Nashville just landed another major booking on its sports calendar, securing the sixth franchise in the UPSHOT women's basketball league. The team is slated to begin play in May 2027 alongside a new club in Baltimore. Home games will be staged at Vanderbilt's Memorial Gymnasium, with Nancy VanReece installed as team president and CEO. The investor group behind the franchise is majority women, with 21 of 38 Nashville investors, and the league says roughly 58% of its overall investor pool is female.
What UPSHOT Is
The UPSHOT League launched with four founding teams and promotes itself as a U.S.-based alternative to playing overseas, built around player development and community engagement. According to UPSHOT, the inaugural season tipped off in May 2026, and each team carries an 11-player roster.
Nashville's Selection And The Pitch
The Nashville club was unveiled at an event at the Ryman Auditorium, with league organizers and local investors on hand, as reported by the Nashville Post. That reporting notes that Baltimore and Nashville will join UPSHOT's expanded schedule in May 2027, and that 21 of the 38 Nashville investors are women, about 58% of the group's backers. A league release quoted Mark Walsh calling the move "bigger than basketball," and Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Storey Lee described initiatives like the UPSHOT League as an important step toward building a broader sports ecosystem, according to the Post.
Who’s Running The Team
Nancy VanReece will serve as the Nashville franchise's president and CEO. Metro records list VanReece as representing UPSHOT Nashville, LLC in city lobbyist filings (Metro Nashville). Vanderbilt's athletic site identifies Memorial Gymnasium as the school's basketball arena, a venue the team will use for home dates and community outreach in coordination with campus schedules (Vanderbilt Athletics).
League Leadership And The Broader Push
UPSHOT has lined up a high-profile advisory group and investor bench to bolster credibility and help attract players. A recent league release highlighted Tamika Catchings joining as an advisor and investor alongside Cheryl Miller and Ann Meyers Drysdale, underscoring the circuit's focus on former players and established leaders (PR Newswire).
Next Steps For Fans
The Nashville franchise is expected to unveil its nickname in July and to join the league's expanded schedule in May 2027, per reporting by the Nashville Post. Fans interested in season memberships and single-game options can find deposit and ticket information on the league's ticketing page from UPSHOT.
Local leaders say the new franchise could broaden year-round basketball activity in Nashville, from youth clinics to media draws, while offering more players a domestic pro pathway. City officials and team organizers will be watching how the club balances a college-town calendar with a pro schedule ahead of its May 2027 debut.
