FOX Sports, CBS Sports, and Bally Sports’ regional networks will carry Athletes Unlimited’s basketball and volleyball seasons this year.
Athletes Unlimited announced that its spring basketball and volleyball leagues have partnered with FOX Sports, CBS Sports, and Bally Sports’ regional networks for 48 televised games, the company announced Thursday.
FOX will broadcast 14 of AU’s 30-game basketball slate and 12 volleyball matches onFOX Sports 2, CBS Sports Network will air three basketball games and seven volleyball games, and Bally Sports will show eight hoops games and four volleyball matches.
The remaining five basketball games and seven volleyball contests will stream on Athletes Unlimited’s YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook accounts.
For both basketball and volleyball, which will be carbon neutral leagues, there are unique scoring rules for individual competitions in addition to the games themselves. Points are scored on every play, with leaderboards constantly changing. Athletes earn points based on team wins and individual performances, with the four highest-scoring players each week becoming team captains to draft squads for the following week.
After each five-week season, the player with the most points is named an individual champion.
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The basketball broadcast team will be led by Cindy Brunson on play-by-play, with basketball Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes and Carol Ross as analysts. The basketball opener will air on AU’s social channels at 8 p.m. eastern on Jan. 26, with the 2nd game airing at 11 on CBS Sports Network.
With the basketball teams changing each week, there will be live drafts every Sunday at 3 p.m. eastern on the AU Facebook page starting on Jan. 23. There will be doubleheaders every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from Jan. 26 to Feb. 26. Games will be played at Athletes Unlimited Arena at the Sports Center of Las Vegas.
“We are thrilled to be bringing fans 30 basketball games and 30 volleyball matches on national TV and digital channels in 2022,” said Jon Patricof, Athletes Unlimited’s CEO and co-founder. “I want to thank CBS Sports andFOX Sports for their continued support of Athletes Unlimited and welcome Bally Sports as a new partner for live game distribution. Most of the games on Bally Sports will take place before or after NHL or NBA games, ensuring a great lead-in audience for our broadcasts.”
The full basketball schedule is below:
| Week # | Game # | Day | Date | Start Time ET | Start Time PT | US Live Coverage |
| 1 | 1 | Wed. | Jan. 26 | 8:00 PM | 5:00 PM | AU Digital |
| 1 | 2 | Thurs. | Jan. 26 | 11:00 PM | 8:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 1 | 3 | Fri. | Jan. 28 | 7:00 PM | 4:00 PM | FS2 |
| 1 | 4 | Fri. | Jan. 28 | 9:30 PM | 6:30 PM | FS2 |
| 1 | 5 | Sat. | Jan. 29 | 7:00 PM | 4:00 PM | FS2 |
| 1 | 6 | Sat. | Jan. 29 | 9:30 PM | 6:30 PM | AU Digital |
| 2 | 7 | Wed. | Feb. 2 | 6:30 PM | 3:30 PM | AU Digital |
| 2 | 8 | Wed. | Feb. 2 | 9:00 PM | 6:00 PM | RSN (Bally Sports) |
| 2 | 9 | Fri. | Feb. 4 | 7:00 PM | 4:00 PM | FS2 |
| 2 | 10 | Fri. | Feb. 4 | 9:30 PM | 6:30 PM | FS2 |
| 2 | 11 | Sat. | Feb. 5 | 7:00 PM | 4:00 PM | FS2 |
| 2 | 12 | Sat. | Feb. 5 | 10:00 PM | 7:00 PM | RSN (Bally Sports) |
| 3 | 13 | Wed. | Feb. 9 | 6:30 PM | 3:30 PM | AU Digital |
| 3 | 14 | Wed. | Feb. 9 | 9:00 PM | 6:00 PM | RSN (Bally Sports) |
| 3 | 15 | Fri. | Feb. 11 | 7:00 PM | 4:00 PM | FS2 |
| 3 | 16 | Fri. | Feb. 11 | 9:30 PM | 6:30 PM | FS2 |
| 3 | 17 | Sat. | Feb. 12 | 7:30 PM | 4:30 PM | FS2 |
| 3 | 18 | Sat. | Feb. 12 | 10:30 PM | 7:30 PM | RSN (Bally Sports) |
| 4 | 19 | Wed. | Feb. 16 | 6:30 PM | 3:30 PM | AU Digital |
| 4 | 20 | Wed. | Feb. 16 | 9:00 PM | 6:00 PM | RSN (Bally Sports) |
| 4 | 21 | Fri. | Feb. 18 | 8:30 PM | 5:30 PM | RSN (Bally Sports) |
| 4 | 22 | Fri. | Feb. 18 | 11:30 PM | 8:30 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 4 | 23 | Sat. | Feb. 19 | 7:00 PM | 4:00 PM | FS2 |
| 4 | 24 | Sat. | Feb. 19 | 9:30 PM | 6:30 PM | FS2 |
| 5 | 25 | Wed. | Feb. 23 | 9:00 PM | 6:00 PM | RSN (Bally Sports) |
| 5 | 26 | Wed. | Feb. 23 | 11:30 PM | 8:30 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 5 | 27 | Fri. | Feb. 25 | 7:00 PM | 4:00 PM | FS2 |
| 5 | 28 | Fri. | Feb. 25 | 9:30 PM | 6:30 PM | FS2 |
| 5 | 29 | Sat. | Feb. 26 | 7:00 PM | 4:00 PM | FS2 |
| 5 | 30 | Sat. | Feb. 26 | 10:00 PM | 7:00 PM | RSN (Bally Sports) |
The second season of the Athletes Unlimited volleyball league will run from March 16 to April 16 at Fair Park Coliseum in Dallas. There will also be doubleheaders every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, beginning with the first game on AU Digital and the nightcap on Bally RSNs. Kevin Barnett and Salima Rockwell return as the lead broadcast team. Drafts will also be held every Sunday on the AU Facebook page, beginning March 13.
The full volleyball schedule is below:
| Week # | Game # | Day | Date | Start Time ET | Start Time CT | US Live Coverage |
| 1 | 1 | Wed. | March 16 | 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM | AU Digital |
| 1 | 2 | Wed. | March 16 | 8:30 PM | 7:30 PM | RSN (Bally Sports) |
| 1 | 3 | Fri. | March 18 | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM | FS2 |
| 1 | 4 | Fri. | March 18 | 9:30 PM | 8:30 PM | FS2 |
| 1 | 5 | Sat. | March 19 | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM | FS2 |
| 1 | 6 | Sat. | March 19 | 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM | RSN (Bally Sports) |
| 2 | 7 | Wed. | March 23 | 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM | AU Digital |
| 2 | 8 | Wed. | March 23 | 8:30 PM | 7:30 PM | RSN (Bally Sports) |
| 2 | 9 | Fri. | March 25 | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM | FS2 |
| 2 | 10 | Fri. | March 25 | 9:30 PM | 8:30 PM | FS2 |
| 2 | 11 | Sat. | March 26 | 7:30 PM | 6:30 PM | FS2 |
| 2 | 12 | Sat. | March 26 | 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM | AU Digital |
| 3 | 13 | Wed. | March 30 | 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM | AU Digital |
| 3 | 14 | Wed. | March 30 | 8:30 PM | 7:30 PM | RSN (Bally Sports) |
| 3 | 15 | Fri. | April 1 | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM | FS2 |
| 3 | 16 | Fri. | April 1 | 9:30 PM | 8:30 PM | FS2 |
| 3 | 17 | Sat. | April 2 | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 3 | 18 | Sat. | April 2 | 9:00 PM | 8:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 4 | 19 | Wed. | April 6 | 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM | AU Digital |
| 4 | 20 | Wed. | April 8 | 8:30 PM | 7:30 PM | AU Digital |
| 4 | 21 | Fri. | April 8 | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM | FS2 |
| 4 | 22 | Fri. | April 8 | 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 4 | 23 | Sat. | April 9 | 5:00 PM | 4:00 PM | AU Digital |
| 4 | 24 | Sat. | April 9 | 8:00 PM | 7:00 PM | FS2 |
| 5 | 25 | Thurs. | April 14 | 8:00 PM | 7:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 5 | 26 | Thurs. | April 14 | 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 5 | 27 | Fri. | April 15 | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM | FS2 |
| 5 | 28 | Fri. | April 15 | 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 5 | 29 | Sat. | April 16 | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM | FS2 |
| 5 | 30 | Sat. | April 16 | 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
“FOX Sports is thrilled to showcase Athletes Unlimited events again in 2022,” said Bill Wanger, EVP and Head of Programming and Scheduling at FOX Sports. “AU’s expansion into women’s professional basketball is a welcome addition to our robust programming roster.”
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