Black Athletes in the Spotlight: HBCU Sports & Local Highlights
- UPSHOT League was created to provide more roster spots as women's basketball talent continues to grow, says Garland Cooper.
- The Jacksonville-based league finished its inaugural season with four teams: Jacksonville Waves, Savannah Steel, Charlotte Crown, Greensboro Groove.
- UPSHOT has no formal tie to the WNBA, though six UPSHOT players signed WNBA developmental contracts during or after 2026.
- The team launched a "Name the Team" campaign; fans can submit ideas at tampaupshot.com; official name and logo unveiled Dec. 1.
The UPSHOT League announced Tuesday that Tampa will get its newest professional women’s basketball team. Play starts in May 2027 at the USF Yuengling Center. The team has no name yet. Tampa joins Baltimore and Nashville as the league’s newest expansion markets.
The Jacksonville-based league wrapped up its first season in August with four teams: the Jacksonville Waves, the Savannah Steel of Georgia, the Charlotte Crown of North Carolina, and the Greensboro Groove of North Carolina.
Garland Cooper, president of UPSHOT Tampa, said the league grew out of a need for more roster spots. “Women’s sports, women’s basketball has taken off over the last several years, and there’s just a ton of talent and not enough roster spots. So that’s how the UPSHOT League was born,” Cooper said, according to Fox 13. “Tampa being an incredible sports town was just an obvious choice for an expansion team headed into the 2027 season.”
The UPSHOT League has no tie to the WNBA. Still, six UPSHOT players signed WNBA developmental contracts during or after the 2026 season.
Tampa has a strong record with the sport. The city has hosted the NCAA Women’s Final Four a record four times, and the most recent one came in 2025. The Bay Area has also held the Florida High School Girls’ Flag Football State Championships for three straight years. Tampa Bay Sun FC arrived in 2024. The Buccaneers, Lightning, Rays, Rowdies, and Tarpons all play here too.
“It’s an incredible sports city, right? There’s tons of professional sports, and they’ve hosted the Women’s Final Four [in] basketball. There’s a fan base for women’s basketball specifically, but it’s just a great community,” Cooper said. “Like, people here rally around the sports and rally together. And we’re just so excited to be part of that.”
The team started a “Name the Team” campaign Tuesday. Fans can send in ideas for the team’s identity online at tampaupshot.com. The official name and logo will be shown on Dec. 1.
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