Championship Night Looms for Inaugural Upshot League
The Upshot League, a new four‑team women’s basketball league in its debut season, is set to crown its first champion on Saturday, August 29 at 7 p.m. inside Jacksonville’s VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. The league’s rapid rise reflects a growing appetite for high‑level women’s sport, with Jacksonville and Charlotte battling for the top spot in the standings.
Commissioner Donna Orender has underscored the league’s ambition to expand, announcing that franchises in Nashville and Baltimore will join next season, swelling the roster to six teams. The move signals a long‑term vision that extends beyond the hardwood, aiming to embed women’s basketball firmly in the national sports conversation.
At the heart of the excitement are players like Deja Kelly, who tops the league in scoring with 17.7 points per game and boasts a combined following of over 14 million on TikTok and Instagram. Kelly, a North Carolina and Oregon alum who previously trained with Athletes Unlimited in Nashville, recently signed a camp deal with the Las Vegas Aces before being waived, a setback she uses as fuel to sharpen her playmaking, defense and overall game.
Reigan Richardson, averaging 12.3 points per game and scoring in double figures in five of the Crown’s seven July contests, adds another dynamic element. Her stint in Spain’s LF Endesa League, where she posted 14.6 points per game in the 2025‑26 season, illustrates the global pathways the Upshot League is forging for its talent.
Beyond individual performances, the league offers a rare platform for athletes to stay stateside, develop their skills, and connect directly with fans, a factor that league officials say is driving momentum toward greater investment and a sustainable ecosystem for women’s sports. The WNBA’s upcoming expansion into Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia will only amplify these opportunities, creating more roster spots and visibility for the next generation.
A New Pathway to the WNBA
For many of the Upshot League’s rising stars, the ultimate goal is a spot on a WNBA roster. With the league’s growth and the WNBA’s own expansion plans, the pipeline from the Upshot League to the professional ranks appears more viable than ever, promising a future where talent can transition seamlessly from emerging competitions to the world’s premier women’s basketball league.