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The Upshot League — a new professional women’s basketball organization — has set its rosters for its debut season, featuring former WNBA players and college stars.
Playing its first games on May 15, Upshot will feature four teams in its inaugural season. The squads will play in Savannah, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida; and Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina. More teams are coming in 2027, with expansion franchises already announced for Nashville and Baltimore.
All games will be broadcast on the league’s YouTube channel. The season tips off with the Charlotte Crown visiting the Jacksonville Waves, and the Greensboro Groove hosting the Savannah Steel.
Donna Orender, a former president of the WNBA, is the league’s co-founder and commissioner.
“The depth of talent across the league reflects a powerful moment for the women’s game,” Orender said. “These athletes bring championship pedigrees, professionalism, and global experience to our inaugural season.”
Among the notable names on the initial rosters are former WNBA second overall draft pick AD Durr, three-time All-Big Ten selection Shyanne Sellers, former Ivy League Player of the Year Harmoni Turner, three-time All-ACC selection Deja Kelly, former MEAC Player of the Year Diamond Johnson, and Tennessee’s Zee Spearman — who was selected in the third round of this year’s WNBA Draft.
Durr was drafted by the New York Liberty in 2019 and also played for the Atlanta Dream, but hasn't featured in the WNBA since 2023. Kelly, after starring at North Carolina and Oregon in college, impressed in preseason action with the Las Vegas Aces last year but didn't make the regular season roster. Sellers was drafted by the Golden State Valkyries in the second round last year and also spent time in WNBA camp this year with the Dallas Wings.
The full rosters are below:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AD Durr, Deja Kelly headline Upshot League's inaugural rosters
Continue reading...
Playing its first games on May 15, Upshot will feature four teams in its inaugural season. The squads will play in Savannah, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida; and Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina. More teams are coming in 2027, with expansion franchises already announced for Nashville and Baltimore.
All games will be broadcast on the league’s YouTube channel. The season tips off with the Charlotte Crown visiting the Jacksonville Waves, and the Greensboro Groove hosting the Savannah Steel.
Donna Orender, a former president of the WNBA, is the league’s co-founder and commissioner.
“The depth of talent across the league reflects a powerful moment for the women’s game,” Orender said. “These athletes bring championship pedigrees, professionalism, and global experience to our inaugural season.”
Among the notable names on the initial rosters are former WNBA second overall draft pick AD Durr, three-time All-Big Ten selection Shyanne Sellers, former Ivy League Player of the Year Harmoni Turner, three-time All-ACC selection Deja Kelly, former MEAC Player of the Year Diamond Johnson, and Tennessee’s Zee Spearman — who was selected in the third round of this year’s WNBA Draft.
Durr was drafted by the New York Liberty in 2019 and also played for the Atlanta Dream, but hasn't featured in the WNBA since 2023. Kelly, after starring at North Carolina and Oregon in college, impressed in preseason action with the Las Vegas Aces last year but didn't make the regular season roster. Sellers was drafted by the Golden State Valkyries in the second round last year and also spent time in WNBA camp this year with the Dallas Wings.
The full rosters are below:
Charlotte Crown
- Dazia Lawrence (G, Kentucky)
- Quinzia Fulmore (C, Elon)
- Reigan Richardson (G, Duke)
- E’lisia Grissett (F, South Carolina)
- Deja Kelly (PG, Oregon)
- AD Durr (G, Louisville)
- Diamond McDowell (F, Anderson)
- Emer Nichols (C, Texas A&M)
- Jasmyne Roberts (G, Miami)
- Eboni Walker (F, Ohio State)
- Chloe Welch (G, Saint Joseph’s)
Savannah Steel
- Iyana Moore, (G, Notre Dame)
- Sydney Shaw, (G, West Virginia)
- Megan McConnell, (G, Duquesne)
- Zee Spearman, (F, Tennessee)
- Harmoni Turner, (G, Harvard)
- Lasha Petree, (G, Purdue)
- Ariel Colón (G, FIU)
- Lauryn Taylor, (G, FGCU)
- Quanniecia “Que” Morrison, (G, Georgia)
- Kharyssa Richardson, (F, Mississippi State)
- Olivia Cochran, (F, Louisville)
Jacksonville Waves
- Ariel Hearn (G, Memphis)
- Jasmine Walker (F, Alabama)
- Lindsey Pulliam (G, Northwestern)
- Brianna Turnage (F, Georgia Tech)
- Emma Von Essen (G, Hofstra)
- Khayla Pointer (G, LSU)
- Madison Griggs (G, Memphis)
- Shyanne Sellers (G, Maryland)
- Taylor Soule (G, Virginia Tech)
- Rennia Davis (G/F, Tennessee)
- Adut Bulgak (C, Florida State)
Greensboro Groove
- Diamond Johnson (PG, Norfolk State)
- Sonya Morris (G, Texas)
- Kamaria McDaniel (G, Michigan State)
- Jessica Timmons (G, Alabama)
- Christyn Williams (G, UConn)
- Sahara Jones (G/F, Texas A&M)
- Tayanna Jones Bell (G/F, Colorado)
- Mya Hollingshed (G/F, Colorado)
- Tai’Sheka Porchia (PF, Troy)
- Maria Gakdeng (F/C, North Carolina)
- Amiya Joyner (F, Colorado)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AD Durr, Deja Kelly headline Upshot League's inaugural rosters
Continue reading...
