The 2026 Athletes Unlimited season has kicked off with a bang, and it’s the newcomers who are stealing the spotlight. But here’s where it gets controversial: while the league’s foundational players like Isabelle Harrison and Lexie Brown have long been household names, it’s the rookies—Kaitlyn Chen, Rebekah Gardner, and Aneesah Morrow—who are now leading the charge as captains for Week 2. Is this the passing of the torch, or just a momentary shift in the league’s dynamics? Let’s dive in.
Athletes Unlimited, now in its fifth season, has always been a player-driven league that rewards individual performances. However, the team aspect plays a crucial role too—players earn points not just for their stats, but also for their team’s success. And this is where the Eclipse roster dominated Week 1, going a perfect 3-0 under captain Alysha Clark. With two games surpassing 100 points, every player on the Eclipse earned over 1,000 win points, skewing the leaderboard in their favor. And this is the part most people miss: while individual talent is celebrated, the team’s collective effort can dramatically alter the standings.
The Eclipse’s dominance is evident in the leaderboard—eight of the top ten players hail from their roster, including all four Week 2 captains: Chen, Gardner, Morrow, and Clark. Notably, Asia Taylor, who finished fourth in points last week, is absent for personal reasons, making way for Clark’s return to captaincy. Here’s a quick recap of Week 1’s results:
Wednesday, Feb. 4: Glow 86, Rhythm 73 | Eclipse 101, Gold Rush 83
Friday, Feb. 6: Eclipse 100, Glow 92 | Gold Rush 80, Rhythm 72
Saturday, Feb. 7: Eclipse 80, Rhythm 76 | Glow 83, Gold Rush 78
Moving into Week 2, the draft results reveal interesting strategies. With a shortage of traditional centers, captains prioritized size early on. Clark, for instance, built a towering Eclipse roster with Mercedes Russell, Tina Charles, and Alaina Coates—all 6-foot-4 or taller. In contrast, Gardner opted for scoring power, drafting Odyssey Sims, the league’s current leading scorer, to the Glow. Sims, averaging 23.7 points in her AU career, is expected to be a game-changer. Meanwhile, Chen’s Gold Rush team is one to watch, with her own stellar Week 1 performance (14.3 points, 4.3 assists per game, 66.7% field goal percentage) complementing sharpshooters like Bree Hall and Kia Nurse.
Here’s the burning question: Can the rookies maintain their momentum, or will the veterans reclaim their dominance? The Week 2 schedule is packed with action, starting with a Wednesday matinee and running through the weekend. Catch all the games on the ESPN App:
Wednesday, Feb. 11: Rhythm vs. Glow (11:30 a.m. ET) | Gold Rush vs. Eclipse (8:00 p.m. ET)
Friday, Feb. 13: Eclipse vs. Glow (6:30 p.m. ET) | Rhythm vs. Gold Rush (9:00 p.m. ET)
Saturday, Feb. 14: Eclipse vs. Rhythm (6:30 p.m. ET) | Glow vs. Gold Rush (9:00 p.m. ET)
As the season unfolds, one thing is clear: Athletes Unlimited is more than just a league—it’s a battleground where experience clashes with fresh talent. Who will come out on top? Let us know your predictions in the comments—and don’t be afraid to take a side in this rookie vs. veteran debate!
