Women’s Pro Basketball Welcomes New League UPSHOT

This week Zawyer Sports & Entertainment announced a new professionals women’s basketball league – UPSHOT – and host cities Savannah, Georgia; Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina; and league headquarters Jacksonville, Florida.
The UPSHOT League will be operated by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment with a minimum of four teams. Play begins in May 2026 with an eye towards expansion to at least two other markets.
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 in its opening season. Home courts include VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Novant Health Fieldhouse in Greensboro and Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte.
Overseeing UPSHOT League will be Donna Orender, who will serve as commissioner. Orender brings experience to the post. She 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 motivational speaker and has worked to establish opportunities for women and girls through her non-profit Generation W, which 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 of the new league. “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.”
Each team will wear special throwback jerseys during the season to honor great teams and female basketball legends who forged a path in women’s athletics for others to follow. Players will be recruited from a variety of places including colleges.
“There is an immense amount of talent looking for a place to play, we can now provide that place,” continued Orender. “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, offering educational opportunities and creating strong community entertainment and educational assets for our cities is a dream come true.”
“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 Andy Kaufmann, CEO Zawyer Sports at a press conference announcing the league on Monday. “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.”
Investment in UPSHOT League has come from 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 professional basketball player, player for the University of Florida and PY4 Foundation; actress Annie Q.; and film producer Chris Robert.
Zawyer Sports & Entertainment also 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.
