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Aces will be well-represented in Athletes Unlimited next season

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Derek Hegna | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 10:13 AM ET

The options for WNBA players after the conclusion of the season are more expansive than ever before.

Players were once forced to go overseas to keep playing professionally, but the detainment of Atlanta Dream center Brittney Griner by Russian authorities in 2022 highlighted the dangers that come with that path. Since then, women’s basketball leagues have begun to pop up in America, giving players another option to resume playing after their seasons in the WNBA come to an end. One of the most prominent to get into the market was Athletes Unlimited, which started up the same year as Griner’s detainment.

The league has only grown since starting up, and Las Vegas Aces fans will be able to see some familiar faces when the league returns in February.

Current and former Aces are part of the first batch of names confirmed for the next AU season.

In an announcement made on their X account, AU confirmed that Aces center Kiah Stokes would make her AU debut next season, joining current Aces NaLyssa Smith and Aaliyah Nye, as well as former teammates Alysha Clark, Sydney Colson and Theresa Plaisance.

introducing AU Pro Basketball class of 2026 (so far)

our first pool of signees put pen to paper and will be making their way to Nashville for Season 5!

https://t.co/PRgCwi7RxV pic.twitter.com/d4nWaEM3Qs

— AU Pro Basketball (@AUProBasketball) July 14, 2025

Not to be confused with Unrivaled, a three-on-three league started up by current WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart this year, AU is a five-on-five league that focuses more on individual play, with teams shifting each week. Dallas Wings forward Maddy Siegrist won the AU championship last season, but Smith won the title in 2023.

The Aces are certainly a team that has done their due diligence when it comes to offseason basketball. Just this past offseason, the Aces signed forward Crystal Bradford to a training camp contract after a strong performance during the 2025 AU season, finishing third in the overall standings. While she was waived after playing four regular season games, Bradford making the opening roster is a sign that the Aces pay attention to see how they can improve their team.

Aces fans now have plenty of reason to keep tabs on the upcoming AU season, just as the team itself does.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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