Amid the continued rise of women’s basketball, one league has decided to take a step back.
Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball announced Friday that it is pausing its 2027 season, five years after its inaugural season.
“Today, we’re sharing an update on Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball. As we continue to focus on the long-term growth of our leagues, we’ve made the decision to pause AU Pro Basketball during the 2027 season,” the announcement read.
Athletes Unlimited, founded by Jon Patricof and Jonathan Soros and in 2022 announced a $30 million funding round that included investments from Kevin Durant’s 35V, David Blitzer, and Angela Ruggiero, also has softball and volleyball leagues. However, the decision to pause its basketball league comes just months after the WNBA and WNBPA agreed to a new CBA that significantly increased player salaries. The minimum salary in the WNBA this season is $270,000, more than the maximum salary last year.
AUPB’s statement cited the growth in women’s basketball factoring into its decision: “As women’s basketball enters an exciting new era of investment and expansion, we believe this is the right time to thoughtfully evaluate how Athletes Unlimited can make its greatest long-term impact.”
