All things considered, the first-ever basketball game in Athletes Unlimited (AU) history did not disappoint. Team Orange, captained by Seattle Storm center Mercedes Russell, defeated Team Blue, led by Atlanta Dream guard Odyssey Sims, by a score of 80-71.
Overall, Team Russell won the first and fourth quarters of the Athletes Unlimited game, giving the player on the team an extra 50 points. Moreover, Team Sims won the second quarter while both teams tied in the third quarter, making the fourth quarter worth 100 points for Team Russell.
The players from Team Russell each earned 100 points for winning the game. In total, Team Russell acquired 250 win points as Team Sims earned 50-win points.
Team Russell
Firstly, guard Lexie Brown of the reigning WNBA champions Chicago Sky scored the first points in Athletes Unlimited basketball history with a three-point play. Meanwhile, former Virginia Tech guard Taja Cole drained the first-ever three-pointer in Athletes Unlimited history.
Brown had 19 points, six rebounds, and five steals. Equally important, she had a great first half, going 4-for-6 from the field and 6-of-7 at the free-throw line. As for the former Georgia Bulldog, Cole went for 28 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Coupled with the Athletes Unlimited firsts by Brown and Cole, Russell and forward Danni McCray made more of their own.
Both Russell and McCray are the first two players in Athletes Unlimited basketball history to put up a double-double in a game. Russell had 10 points and 11 boards as McCray had 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Team Russell outrebounded Team Sims, 51 to 38, including an 18-12 advantage on the offensive end.
Team Sims
Even though they were on the losing end of this matchup, Team Sims put up a valiant effort. Guards Essence Carson and Briahanna Jackson each poured in 15 points to pace Team Sims in the loss.
Carson, a 13-year WNBA veteran, shot 6-for-16 from the field and contributed six rebounds as well. A former Louisville Cardinal guard, Jackson went 6-of-15 with four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Forward Drew Edelman, a former USC Trojan, snagged a team-high eight rebounds for Team Sims. Sims has 14 points, four assists, and three rebounds for her team.
Comparatively, Team Russell and Team Sims combined to shoot just 8-for-45 from beyond the arc. However, the teams were 25-for-33 at the charity stripe.
Athletes Unlimited: Game One MVPs (Points)
- Cole (Team Russell) – 90 points
- Brown (Team Russell) – 60 points
- Russell (Team Russell) – 30 points
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