UpShot League
 | |
| Sport | Women's basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 27, 2025 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Founder | Andy Kaufmann, Mark Walsh, Donna Orender |
| First season | 2026 |
| Commissioner | Donna Orender |
| No. of teams | 4 |
| Country | United States |
| Headquarters | 3605 Philips Hwy, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Continent | North America |
| Website | UpShotLeague.com |
 2026–27 |
The UpShot League (often stylized as UPSHOT or Upshot) is a professional women's basketball league in the United States.[1] Former WNBA president Donna Orender serves as the commissioner of the league.[2]
The league began play on May 15, 2026, with four inaugural teams. The UpShot League's regular-season schedule will consist of 34 games, including 17 at home and 17 on the road. The league has announced plans to hold a player draft following the 2027 WNBA draft.[3]
History
[edit]Launch
[edit]On January 27, 2025, Zawyer Sports & Entertainment CEO Andy Kaufmann announced the creation of the UpShot League, a professional women's basketball league based in the southeastern United States to provide opportunities for players unable to secure WNBA roster spots.[4][5]
Early investors included Cheryl Miller, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Seniesa Estrada, Patric Young, and Annie Q. Riegel.[4][5] In March 2026, Tamika Catchings joined the league as an advisor and investor.[6]
The league established inaugural franchises in Jacksonville, Savannah, Greensboro, and Charlotte for its 2026 debut season.[4][7] The teams were later named the Waves, Steel, Groove, and Crown, respectively.[8][9][10][11][12][13]
Inaugural season build-up
[edit]The league announced its inaugural game would be played May 15, 2026 between the Jacksonville Waves and Charlotte Crown.[14][15]
Ahead of its inaugural season, the league announced its first player signings. The group featured former WNBA first-round picks Jasmine Walker and Asia "AD" Durr, as well as Lindsey Pulliam, Amiya Joyner, Que Morrison, and Schaquilla Nunn. The league also held regional tryouts.[16][17]
In May 2026, the league announced sponsorship agreements with sporting goods manufacturer Molten and Shaquille O'Neal's Dunkman brand, which would produce league uniforms.[18]
Player development
[edit]In July 2026, Michelle Onyiah became the first player in UpShot League history to sign with a WNBA team when she joined the Indiana Fever on a developmental roster contract. Onyiah had played for the Charlotte Crown during the league's inaugural season, averaging 9.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game in 21 games before signing with Indiana.[19]
Postseason
[edit]In July 2026, the league announced that its inaugural championship game would be held at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, on August 29, 2026. The championship will feature the top two teams in the regular-season standings. During the announcement, commissioner Donna Orender also announced that the league's Most Valuable Player award would be named in honor of Ann Meyers Drysdale.[20]
Expansion
[edit]In November 2025, the league's first expansion team was announced. They will play in Baltimore, Maryland.[21] A second expansion team, to play in Nashville, Tennessee, was announced in April 2026.[22]
Kaufmann announced in May 2026 that the expansion plan was to reach further than the southeastern United States and to include up to 30 teams. He said, "2027, looking at six to eight teams. 2028, ten to twelve teams, and on and on we go on our way to thirty teams."[23]
Teams
[edit]
As of 2026, the league feature four teams, all based in the southeastern United States.[13]
| Team | Location | Venue | Cap | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Crown | Charlotte, NC | Bojangles Coliseum | 8,600 | 2026 |
| Greensboro Groove | Greensboro, NC | Novant Health Fieldhouse | 2,118 | 2026 |
| Jacksonville Waves | Jacksonville, FL | VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena | 14,091 | 2026 |
| Savannah Steel | Savannah, GA | Enmarket Arena | 7,485 | 2026 |
| Team | Location | Venue | Cap | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | Catonsville, MD | Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena | 5,500 | 2027[21] |
| Nashville | Nashville, TN | Memorial Gymnasium | 14,316 | 2027[22] |
Timeline
[edit]
Operations
[edit]The UpShot League is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and is operated by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment.[24]
In May 2026, league officials stated that the organization had secured $40 million in investment commitments from approximately 90 investors and financial partners ahead of its debut season. Kaufmann stated that the league's revenue model would rely primarily on sponsorships and ticket sales rather than media-rights agreements and merchandise revenue.[18]
Key personnel
[edit]- Andy Kaufmann, CEO of Zawyer Sports & Entertainment
- Mark Walsh, co-founder
- Donna Orender, Commissioner
- Taj McWilliams-Franklin, VP of Basketball Operations
Investors
[edit]- Cheryl Miller, Women's Basketball Hall of Famer
- Ann Meyers Drysdale, Women's Basketball Hall of Famer and former WNBA/NBA executive
- Seniesa Estrada, Former WBA boxing champion
- Patric Young, Former Florida Gators men's basketball player & PY4 Foundation
- Annie Q. Riegel, American actress, and her husband, Chris, American film producer
- Tamika Catchings, Women's Basketball Hall of Famer
Broadcast coverage
[edit]For its inaugural season, the league announced that 15 games will air nationally on the Scripps Sports Network, with the remainder of the games airing on the league's YouTube channel. The league also reached agreements with local over-the-air networks including WCCB in Charlotte (34 games), WMYV in Greensboro (7 games), WJXT/WCWJ in Jacksonville (9 games), and WJCL/WRDW-TV in Savannah.[25]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Upshot League". Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Professional Women's Development Basketball Team Coming to Charlotte, as part of New 'UPSHOT League' | Upshot League". Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ↑ Lanier, Kendall (April 18, 2026). "Upshot League expanding to Nashville in 2027". WKRN. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Bonts, Mike. "Zawyer Sports Announces New Basketball League". JacksonvilleSportsToday.com. Wordpress. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- 1 2 "Jacksonville Waves, new women's basketball squad, introduce first head coach". FirstCoastNews.com. First Coast News. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ↑ "Tamika Catchings Joins the UPSHOT League as Advisor and Investor, Alongside Cheryl Miller and Ann Meyers Drysdale". GJSentinel.com. The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. March 13, 2026. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
- ↑ West, Rachel. "New Savannah professional women's basketball team announces name, logo, and head coach". WTOC.com. WTOC. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ↑ Roberts, Jeff. "New professional women's basketball team coming to Savannah as founding member of UpShot League". WTOC.com. WTOC. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ↑ Mull, Malea. "Professional women's basketball is coming to Greensboro in 2026". SpectrumLocalNews.com. Spectrum News 1. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ↑ Allman, Megan. "UPSHOT Women's Basketball League unveils new Greensboro team name and head coach". WFMYNews2.com. WFMY. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ↑ Tucker, Luke. "Charlotte gets pro women's basketball team amid launch of new league". WBTV.com. WBTV. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ↑ Ruder, Miles. "Charlotte to welcome a professional women's basketball team as part of new 'UPSHOT League'". WCCBCharlotte.com. WCCB Charlotte. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- 1 2 Mahoney, Ashley. "Charlotte's new pro women's basketball team reveals name and head coach". Axios.com. Axios. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ↑ "The dates are set. A new season brings new opportunities as our communities rise together. Players shine, fans connect, and joy multiplies in every arena. The Future is UP!🏀". X.com. UPSHOT League. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ↑ Freeman, Clayton (February 16, 2026). "Jacksonville Waves women's basketball announces inaugural schedule". Jacksonville.com. The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
- ↑ "UPSHOT League Unveils First Premier Players Ahead of Inaugural Season with Final Rosters Announced May 8". SWXLocalSports.com. KHQ, INCORPORATED. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- ↑ Dorsch, Eric (February 10, 2026). "UPSHOT League announces tryouts for upcoming women's basketball season". Sports.Yahoo.com. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- 1 2 Anderson, Ric (May 6, 2026). "Jacksonville-based UpShot League says it will start play with $40 million in investment". Jacksonville Daily Record. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ↑ Northam, Mitchell (July 31, 2026). "Indiana Fever sign Michelle Onyiah, first from Upshot League to play in WNBA". USAToday.com. USA Today. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ Brown, Will (July 22, 2026). "Upshot League announces inaugural championship location". JaxToday.org. Jax Today. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
- 1 2 Ahearn, Cale. "UPSHOT League announces new Baltimore professional women's basketball team". FoxBaltimore.com. Fox 5 News. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- 1 2 Perez, Sam (April 9, 2026). "Nashville getting its own professional women's basketball team". WBIR.com. WBIR. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- ↑ Hunter, Xavier (May 7, 2026). "Upshot League nears launch with eye on national growth". SportsBusinessJournal.com. Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ↑ Freeman, Clayton (January 27, 2025). "Upshot: Jacksonville to welcome new professional women's basketball league". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "The UPSHOT League Announces Expansive Multi-Platform Media Distribution for Inaugural 2026 Season". UpShot League. May 18, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
