driven system. AU’s objective for a player-driven system was to replicate a cohesive environment where female athletes can become leaders. AU allows their athletes the option to construct their rosters, select a points system, negotiate salary earning (to a certain extent), and enforce league rules. Executive Decisions in the hands of the athletes, something that has become foreign in the arena of pro sports. The Athletes Unlimited Player Executive Committee is led by five athletes: Natasha Cloud, Tianna Hawkins, Ty Young, Sydney Colson, and Jantel Lavender, who work in unison with the AU staff. Under the Athletes Cause program, each player got to play for a cause of their choice in which the AU will match 50% of their season bonuses to the selected charities. Over the five-week season, Athletes Unlimited Hoops have garnered the attention of players, GMs, WNBA staff as well as, other apparent pro sports leagues in the US. Season Two of AU Hoops will kick off in 2023.