Janay Sanders, a former standout for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, has officially signed with the Charlotte Crown, the brand‑new franchise in the UpShot League.
During the 2023‑24 graduate season she appeared in 36 games, starting 14 of them, and posted averages of 19.1 minutes per appearance while scoring 7.3 points per game.
Inaugural Season Set for May 2026
The Crown will make its debut in May 2026 as part of the league’s inaugural four‑team lineup, bringing professional women’s basketball back to Charlotte for the first time since 2007.
Home games are slated to be played at Bojangles Coliseum, a venue that has not hosted a women’s professional basketball team in the city for nearly two decades.
A Milestone for Charlotte's Sports Landscape
The arrival of the Charlotte Crown represents more than just a new team; it signals a renewed investment in women’s sports and offers a fresh platform for elite athletes to showcase their talent in a market hungry for high‑level competition.
Fans and local officials alike are optimistic that the franchise will inspire the next generation of players and boost the city’s sports tourism profile, cementing Charlotte’s place on the national women’s basketball map.