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A resolution expressing the Metropolitan Council’s support of the January 2025 Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball season at Nashville Municipal Auditorium.
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WHEREAS, Athletes Unlimited (AU) is a new model of pro athletes and sports, and uses an innovative player-centric system to create leagues across sports; and
WHEREAS, with AU, athletes are the decision-makers and individual players are champions of team sports; and
WHEREAS, AU launched on March 3, 2020, and has seen success in their women’s professional softball, volleyball, basketball, and lacrosse leagues; and
WHEREAS, AU’s world-class competition and fan experience makes them stand out as an organization driven by the athletes that play in the leagues, with athlete representation on the company’s board of directors. Each AU league is led by a Player Executive Committee, and players share in the long-term profits of the company, all while being proactive in shaping policies supporting the mothers that play in the league; and
WHEREAS, AU is the first professional sports league to be organized as a Public Benefit Corporation, making them a mission-driven organization founded on the values of innovation, inclusion, and excellence. AU aims to empower athletes as leaders, promote inclusive ownership focused on the long-term financial and personal wellbeing of athletes, and bring fans closer to the game by innovating on and off the field; and
WHEREAS, AU Pro Basketball is a premiere, athlete-driven women’s professional basketball league in the United States featuring 40 of the best women’s professional basketball players in the world playing full-court, five-on-five basketball; and
WHEREAS, the AU Pro Basketball season takes place in one location for four to five weeks of world-class competition, providing athletes with more opportunities to play professionally in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the WNBA and its players are always a big part of the AU Pro Basketball season. Recently, 18 players in the 40-person league finished last season on a WNBA roster and 11 other players had experience in the WNBA; and
WHEREAS, ever since the inception of AU Pro Basketball in 2022, there has been growth in the number of WNBA players competing in its four-week league, with that number increasing to 72.5% in 2024; and
WHEREAS, with fewer options for professional women basketball athletes to play overseas because of unrest, and the WNBA’s prioritization rule requiring players to be in training camp or be prohibited from playing in the upcoming season, AU Pro Basketball has become an increasingly attractive option; and
WHEREAS, in January 2025, Music City will host AU Pro Basketball’s season at Nashville Municipal Auditorium, and Nashville is thrilled and proud to welcome back professional women’s basketball after a long absence; and
WHEREAS, the last time Music City hosted women’s professional basketball was in 1998 with the Nashville Noise, a member of the American Basketball League (ABL); and
WHEREAS, the WNBA has considered adding a team in Music City, and hosting AU Pro Basketball’s upcoming season at Nashville Municipal Auditorium provides the city with the opportunity to showcase high caliber professional women’s basketball through AU’s innovative program; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council and the Metropolitan Council’s Women’s Caucus recognizes and celebrates this significant event, and expresses their support for professional women’s basketball.
NOW, THEREFOR, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. The Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as expressing their support of the January 2025 Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball season at Nashville Municipal Auditorium.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.