Overview
- The league, which begins Friday, finalized 44-player rosters across Jacksonville, Savannah, Charlotte, and Greensboro and will stream every game on YouTube.
- Charlotte visits Jacksonville and Greensboro hosts Savannah in the opening matchups, with a 34‑game regular season running through the summer and a postseason to follow.
- Rosters feature former WNBA players and standout college guards, including AD Durr and Deja Kelly, alongside recent draft picks and international pros.
- Co-founder and commissioner Donna Orender, a former WNBA president, frames Upshot as an “opportunity league,” and says players can leave mid-season if WNBA contracts arise, though no formal partnership is in place.
- Backers report about $40 million in startup funding, and the league targets rapid growth with planned teams in Baltimore and Nashville in 2027 and a goal of 12 clubs within three years to deepen domestic talent options.