Savannah State Update:
- The Savannah Steel will be one of four teams in the new UPSHOT League, launching its inaugural season in May 2026.
- Donna Orender, former WNBA president, will serve as the league’s commissioner overseeing the UPSHOT League.
- Coretta Brown, former first-round WNBA draft pick, named Savannah Steel’s inaugural head coach.
- Home games will be played at Enmarket Arena, giving local fans a downtown venue to support the team.
The announcement revealed the team’s name, logo—a hot pink steel shield—and head coach. The event marked a significant milestone in Savannah’s sports history as one of four teams launching under Zawyer’s new women’s professional basketball initiative, the UPSHOT League.
Sports and Entertainment officially launched Savannah’s first women’s professional basketball team, the Savannah Steel, during a press conference held on Sept. 30, 2025, inside the Pittman Lounge at Enmarket Arena.
The Savannah Steel joins teams in Jacksonville, Charlotte, and Greensboro as part of the UPSHOT League, which is set to kick off its inaugural season in May 2026. The league’s mission is to create more opportunities for women athletes and sports professionals across the Southeast.
The announcement revealed the team’s name, logo—a hot pink steel shield—and head coach. The event marked a significant milestone in Savannah’s sports history as one of four teams launching under Zawyer’s new women’s professional basketball initiative, the UPSHOT League.
Overseeing the entire UPSHOT League will be Donna Orender, former WNBA President, who will serve as the league’s commissioner.
Overseeing the entire UPSHOT League will be Donna Orender, former WNBA President, who will serve as the league’s commissioner.
“We are beyond thrilled to be able to launch this league and provide another quality platform for women to continue participating in the sport they love, whether as players on the court or staff members in the front office,” said Zawyer Sports CEO Andy Kaufmann.
Savannah’s Mayor Van Johnson speaking at the Zawyer Sports and Entertainment press release.
Leading Savannah’s team is Coretta Brown, a first-round WNBA draft pick who played for the Indiana Fever, Chicago Sky, and internationally. Brown expressed her excitement about shaping the city’s new basketball legacy.
“It’s a game-changer,” she said. “I’m going to work my behind off to make sure that this community is excited about what’s on that floor.”
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson also shared his enthusiasm, emphasizing the importance of bringing women’s professional basketball to the city.
“I’m just so excited,” he said. “I want to see these ladies playing some basketball.”
Left to Right: Krystal Crawford, CEO of Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, Monty Jones, General Manager of Enmarket Arena, Donna Orender, UPSHOT Commissioner
The Savannah Steel will host home games at Enmarket Arena, giving local fans a chance to rally behind the team as they prepare for their first season.
As the tipoff countdown begins, Savannah is charged. With a bold name, a fearless logo, and a championship-minded coach, the Savannah Steel are poised to forge an unforgettable legacy in women’s sport, proving that Savannah’s spirit, much like steel, is resilient, indomitable, and primed to shine.
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