Nashville’s growing reputation as a major sports city reached another milestone April 9 as the UPSHOT League officially announced the city as home to its newest professional women’s basketball franchise.
The announcement, held at the historic Ryman Auditorium, marks Nashville as the sixth team in the UPSHOT League, a newly formed professional developmental league aimed at expanding opportunities for women athletes.
League officials say the addition positions Nashville at the center of a broader national movement to increase access, visibility and investment in women’s sports.
Renowned sports executive Donna Orender, founder and commissioner of the UPSHOT League, led the announcement, calling the moment both symbolic and transformative.
“This is about more than bringing women’s professional basketball to a new market,” Orender said. “It’s about weaving the sport into the fabric of a city that continues to show it is ready to lead.”
The yet-to-be-named team will begin play in May 2027 at Vanderbilt University’s Memorial Gymnasium, hosting 17 home games as part of a 34-game regular season. The team name is expected to be unveiled in July 2026.
Candice Storey Lee, Vanderbilt University’s vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs, said the announcement represents a meaningful step forward for women in sports while underscoring the historic significance of Memorial Gymnasium.
Reflecting on both the venue and her own experience, Lee noted the building’s deep ties to progress and representation. “It’s where Teresa Phillips and Cathy Bender arrived to play basketball and showed someone like me that you could look like me and play at Vanderbilt,” Lee said. “It’s where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke almost exactly one year before he was assassinated, and where the first integrated high school basketball tournament in Tennessee was held.”
Former Metro Council member Nancy VanReece has been named president/CEO of the Nashville franchise. A longtime advocate for civic engagement and equity, VanReece has also been involved in efforts to bring professional women’s sports to the city through the Metro Sports Authority.
“This is not an add-on to Nashville’s sports story. It is a continuation of its momentum,” VanReece said. “We are building something that reflects the energy of this city while creating new pathways for athletes and future generations.”
Founded by Andy Kaufman, Donna Orender and Mark Walsh, the UPSHOT League is designed as a developmental system for women’s basketball, offering paid opportunities and a potential pathway to the WNBA through two-way contracts.
The league will launch in May 2026 with initial teams in Jacksonville, Savannah, Greensboro and Charlotte, with additional expansion markets including Baltimore and now Nashville.
Local leaders say the move reflects Nashville’s rapid growth as a sports destination and aligns with broader economic and cultural development goals.
“It’s great to welcome a women’s professional basketball team to Nashville as an exciting addition to our sports scene,” said Deana Ivey, president/CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “This continues to build on the city’s momentum as a destination for sports and entertainment.”
Stephanie Coleman, president/CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, said the expansion also supports the region’s long-term strategy for inclusive economic growth.
“The growth of women’s sports is a critical part of Nashville’s next chapter,” Coleman said.
The Nashville franchise is also notable for its ownership structure, with women making up 58% of investors, including more than half of the local ownership group.
Beyond the court, the team plans to launch a community-focused ‘Dribble Campaign’ aimed at engaging youth programs, local organizations and cultural institutions across the city.
League officials say the initiative reflects a broader vision of building not just a team, but a lasting presence in the community.
“This is bigger than basketball,” said Mark Walsh, managing partner of the Nashville franchise. “It’s about building a system where talent meets opportunity and cities like Nashville become part of a national movement.”
With its latest addition, Nashville continues to solidify its place among the nation’s fastest-growing sports markets—and signals a new era for women’s professional athletics in the region.
