New Women's Developmental Basketball League Debuts

With the success of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) growing, there is a need to the league’s version of a developmental league for players needing to hone their skills with the hopes of moving up to the next level. The UPSHOT League is the newest women’s professional basketball league designed to work with the WNBA.

The UPSHOT League started its inaugural 2026 season this week with four teams called the Charlotte Crown, Greensboro (NC) Groove, Jacksonville Waves and the Savannah Steel. Each team will play 34 games through August 27, 2026. The league plans to add expansion teams in Baltimore and Nashville for the 2027 season and eventually wants to grow to 30 teams.

The WNBA currently has 15 teams and plans to expand to 18 by 2030.  

The league announced sponsorship agreements with sporting goods manufacturer Molten and Shaquille O'Neal's Dunkman brand, which would produce league uniforms.

For more information on the league: https://upshotleague.com