Women Who Want to Go Pro: The UPSHOT League Hosts Open Basketball Tryouts
GREENSBORO, NC – A new professional pathway is opening for women athletes ready to take their game to the next level.
The UPSHOT League, a newly formed women’s professional basketball league, is hosting open tryouts in North Carolina and Florida this March — offering a direct opportunity for women who have exhausted their college eligibility and still aspire to play professionally.
With its inaugural season tipping off in May, the league is actively building its first-ever rosters — and these tryouts are the gateway.
A Real Opportunity to Play Professional Basketball
The first Hoops Showcase takes place:
March 1, 2026
1–4 p.m.
Novant Fieldhouse at Greensboro Complex
Greensboro, North Carolina
A second tryout will be held:
March 15, 2026
1–4 p.m.
FSCJ South Campus
Jacksonville, Florida
These open tryouts are designed specifically for women who have completed their collegiate eligibility and are seeking a professional platform to continue competing at a high level.
“This is about more than roster spots — it’s about real opportunity,” said Commissioner Donna Orender. “We are building a league where women athletes are valued, supported, and connected to their communities in meaningful ways.”
Final rosters will be announced May 9, ahead of the league’s season opener on May 15.
Elite Leadership Behind the League
The UPSHOT League is led by Commissioner Donna Orender, former President of the WNBA, who co-founded the league alongside Andy Kaufmann, founder of Zawyer Sports & Entertainment.
Together, they bring deep experience in professional sports operations, community development, and fan engagement to this next chapter in women’s basketball.
The league will debut with four founding teams:
- Jacksonville Waves
- Charlotte Crown
- Greensboro Groove
- Savannah Steel
Additional markets are expected to follow.
Community-Focused, Player-Driven
Built on pillars of opportunity and community, The UPSHOT League aims to create meaningful pathways for women athletes — both on and off the court.
Its model emphasizes:
- Player development
- Local engagement
- Sustainable growth for women’s professional sports
For many athletes, especially those who may not have secured overseas contracts or WNBA roster spots, this league represents a viable professional platform — and a chance to continue competing at the highest level.
How to Register
Players can pre-register for tryouts at:
Additional information about registration and the inaugural season schedule is available on the league’s website.