Just about 10 weeks after the WPLL announced it would be shutting its doors, several of the top professional women’s lacrosse players have been given another opportunity to further grow the sport.
On Tuesday, Athletes Unlimited announced it would add women’s lacrosse as its third professional sports league, with the opening season scheduled to begin July 19, 2021.
Athletes Unlimited offers a different model for professional sports leagues than we’re accustomed to seeing. Lacrosse will be small-sided, featuring 9-on-9 gameplay with a 60-second shot clock on an 80-yard-by-50-yard playing field.
CEO Jon Patricof told US Lacrosse Magazine that the experience for athletes will be better than anything they’ve experienced in the past. On top of their base compensation that starts at $8,000 for the season, athletes will have the opportunity to earn bonuses based on their performance and where they end up on an individual season-long leaderboard, which updates on a play-by-play basis.
They’ll also earn a share of the league’s profits in their first year and then for 19 more years into the future.
But on top of the compensation, Patricof said he wants to give athletes access to premier resources that are unrivaled in other women’s sports. Patricof said Athletes Unlimited will offer professional development, mental health resources, social activism opportunities and more.
Patricof thinks this model can be here to stay.
“I’m someone who’s been in the sports and entertainment industry for my entire career,” Patricof said. “Starting a new sports company or property is difficult to do. I think we’ve created a sustainable model. We’ve been really thoughtful about the media model. Today, the key for a successful sports property is to reach a wide audience through all media platforms.”
Athletes Unlimited targeted a core group of players, highlighted by U.S. women’s national team stars Michelle Tumolo and Kayla Treanor, who are viewed as “leaders in the sport.” As a player-driven league, the athletes were hands-on in helping develop rules, recruiting players and more.
Patricof said more details will be made available regarding rules and scoring at a later date.
“We’ve had tremendous momentum within the last month or so,” Patricof said. “Within the last 10 days, we’ve completed contracts with more than eight players.”