UpShot League
Current season, competition or edition: 2026–27 | |
 | |
| Sport | Women's basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2025 |
| Founder | Zawyer Sports & Entertainment |
| First season | 2026 |
| Commissioner | Donna Orender |
| Motto | "To UP everyone's shot" "Uplift, elevate, and empower" "When You Show UP, We Rise UP" |
| No. of teams | 4 |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Official website | UpShotLeague.com |
The UpShot League is a professional developmental women's basketball league in the United States.[1] Former WNBA president Donna Orender will serve as the commissioner of the league.[2]
The UpShot League will be headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and will be operated by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment.[3]
The league is set to begin play in May 2026. The UpShot League’s regular-season schedule will consist of 40 games, including 20 at home and 20 on the road.
Teams
[edit]
The inaugural season will feature four teams, all based in the southeastern United States.[4]
| Team | Location | Venue | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Crown | Charlotte, North Carolina | Bojangles Coliseum | Trisha Stafford-Odom |
| Greensboro Groove | Greensboro, North Carolina | Novant Health Fieldhouse | Janice M. Washington |
| Jacksonville Waves | Jacksonville, Florida | VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena | Jessica Bogia |
| Savannah Steel | Savannah, Georgia | Enmarket Arena | Coretta Brown |
Key personnel
[edit]- Donna Orender, Commissioner
- Taj McWilliams-Franklin, VP of Basketball Operations
Initial investors
[edit]- Cheryl Miller, Women's Basketball Hall of Famer
- Ann Meyers Drysdale, Former women’s basketball player and WNBA/NBA executive
- Seniesa Estrada, Former WBA boxing champion
- Patric Young, Former Florida Gators men's basketball player & PY4 Foundation
- Chris Robert & Annie Q. Riegel, American film producer and American actress
References
[edit]- ^ "Upshot League |". Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^ "Professional Women's Development Basketball Team Coming to Charlotte, as part of New 'UPSHOT League' | Upshot League". Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^ Freeman, Clayton (January 27, 2025). "Upshot: Jacksonville to welcome new professional women's basketball league". The Florida Times-Union. Archived from the original on February 12, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ Mahoney, Ashley (January 30, 2025). "New professional women's basketball league coming to Charlotte". Axios Charlotte. Archived from the original on January 31, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025.