Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Donna Orender across Basketball.
The Upshot League, founded by Donna Orender, provides paid playing opportunities and development for women’s basketball players excluded from the WNBA, with plans to grow to 12 teams by 2028.
Charlotte rallied from a 14‑point deficit to beat Jacksonville 81‑76 in the Upshot League’s first championship, with Deja Kelly earning MVP honors amid a celebration of women’s basketball legends.
The Upshot League’s first season, featuring teams in Charlotte, Jacksonville, Greensboro and Savannah, showcased high‑level competition, player development and early success stories that are reshaping the landscape of women’s professional basketball.
The Upshot League, a four‑team women’s basketball league in its debut season, is set to crown its first champion on Aug. 29 in Jacksonville, with plans to expand and deepen ties to the WNBA.
The first Upshot League women's basketball championship will take place on August 29 in Jacksonville, showcasing top teams, a luncheon with Cheryl Miller and Tamika Catchings, and plans for future expansion.
Diamond Johnson’s 17.5 points per game average highlights the Upshot League’s first season, a competitive four‑team circuit founded by Donna Orender and Andy Kaufmann that streams every game and aims to grow into a national platform for women’s basketball talent.
The Jacksonville Waves, a fresh franchise in the Upshot League, will debut at home on May 15, showcasing a roster packed with WNBA experience and community ambition.
The newly formed Upshot League has revealed its complete rosters, setting the stage for a debut season that blends veteran experience with fresh collegiate talent, anchored in Savannah, Jacksonville, Charlotte and Greensboro.
The new professional women’s basketball league features former WNBA players, college standouts, and a digital‑first broadcast strategy, aiming to showcase talent and grow the sport.