5 storylines to watch for in week two of Athletes Unlimited basketball

A new week at Athletes Unlimited means new captains and completely revamped rosters. Here are a few trends to keep an eye on in week two.

Week one of Athletes Unlimited basketball is in the books, and what a week it was. From NaLyssa Smith’s dominance to team Cole’s struggles, there was plenty of action across the board.

Week two’s captains drafted their new teams shortly after the final game of week one ended, setting the stage for what looks to be another exciting week in Dallas. Here are a few things to watch for in week two.

1. The Athletes Unlimited officiating crew’s impact

Let me start by saying, I absolutely hate even having to acknowledge the officiating crew. I tend to give referees the benefit of the doubt. But last week, the AU officiating crew was … not good.

Foul calls felt wildly inconsistent. Both players and fans were frustrated with them. It is one thing to let players play, especially in a league like this. It is another to completely disregard the rules of the game. The AU refs will need to find more consistency and balance this week.

2. Allisha Gray’s play

The back-to-back number one overall pick, Allisha Gray is widely considered the best player in AU. That said, her week one performance left much to be desired for a player of her caliber.

Gray shot just 40 percent from the floor and 31 percent from 3. She often seemed frustrated with the lack of calls she was getting, which impacted her rhythm. She made 11 of her 13 free throws but could have easily shot three times as many.

Her team composition didn’t do her any favors last week, either. She did not have a great screen setter to help her get open, for one. The offense her team ran was also very stagnant and poorly spaced.

Gray’s team this week is much more balanced. She has an elite screener in Naz Hillmon, a great floor general in Layshia Clarendon, and an elite pick-and-pop big in Theresa Plaisance. The supporting cast features knockdown shooters Air Hearn, Lexie Brown, and Destinee Walker.

Look for a bounce-back week from Gold Medal Lish.

3. The Courtney Williams-Izzy Harrison connection

The backbone of team Williams’ week one success, the Williams-Harrison pairing was arguably the strongest combination this week. The two are reunited for week two and looking to continue their dominance.

The Williams-Harrison pick and roll was the foundation of their offense last week and was nearly unstoppable. Then-captain Williams paired it with another excellent screener (Hillmon) and shooters.

This week, captain Harrison followed a similar path to building her team. She added another premier floor general in Natasha Cloud and multiple shooters like Jasmine Walker and Essence Carson.

Watching how this team splits ball-handling duties between Cloud and Williams will be interesting, but either option will likely lead to another strong showing for Harrison.

4. Crystal Bradford’s re-emergence

Last week, Crystal Bradford surprised, well, pretty much everyone. After a brief stint with the Atlanta Dream in 2021, Bradford has been away from the spotlight for a while. It didn’t take her long to remind everyone who she is.

Bradford came out scorching in game one, posting a 21-point, 14-rebound double-double. Her energy immediately made her a fan favorite.

By the end of the week, Bradford had amassed a double-double in every game and is currently leading the league in rebounds. She also displayed a tremendous amount of versatility, playing multiple positions through the three games.

This week, Bradford is paired with the league’s second-highest rebounder in NaLyssa Smith. The rebounding prowess of this team will be a sight to see.

5. Team Sims’ pace

Week one high scorer Odyssey Sims wants her teams to play with pace. Her week two team is built to outrun their opponents.

Sims’ first pick, Jordin Canada, is one of the best transition finishers around. She followed up the pick with Kierstan Bell and Lexie Hull, two active, stretchy forwards who run the floor very well.

Sims also picked bigs who like to get out and run and can space the floor a bit. That said, Team Sims will struggle with other teams’ size in the halfcourt. The big rotation of G’mrice Davis, Akela Maize, and Mya Hollingshed has plenty of length and skill, but lacks the strength and overall size that other teams bring.

How Team Sims operates in the half-court is going to be interesting. If teams are able to slow their pace, can they find good shots?