Upshot League Launches as Potential WNBA Developmental Partner
The Upshot League, a new professional women's basketball league, begins its inaugural season with games in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida. Led by former WNBA president Donna Orender as commissioner and co-founded by Andy Kaufmann of Zawyer Sports, the league aims to fill a critical gap in the basketball ecosystem by providing development opportunities for elite players, including those excluded from WNBA rosters. While not officially designated as a minor league, it positions itself as a natural addition to the WNBA structure, similar to the G-League for the NBA. The initial season features four teams in the southeastern United States: the Charlotte Crown, Greensboro Groove, Savannah Steel, and Jacksonville Waves. With Taj McWilliams-Franklin serving as Vice President of Basketball Operations, the league emphasizes sustainability through sponsorship and ticket sales. Future expansion plans include adding teams in Nashville and Baltimore by 2027, with long-term goals of becoming a 30-team national league. The initiative responds to growing demand for women's basketball and seeks to enhance player skills through high-level competition.
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Upshot League Launches as Potential WNBA Developmental Partner
The Upshot League, a new professional women's basketball league, begins its inaugural season with games in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida. Led by former WNBA president Donna Orender as commissioner and co-founded by Andy Kaufmann of Zawyer Sports, the league aims to fill a critical gap in the basketball ecosystem by providing development opportunities for elite players, including those excluded from WNBA rosters. While not officially designated as a minor league, it positions itself as a natural addition to the WNBA structure, similar to the G-League for the NBA. The initial season features four teams in the southeastern United States: the Charlotte Crown, Greensboro Groove, Savannah Steel, and Jacksonville Waves. With Taj McWilliams-Franklin serving as Vice President of Basketball Operations, the league emphasizes sustainability through sponsorship and ticket sales. Future expansion plans include adding teams in Nashville and Baltimore by 2027, with long-term goals of becoming a 30-team national league. The initiative responds to growing demand for women's basketball and seeks to enhance player skills through high-level competition.