Zawyer Sports & Entertainment announced the establishment of a new professional women’s basketball league set to begin play in May of 2026.
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 markets across the country.
The UPSHOT League will be headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and will be operated by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment. Investment 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.
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.