Rebekah Gardner, following a rewarding 2025 season with the New York Liberty, is using her offseason to compete in Athletes Unlimited’s unique basketball league in Nashville. This innovative format, known for reshuffling teams weekly, offers Gardner a platform to sharpen her skills and vie for top individual honors as she prepares for a potential expanded role in the 2026 WNBA season. Her participation highlights the growing appeal of Athletes Unlimited as a competitive offseason destination for professional players.
Adapting to Athletes Unlimited’s Weekly Draft and Scoring System
Athletes Unlimited features four teams — Rhythm, Glow, Gold Rush, and Eclipse — that engage in traditional 5-on-5 basketball. What sets the league apart is its weekly player drafts and individual point system, which ranks competitors based on performance metrics across games. Each week, squads are reassembled, and players compete in three games, earning points that determine the overall league champion after four weeks. Gardner has quickly adapted to this setup, enjoying early success as a two-time winner on her teams and holding second place on the leaderboard going into week four.
“Coming here, I didn’t know what to expect with the format; it’s unique to Athletes Unlimited, and I wasn’t sure how it was going to be,”
said Gardner.
“But I came here and I feel like it turned out much better than I could have even imagined. I’ve been fortunate enough to be on winning teams the first two weeks.”
Leadership and Team Chemistry Drive Gardner’s Success
As a team captain for the latest week, Gardner has strategically selected teammates with strong basketball IQ and chemistry, aiming to maximize collective performance rather than focusing on individual scoring. This approach aligns with Athletes Unlimited’s scoring system, rewarding collaboration and winning plays. The league’s current season also includes established stars like 2024 champion Allisha Gray and 2025 champion Maddy Siegrist on the Unrivaled team, while Queens native Tina Charles ranks third on the overall leaderboard.
“It’s important to get players who have a great IQ for the game because then things flow more easily,”
Gardner explained.
“Being that I was a captain, I kind of picked players that I like playing with or had great chemistry with [in] the previous weeks. … That’s been the key, getting players who understand the game and aren’t just focused on scoring, but are trying to play together to win the game. That’s where you get the most points and that’s how you get to the top of the leaderboard. That’s my strategy.”
Community Engagement and Coaching Evolution Within the League
Beyond competition, Athletes Unlimited encourages players to support nonprofits of their choice, and Gardner has dedicated her efforts to New Heights Youth, a Brooklyn-based organization focused on youth development. This season also marks a shift from previous years where players primarily coached themselves; now, four dedicated coaches and two player enhancement specialists provide guidance, enhancing player performance and game flow.
Looking Ahead to WNBA Training Camp and Future Prospects
Following the conclusion of the Athletes Unlimited season, Gardner plans to return to California for some downtime before heading back to New York to prepare for the Liberty’s upcoming training camp. Her successful experience in Athletes Unlimited not only sharpens her competitive edge but also demonstrates her readiness to contribute significantly in the next WNBA season. Fans and observers are eager to see how this offseason growth will translate onto the court during the regular season.
“It’s been awesome getting to know the other players, so overall I’ve had a great experience,”
Gardner shared.
“It’s turned out even better than I could have imagined.”
