Nashville Magic: AU Pro Basketball Season Tipped Off in Style!
Nashville, the wait is officially over! The 2026 AU Pro Basketball season exploded onto the scene Wednesday night at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, and if the opening doubleheader was any indication, we are in for a wild ride.
Between record breaking performances and a literal "sweep" of the leaderboard, here is everything you need to know about opening night and the leaders who paved the way.
Game 1: Glow Sets the Tone
The season opener saw Glow pull off a commanding 86-73 victory over Rhythm. While Rhythm kept it competitive early, the turning point was a massive 26-3 run by Glow in the first quarter that shifted the entire momentum of the night.
Leading the Charge: For the Rhythm, Captain Shey Peddy showed her competitive spirit early, even utilizing a captain’s challenge in the third quarter as she fought to keep her team in the game.
The Legend Continues: Center Tina Charles was an absolute force, leading her squad with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Her performance earned her MVP 1 honors and the top spot on the leaderboard with 544 points.
A Historic Return: Nalyssa Smith made her AU return in a big way, dropping a double-double (16 pts, 16 reb). Her 16 boards actually set a new AU Pro Basketball Opening Night record!
Game 2: Eclipse Makes History
If the first game was a statement, the second was a takeover. Eclipse defeated Gold Rush 101-83, and they did it in historic fashion. They secured the ninth win points sweep in league history, winning every single quarter of the game!
Captain’s Debut Success: Captain Alysha Clark led Eclipse to that historic sweep, earning a victory in her debut as an AU captain. On the other side, Captain Bria Hartley fought hard for Gold Rush, registering her 10th career double-digit scoring effort with 11 points.
Photo Credit: Bobby Donaby
Career High for Asia Taylor: Taylor was unstoppable, netting a career high 22 points to lead all scorers. She walked away with MVP 1 honors and a massive 723 leaderboard points.
Milestone for Odyssey Sims: Gold Rush may have fallen short, but Odyssey Sims continued to cement her legacy, becoming only the third player in league history to surpass 300 career rebounds. She also extended her double-digit scoring streak to an incredible 25 games.
Current Leaderboard Top 3
Asia Taylor (Eclipse): 723 points
Rebekah Gardner (Eclipse): 680 points
Tina Charles (Glow): 544 points
What’s Next?
The action continues this Friday, February 6, with another double-feature:
Glow vs. Eclipse (6:30 p.m. ET): It’s a battle of the undefeated!
Rhythm vs. Gold Rush (9:00 p.m. ET): Both teams are looking to bounce back and get that first "W" of the season.