Professional Women’s Basketball is Coming to Greensboro with the new UPSHOT League Set to Begin Play in 2026
Zawyer Sports & Entertainment is proud to announce the establishment of a new professional women’s basketball team in the City of Greensboro set to compete in the newly formed UPSHOT League, which will begin play in May of 2026. The team will play its home games at Novant Health Fieldhouse.
The UPSHOT League was formally introduced on Monday at a press conference that took place in Jacksonville, Florida, where the league will be headquartered. Greensboro will join the other league members in the cities of Jacksonville and Savannah, GA which was announced yesterday. A fourth city will be announced on Thursday. A Name-The-Team contest for the Greensboro team is currently underway at www.theupshotgreensboro.com
The UPSHOT League, is a mission-focused enterprise where value and values are united with the commitment to UPlift, elevate, and develop women basketball athletes, coaches, front office personnel and extends the commitment to our communities and fans. The UPSHOT league will launch with a minimum of four teams and looks to bring exciting and dynamic women's basketball played by elite athletes to other markets across the country.
The UPSHOT League will be operated by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment, which owns and operates the Greensboro Gargoyles. Investment in UPSHOT League has been robust including:
Cheryl Miller, Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer
Ann Meyers Drysdale, Former Women’s Basketball Player and WNBA/NBA Executive
Seniesa Estrada, Former WBA Boxing Champion
Patric Young, Former University of Florida Basketball player & PY4 Foundation
Annie Q., American Actress
Chris Robert, American Film Producer
“We are beyond thrilled to be able to launch this league and provide another quality platform for women to continue being a part of the sport they love whether it is a player on the court or a staff member in the front office,” said Zawyer Sports CEO Andy Kaufmann. “We are also grateful to be able to share this vision with several prominent and passionate individuals in our ownership group that left their own footprints in the field of athletics and entertainment.”
UPSHOT League members will play a 40-game regular season (20 home, 20 away). Teams will immediately begin collecting season ticket deposits of $44 per seat, to match the 44 new player positions being created by UPSHOT League in its inaugural season.
Overseeing UPSHOT League will be Donna Orender, who will serve as the league’s commissioner. Orender brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to the league. Orender a HOF athlete played basketball collegiately and professionally and has served as President of the WNBA and Senior Vice President of the PGA TOUR. She is also a sought-after motivational speaker and has worked to establish opportunities for women and girls through her non-profit Generation W, which educates inspires and connects women and girls in the service of building community. This recognized programming will become part of the community programming in each of the UPSHOT markets.
“This is a special time, and I would say it’s about time,” said Orender. “We are proud to add UPSHOT, a strategic enterprise that will serve the entire women’s basketball ecosphere, from youth to college to the pros and beyond. There is an immense amount of talent looking for a place to play, we can now provide that place. I love this game and what women sports can and does do for women and girls, as well as men and boys is important for all of us. Building talent, providing educational opportunities and creating strong community entertainment and educational assets for our cities is a dream come true!”
Each team will wear special throwback jerseys during the season to honor great teams and female basketball legends who have helped pave the way for others to follow. One of the throwback jerseys will pay tribute to the New Jersey Gems, a franchise that helped pioneer professional women’s basketball that competed in the Women’s Professional Basketball League, the WBL, where Annie Meyers just off her historical tryout for the Indiana Pacers played.
In addition, to providing quality basketball action to fans, UPSHOT will provide a family-friendly game experience, adding additional fun with the music, videoboard content, halftime activities and promotional nights to cater to different areas of interest.
For more information about UPSHOT League, visit www.theupshotleague.com
Zawyer Sports & Entertainment owns, manages, and operates the Jacksonville Icemen, Savannah Ghost Pirates, Greensboro Pro Hockey, 32 Degrees Marketing, Community First Igloo, Charlotte Checkers, and Gastonia Ghost Peppers. Zawyer Sports consults on operations for the Tahoe Knight Monsters and Ghost Pirates Ice. Zawyer Sports is committed to providing family-fun entertainment for all.