During the WNBA offseason, several Indiana Fever players have taken on basketball opportunities both domestically and internationally. Kelsey Mitchell, Lexi Hull, and Aliyah Boston joined Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league created by Brianna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, with the league’s second season set to start in January.
Meanwhile, Aerial Powers, Shay Peddie, Natasha Howard, and Makayla Timpson have pursued playing opportunities outside the U.S. Powers and Peddie are playing for Canakkale Belediyespor in Turkey, Howard is competing in China’s Sichuan province, and Timpson, who was also part of Unrivaled’s development pool, is playing for USK Prague in the Czech Republic.
Powers, who signed with the Fever on a hardship contract before securing a deal for the remainder of the season, is also set to participate in Athletes Unlimited (AU) professional basketball. The AU basketball league, which starts in February in Nashville, features a unique format where players are re-drafted every week, resulting in frequently changing teams and a points-based scoring system that crowns an individual champion.
The AU league announced Powers’ participation in its fifth season, welcoming the WNBA champion enthusiastically. Powers expressed his excitement about joining the season via the tournament’s Instagram. Along with Powers, Sydney Colson, Odyssey Sims, Brianna Turner, and Bree Hall from the Fever will also compete in Nashville.
Athletes Unlimited is a distinct 5-on-5 league where four teams compete over a four-week span, with players earning points based on wins, aggressive plays, and MVP votes rather than traditional team standings. This innovative format offers a fresh competitive experience for players and fans alike.
It will be fascinating to watch how Powers and her Fever teammates perform in this new setting.
Fan Take: This offseason movement highlights the growing opportunities for WNBA players beyond the traditional league, showcasing their versatility and expanding the sport’s global footprint. Fans should be excited, as it not only boosts player development but also raises the profile of women’s basketball internationally, promising a brighter future for the game.
