Nashville has been awarded an expansion team in the UpShot League, a women's professional basketball league set to launch in 2026. Announced in January 2025, the league will serve as a developmental platform for players aiming for the WNBA, with Nashville's team slated to reveal its name in July 2026 and hire coaches by January 2027. The team will play at Vanderbilt University's Memorial Gymnasium. Nancy VanReece, the team's president and CEO, emphasized the importance of integrating women's professional basketball into Nashville's sports culture. The UpShot League will feature four teams in its inaugural season, including the Charlotte Crown and Jacksonville Waves, with each team playing 34 games. Legendary players such as Cheryl Miller and Tamika Catchings are involved as investors and leaders in the league. Nashville previously bid for a WNBA team, which was ultimately awarded to other cities, but the establishment of the UpShot League marks a significant step in expanding women's basketball in the region.