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Deja Kelly had a sensational collegiate career at Oregon and North Carolina before landing a preseason contract with the Las Vegas Aces in 2025. (Photo credit: Travis Holshouser | Charlotte Crown)<\/p>\nAs women\u2019s basketball surges into another landmark All-Star weekend, the Upshot League\u00a0is taking its rising profile to Chicago with its commissioner, staff, and players joining the celebration of the WNBA\u2019s 30th anniversary.<\/p>\n
In addition to announcing that the inaugural Upshot League championship game will be held on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. inside the Jacksonville VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena between the top two teams, league commissioner Donna Orender shared season highlights, future expansion plans, and part of the purpose of being in Chicago during Wednesday\u2019s state of the league press conference.<\/p>\n
Right now, Jacksonville (17\u20134 overall) and Charlotte (12\u201310) sit atop the league standings. Meanwhile, there are still chances for Greensboro (8-15) and Savannah (7-15) to reach the championship game. For Orender, the championship will be a showcase of the league\u2019s players and the wider women\u2019s basketball community.<\/p>\n
\u201cChampionship weekend will be a celebration of our players,\u201d Orender told reporters over Zoom and assembled in-person guests. \u201cWhether they are in the championship or not, many of them will be here doing clinics. We\u2019ll have a coaches\u2019 clinic. We\u2019ll have a kids\u2019 clinic. We\u2019ll be gathering to have conversations about the emergence of women\u2019s sports. \u2026 The weekend will bring together businesses and communities around the extraordinary momentum around women\u2019s sports.\u201d<\/p>\n
That momentum is already translating into growth. The Upshot League will expand to six teams next season with franchises in Nashville and Baltimore already awarded. Orender also hinted that more teams could be coming, teasing \u201csignificant growth\u201d while adding that the league is \u201cnot ready to make any announcements.\u201d<\/p>\n
As products of the WNBA, Orender and Taj McWilliams-Franklin see this moment as a full-circle celebration of the league that shaped them and still fuels their belief in what women\u2019s basketball can be. The Upshot League is a competitive women\u2019s four-team basketball league in its first year, which could potentially serve as a developmental league for the WNBA.<\/p>\n
That belief is one of the reasons Upshot exists \u2014 and why they\u2019re heading to Chicago to continue meaningful discussions with the WNBA about future collaborations and opportunities. While they have been pleased with the engagement from fans and commitment from the players in the league, they know there\u2019s still more meaningful work to be done behind the scenes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will say this, (the WNBA) got their hands full,\u201d Orender said about future integration with the WNBA. \u201cThey know who we are. They know what we\u2019re doing. We know that their general managers and their presidents and even a lot of the players are really proud of us and supportive. They\u2019re looking at our players, and I think as time goes by, those conversations will continue to grow. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think they are still adjusting to their new business realities, which we\u2019re so supportive of and happy for. But we do believe, looking down the road, that there is a way that we will connect in a meaningful way for everyone who\u2019s part of this women\u2019s basketball enterprise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deja Kelly had a sensational collegiate career at Oregon and North Carolina before landing a preseason contract with the Las Vegas Aces in 2025. (Photo credit: Travis Holshouser | Charlotte Crown)<\/p>\n
Kelly embracing her role as Upshot ambassador<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, one of the many players expected to be in Chicago this weekend is Deja Kelly<\/a> of the Charlotte Crown, who understands her visibility serves a bigger purpose.<\/p>\n She embraces it, and she knows competing in the Upshot League alongside several talented players is a step in the right direction for the future of women\u2019s basketball and another necessary phase toward her personal goal of securing a permanent place in the WNBA.<\/p>\n As a member of the Charlotte Crown, Kelly relishes the crown\u2014pun intended\u2014of being one of the faces of the first-year league. Her unwavering dream also comes with a spotlight she didn\u2019t ask for but refuses to run from. In a first-year league still building its identity, she has become one of its defining faces, and Kelly embraces that responsibility as part of the grind.<\/p>\n Kelly has excelled on the court as well, leading the Upshot League in scoring at 17.7 points per game <\/a>through July 22.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not oblivious to knowing that my name and a few others are talked about within this league while bringing some eyes and attention to it, which I think is great,\u201d Kelly shared with The IX Sports during a recent phone call. \u201cThat\u2019s obviously a great thing anywhere, let alone for women\u2019s basketball. People are catching on. Whether it\u2019s through my name or through a number of great players people have been following for a while, that is good. I think that\u2019s a blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n The Upshot League serves numerous purposes for the players who are fortunate enough to be in the league. The Crown has a few recognizable names, including Reigan Richardson, who played at Duke, and AD, formerly Asia Durr, a No. 2 overall pick of the New York Liberty in 2019. Each player in this league has a story and is competing for a variety of reasons. Despite their scars and arduous roads, they are continuing to thrive.<\/p>\n Some are accumulating film for a possible shot at the WNBA, others are staying in shape, and those like Nicole Gwynn<\/a> of Charlotte are just proving she belongs. As a league of opportunity, the Upshot League gives players, especially those finishing their collegiate careers, a chance to stay stateside and grow their game, which is another positive.<\/p>\n \u201cAny more eyes and any help that we can give to bring more viewership to this league because it\u2019s worth it,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cThe competition is a very high level, and it\u2019s a good brand of basketball. We\u2019re all professionals. People have had experience already, so it\u2019s really competitive and fun to watch. I think that that\u2019s what will continue to bring, you know, more viewership and more fans and you know get people to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n Those witnessing Kelly\u2019s determined spirit will see she\u2019s playing to fulfill her dreams of playing full-time in the WNBA. Sometimes being in the spotlight comes with challenges, which again Kelly understands. She\u2019s not hiding.<\/p>\n Even though Kelly has a large following on social media, with over 14 million TikTok and Instagram followers combined, she has always been authentic and intentional in publicly documenting her journey. She\u2019s also enjoying life by dancing and smiling on her socials.<\/p>\n \u201cMy success is in the light, and my failures are in the light, and I think that\u2019s the beauty of it,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cI want to show people that just because I\u2019ve had some bumps in the road and there are different areas in my journey that may have been unexpected, that doesn\u2019t stop me from chasing the dream. The dream doesn\u2019t change, and I think that\u2019s a big motivator for me because I wouldn\u2019t be the role model that I want to be to those looking up to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Listen now to The IX Sports Podcast and Women\u2019s Sports Daily<\/strong> She knows her presence\u00a0is bigger than buckets and highlight clips. For Kelly, it means showing up every night with authenticity and consistency as proof that you can chase a WNBA roster spot, carry a league\u2019s name, and still leave room for others to shine beside you. It\u2019s another form of leadership for her because she\u2019s helping others see what\u2019s possible through intention, empathy, and clarity.<\/p>\n \u201cMy story is different,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cIf I just quit or gave up after I got a few no\u2019s from the W, then I would be disappointed, but continuing to work is a big motivator for me. That\u2019s something that\u2019s a blessing because there are a lot of younger girls who are trying to be in my position and trying to get to where I am. If I could show them that a few bumps in the road and a little adversity don\u2019t change where you\u2019re trying to go and shouldn\u2019t knock you off your path.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelly has already dabbled in broadcasting and can see a future with a microphone in her hand, but right now her focus is on the story she\u2019s still writing on the court and the people following in real time. The setbacks have become part of the example she\u2019s trying to set because she\u2019s aware of what they represent.<\/p>\n \u201cMy dreams and my potential are my biggest motivators,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cI have so much to give, and my story is far from done. So I think that\u2019s what keeps me going because I know there\u2019s so much left and my ceiling is so high. But outside of that, it would probably have to be the little girls who are looking up to me, the younger generation, just in general, looking up to me, to other female basketball players. I\u2019ve already got some love from younger players who are following my journey, and that\u2019s just so appreciated. You never know who\u2019s watching.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelly also played in Athletes Unlimited in Nashville<\/a> this past winter, following a stellar collegiate career in which she tallied 2,247 career points while collecting 564 rebounds<\/a> with North Carolina and Oregon. Proving how challenging the next level is, Kelly went undrafted in 2025 but signed a training camp contract with the Las Vegas Aces before being waived<\/a>.<\/p>\n In two preseason games, she averaged 12 points and made a game-winning shot against the Phoenix Mercury. Despite not making the final roster, she had some positive takeaways from the experience.<\/p>\n \u201cTraining camp with Vegas was amazing,\u201d Kelly recalled. \u201cJust being able to have that opportunity and get my foot in the door, because a lot of people don\u2019t get that opportunity. So just being able to have that with Vegas, with such an elite organization and elite players, and being able to learn so much in a short amount of time while getting a taste of what the W is about and where I need to grow and continue to expand my game.\u201d<\/p>\n While the leg sleeve is her signature wardrobe accessory, Kelly\u2019s specialty is her versatility, where she\u2019s a scoring machine, a passing wizard, and a human handcuff. Kelly leads the Upshot League in assists and is fourth in steals.<\/p>\n With numerous high-level tools, Kelly is focused on fine-tuning various areas of her game to make her dream a reality. Kelly knows she can be valuable to a team that likes to play fast. Kelly has proven that she can compete against the best. While she\u2019s confident that she belongs in the WNBA, Kelly also recognizes the fine details she must improve.<\/p>\n She\u2019s been able to make open shots with more consistency, whether it\u2019s off the catch, off the dribble, or off a ball screen, while getting to the foul line often. Even though she has scored double figures 17 times this season, including hitting for 30 or more three times, Kelly is focused on improving her point guard skills, facilitating, and defense.<\/p>\n \u201cA big focus is showing that I can facilitate consistently, which I\u2019ve always been able to do,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cI\u2019ve always been a really good playmaker, but just being able to show that I can do that consistently first and knowing that scoring can and will come as the game goes on, and whatever\u2019s needed, too. <\/p>\n \u201cSome teams in the WNBA have questions like, can I run a team? Can I be a point guard? Obviously, traditional point guards, there\u2019s not really many of them in the league, but I know that realistically, whatever team I land on, my role is not going to be to put up 15, 20-plus points a night. It\u2019s going to be to get the other stars the ball, which I\u2019m more than capable of doing.\u201d<\/p>\n Richardson embracing the opportunity<\/p>\n Duke gave Richardson a national stage, Spain taught her how to be a pro far from home, and Upshot has given her a chance to bring all of that back to the city that raised her.<\/p>\n The Upshot League has made a difference for Richardson, who earned a training camp opportunity with the Minnesota Lynx in 2025. After being waived<\/a>, she played in the Spanish LF Endesa League, where she averaged 14.6 points per game during the 2025-26 season<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now, playing in front of her family and eating meals with them at home or a nearby restaurant is a nice flex. For all the talent packed into Upshot, that might be its quiet superpower: giving players like Richardson a chance to chase big-league dreams without losing touch with the people and places that raised them.<\/p>\n She jumped at the opportunity to play for the Crown when head coach Tricia Stafford-Odom reached out to her.<\/p>\n \u201cI am happy to have a team in Charlotte,\u201d Richardson said. \u201cIt makes stuff a lot easier, but I\u2019m happy that Coach Trish took a chance on me, and I\u2019m just happy to be playing. It\u2019s also great, especially for my family, because they love to come and support me wherever I am. So, it\u2019s an easy drive for them to be able to support me, which matters.\u201d<\/p>\n Those familiar faces provide a comfort that many women\u2019s basketball players don\u2019t have when they are overseas.<\/p>\n The popularity of women\u2019s basketball is creating tomorrow\u2019s legacy. With increased demand and the\u00a0cultural influence of women\u2019s basketball, leagues like Upshot, Unrivaled, and Athletes Unlimited have increased the opportunities for women\u2019s basketball players to remain in the country and play competitively, which has proven to be a winning strategy for fan engagement. Fans have remained connected to some of the recognizable players they grew to admire during their collegiate careers.<\/p>\n Every player in this league has endured numerous twists and detours, but the nonlinear path they took is stitched into the fabric of their stories. Richardson knows that path well; being waived, going overseas, and now carving out a role in Upshot are all part of trusting the process.<\/p>\n The depth of women\u2019s basketball talent has accelerated growth and visibility, providing a year-round showcase for the sport in America.\u00a0In addition to elevating women\u2019s basketball, the Upshot League has created momentum toward long-term investment and the ecosystem being built around it.<\/p>\n More investors, brands, media companies, and creators are developing meaningful experiences specifically for women\u2019s sports.\u00a0In addition to Upshot\u2019s planned expansion, the WNBA will be adding Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, creating more roster spots.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of great talent in women\u2019s basketball that just wants to hoop,\u201d Richardson said. \u201cIf we\u2019re not able to do it in the W or don\u2019t want to go overseas, this is a great opportunity to still play against the best of the best. I think it\u2019s a great opportunity for some of the other girls to really show what they can do outside of the W or overseas and play at home in the States. This is great.\u201d<\/p>\n As Richardson patiently waits and works, she\u2019s using the league like everybody to enhance parts of her game. Her growth area is on the mental side. More importantly, being from Charlotte, Richardson has embraced every challenge and opportunity to impact her community.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, it\u2019s just staying locked in and not being so down on myself when scoring isn\u2019t going my way,\u201d Richardson said. \u201cI know I can play on both sides of the ball. So, if offensively isn\u2019t going my way, I just got to be able to get going on the defensive end as well. I feel like that also goes hand in hand with what I\u2019m working on, which is being consistent with my shot.\u201d<\/p>\n Richardson has had a huge role in helping Charlotte overcome a 1-6 start to the season. The Crown are now 12-10 overall, sitting in second place behind Jacksonville. Richardson is averaging 12.9 points per game, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game<\/a>. She\u2019s also made 42.1% of her shots<\/a>. She\u2019s scored in double figures in five of her last six games, including a 25-point performance in an 85-75 win over Greensboro on July 16.<\/p>\n \u201cI have spurts where I play well one game, and I don\u2019t play my best another. I know not every game is going to be perfect, but at least I can control what I can, which is my effort and the little things I could do on the court to help this team win, regardless of if I\u2019m having a good scoring night or not.\u201d<\/p>\n Healthy AD back playing<\/p>\n While life in the Upshot League isn\u2019t glamorous, AD, formerly AD Durr<\/a>, is excited to have recovered from long COVID and to be able to hoop. They didn\u2019t mind Charlotte\u2019s recent 13-game road trip that began on June 18, especially since when they played overseas, AD routinely endured 15-hour bus rides to games.<\/p>\n With one game remaining, the Crown are 8-4 on its road trip.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the part you feel the most is when you\u2019re on your way back home, and you get back at like one or 2 a.m.,\u201d AD said. \u201cYou\u2019re tired, and you\u2019re just ready to get to bed, but in comparison to playing overseas, I\u2019m very grateful for a four-or-five-hour bus ride. I\u2019ll take that any day.\u201d<\/p>\n The constant travel, quick turnarounds, and back-to-back games are another unique aspect of the league. For younger players, it\u2019s another lesson in how to be a professional, take care of your body, stay sharp, eat correctly, and still perform under a spotlight that never really dims.<\/p>\n So, taking trips to Greensboro, Savannah, and Jacksonville are easy for AD, especially after conquering her biggest and scariest battle.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest thing right now I want people to know is that I am healthy,\u201d AD said to The IX Sports during a phone call earlier this month. \u201cI\u2019m free of long COVID. I\u2019ve been free of that for the last four to five years, I would say approximately. I\u2019m just trying to get better every single day. So, I know some people have questions about how I am still feeling. I just want people to understand that I was, yes, I was very, very, very sick, but now I\u2019m not. I thank God for that.\u201d<\/p>\n AD is another recognizable name in the Upshot League. They were the New York Liberty\u2019s No. 2 overall draft pick and averaged 9.7 points per game as a rookie<\/a> in 2019 before life changed. They missed the next two seasons because of prolonged complications from COVID. AD wasn\u2019t the same player when they returned, which led to them being traded to Atlanta and ultimately waived in 2023. Overall, they played 28 games for the Liberty before the trade.<\/p>\n AD is aware that they\u2019re one of the marquee names of the league, but their focus hasn\u2019t been on living up to that. AD is playing consistently and competitively for the first time since 2024. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMy focus has been just getting better every single day, and being the best version of myself on and off the court for my team, representing the Charlotte Crown and my family,\u201d AD said. \u201cI know that comes with a higher responsibility, so I\u2019m just trying to get myself better every single day. So, I know that comes with me knocking off some of that rust, getting better, and being the best version of myself for my team.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the hard times they endured, AD always confidently knew they\u2019d return to their explosive self. Now, AD is averaging 10.9 points in 22 games<\/a> for the Charlotte Crown. The two-time ACC Player of the Year from Louisville has 12 double-digit games. AD scored a season-high 22 points on July 17 against Greensboro.<\/p>\n Even during recovery from COVID, AD kept working until earning opportunities to play in Russia and Israel. Their mindset rarely matched how their body was feeling.<\/p>\n \u201cI always knew deep down inside I was going to be back playing,\u201d AD said. \u201cObviously, your days become so foggy and blurry because I felt so sick. So, you start questioning, like, man, am I ever going to be okay? But I knew deep down inside, you know, I was going to bounce back from it; it was just a matter of time, and I knew I would be back playing for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Rare Gems\u2019 is out now! If you enjoy Megdal\u2019s coverage of women\u2019s basketball every Wednesday at The IX Sports, you will love \u201cRare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.\u201d <\/p>\n After two years overseas, AD came home to coach. During that time, AD played pickup basketball, but admitted it wasn\u2019t the same as being in the gym with sweaty teammates competing for the same purpose. The high fives. The hugs after great plays.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a struggle not having a game in my hands, playing ball,\u201d AD said. \u201cI think that\u2019s the thing I miss the most: being part of a team. I\u2019ll always love being part of a team. It\u2019s fun, you get to meet so many different people, different personalities, and create so many different friendships. So, I think for me that\u2019s what I\u2019ve missed.\u201d<\/p>\n AD missed all of that even while working as a member of the Charlotte women\u2019s basketball staff<\/a> as its\u00a0director of scouting and recruiting.<\/p>\n It was there AD learned what the next chapter could look like.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI heard some people talking about it, that this league was starting up, and that\u2019s when I first heard about it,\u201d AD said. \u201cI started getting in contact with some of the coaches talking about the league, and understanding the trajectory of the league, what their goal is for the league, and you know, I think it\u2019s, I think it\u2019s a great league for players to have an opportunity to play. It\u2019s a league of opportunity, and I love what they\u2019re doing. I think it\u2019s a great opportunity for players to expose themselves, not to have to go overseas and play.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s more special about the league is AD\u2019s grandparents can drive to watch them play, which is significant because they didn\u2019t have that luxury when AD played overseas. Family and faith fueled AD\u2019s return. Their wife took care of them while mom and dad continuously lifted her spirits with encouraging words.<\/p>\n \u201cI get my strength from God, primarily,\u201d AD said. \u201cHaving them around me and constantly reminding me that I will be okay, that\u2019s what helped me push through, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n For AD, Upshot is both a destination and a bridge.<\/p>\n \u201cI would love to get back in the W,\u201d AD said. \u201cIt\u2019s always been a dream of mine since I was a kid, but for right now, I\u2019m going to be where my feet are and try my best to maximize this opportunity that I have with great coaches. I\u2019m just trying to get better every single day. There\u2019s a lot of stuff that I need to work on and get better at, so that\u2019s my focus now.\u201d<\/p>\n Gwynn\u2019s goals realized<\/p>\n Soaked in sweat, Nicole Gwynn<\/a> relentlessly trained like the phone was about to ring, even when it stayed silent.<\/p>\n Armed with faith and zero guarantees, Gwynn ran 50 sprints after every workout in a silent gym that had long since emptied. The gym was the lonely witness to Gwynn\u2019s determination. She attacked six full\u2011court layups and ground through sets of 10 baseline\u2011to\u2011baseline touches, each one under 70 seconds. Then she moved to the weight room, training for a job she wasn\u2019t even sure still existed for her.<\/p>\n Gwynn\u2019s support system knew her breakthrough was coming, even if, for weeks, the only sound that answered her was the echo of her own footsteps, the clank of iron, and the thump of the ball on the hardwood. Then, back home, her father broke the quiet: \u201cWhat if you get a call \u2014 would you go?\u201d<\/p>\n On June 12, the call she\u2019d been training for came.<\/p>\n \u201cHe always was like, just stay ready so you don\u2019t have to get ready, and being ready for the moment,\u201d Gwynn said to The IX Sports during a late June phone call after signing a free-agent contract. \u201cMy dad just kept saying keep working, because you never know what could happen. And I was ready. I stayed in shape just in case, and it just happened to work out in my favor.\u201d<\/p>\n Gwynn\u2019s professional hoop dreams are a reality, built on all the times she refused to quit after a cut or a setback. Weeks after being one of the final training camp cuts in the Upshot League, she signed a contract with the Charlotte Crown. The door closed at first, but she kept working until it swung back open.<\/p>\n \u201cI was heartbroken, and I was sad,\u201d Gwynn said of being cut from training camp. \u201cMy dad was like, it hurts right now, but just keep training like someone is going to call you.\u00a0My biggest thing was like taking everything with a grain of salt and keep working because if I was good enough to go there, then I\u2019m good enough to play. It just wasn\u2019t the situation for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Her circuitous path to Charlotte rarely followed the easy route. She played two years at South Carolina State and then one year each at Queens and Georgia Southern, where she earned her degree. A 5\u20197 dynamo with a sweet-shooting stroke, Gwynn scored 1,549 points, made 220 three-pointers, and collected 178 steals across 121 games<\/a>.<\/p>\n She wasted little time proving she belonged. In her second Upshot League game, Gwynn scored nine points on three 3-pointers<\/a> in a home victory over Greensboro on June 18. It was the kind of night that made sense if you\u2019d followed her career. Nothing about Gwynn\u2019s rise has been easy, but she has always found a way to make herself impossible to ignore.<\/p>\n Gwynn is standing tall despite carrying the scars from her overseas experience. Her first professional contract took her to Turkey, where her experience dissolved in a blur of illness, endless conditioning drills, a nine-pound weight loss, and a quick release in less than a week.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like I\u2019ve been through a lot of situations like that throughout my career where things just didn\u2019t go as planned,\u201d Gwynn said. \u201c(The opportunity in Turkey) felt right. Unfortunately, the entire time there, I was severely sick with food poisoning. That was my first time out of the country. Then on top of that, I never played five-on-five or two-on-two. It was just conditioning, so I don\u2019t really know where his mindset was when he cut me, because I never got to do anything live or play. So honestly, from my perspective of it, I thought it was because maybe I was a liability.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Your business can reach women\u2019s sports fans who share your passion!<\/strong> Working hard has been the silent beast that fueled Gwynn\u2019s journey. It started when she had to walk on her first year at South Carolina State, where her parents paid her full tuition. Gwynn played well enough to earn a scholarship as a sophomore, during which she eventually earned All-MEAC honors.<\/p>\n She got another chance at playing professionally in Morocco and lit up the league. Playing for Moghreb Atl\u00e9tico Tetu\u00e1n Basket, Gwynn averaged 28 points and seven assists per game<\/a>.<\/p>\n She may have had moments of doubt, but her parents, John and Monique, have always been there for her. They have been her foundation. Her father played basketball collegiately at UConn, and her mom ran track and field at Central Connecticut State while her sister, Alexis, also ran track at UConn.<\/p>\n \u201cI was obviously upset,\u201d Gwynn said after being cut. \u201cI was hurt, because that was my first time getting a professional job. But my parents are so supportive, like, they\u2019ll let me cry about it for a couple days, and then we\u2019re back to work. There was nothing we could do about it now. It\u2019s just a lesson to learn from and grow from, and I feel like every situation has made me stronger. Getting cut from the Upshot League didn\u2019t hurt as bad as me getting cut the first time in Turkey. So, it prepared me for this cutthroat kind of career that I chose, which sucks, but that\u2019s just how it goes.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, with the Crown, Gwynn is relearning something she already knew: despite being one of the smallest players in the league, she belongs. Even if that means shooting layups a little higher or using different moves to create her shot. Height has always been more a state of mind than a measurement for Gwynn, and it\u2019s enabled her to light up gyms from Connecticut to Turkey and places in between.<\/p>\n She\u2019s been through just about every basketball emotion by 24 years old.<\/p>\n \u201cI never realized how small I was until I got here,\u201d Gwynn said. \u201cI\u2019m undersized, but honestly, going into college, you get that feeling of, wow, everyone\u2019s so big and strong, and then once you\u2019re in there, it\u2019s like, I can still do what I want to do \u2014 you just have to go about it a certain way. So, it never really bothered me or affected me. I know I really am short, but I try to use it to my advantage. That\u2019s all I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n Gwynn and Greensboro\u2019s Diamond Johnson<\/a> are two players in the league who competed in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).<\/p>\n Playing in Charlotte is a full-circle moment for Gwynn, especially since her collegiate career was spent in the southeastern region of the United States. The Crown practices at Queens, where she once played, and when she walks out of the gym now, she\u2019s living next to the same apartment building she begged her parents to let her move into as a college kid.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt means a lot,\u201d Gwynn said of the opportunity to play for Charlotte. \u201cI\u2019m super grateful. When I first came to this league, I didn\u2019t know how big it was or the ins and outs of it. This is a great league, great competition, and it means a lot, especially coming from an HBCU. It makes me speechless, because a lot of the girls I\u2019m playing with and playing against, I\u2019ve watched. Just being able to learn from my teammates, because they\u2019ve played at a high level for so long, it\u2019s surreal. I stayed true and kept working to even get into the position to play at this level. I\u2019m just grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n Jacksonville soaring behind Pulliam<\/p>\n Lindsey Pulliam<\/a> has been one of the key reasons why the Jacksonville Waves have established themselves as the team to beat in the Upshot League. She and her teammate Ariel Hearn<\/a>, Upshot\u2019s second-leading scorer at 16.3 points per game<\/a>, were present at the Upshot press conference.<\/p>\n The Waves have won 17 of their first 21 games and enjoy a 5.5-game cushion over the Charlotte Crown. Pulliam is one of eight players on the Waves\u2019 roster who have participated in a WNBA training camp.<\/p>\n Pulliam, who was the 27th overall pick in 2021 by the Atlanta Dream, is enjoying her role for the Waves, averaging 11.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game<\/a>. The affable 5\u201911 guard from Silver Spring, Md., appreciates the opportunity of playing in the Upshot League after playing internationally in Turkey, Spain, Dubai, Israel, Slovakia, Mongolia, and Iceland.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the first time since 2021 that my dad and brother have had a chance to see me play,\u201d Pulliam said to The IX Sports during a Zoom call. \u201cThe Upshot League has been great, and they\u2019ve been taking care of us across the board. We have a great group of people, players, and just a great team. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been awesome to compete against other talented players who you know got drafted or had great college careers or, you know, have had training camps and haven\u2019t made it in the W yet, so it\u2019s just been awesome to compete and be a part of the first of something. So yeah, I am blessed to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n There was no animosity in her voice. Just gratitude for continuing to play a sport she loves, one she started with her dad when she was young. For Pulliam, only the arenas change because, for her, the gym still has a hardwood court and a bouncing ball. The lessons from her father about shooting while maneuvering between chairs that simulated defenders are still part of her essence.<\/p>\n Pulliam enjoyed a decorated collegiate career at Northwestern, where she helped the Wildcats win a Big Ten championship and play in the NCAA tournament. Being with Jacksonville in the first year of the Upshot League feels familiar because she\u2019s helping establish a winning foundation, just as she did at Northwestern.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the big reasons I went to Northwestern was because I knew I would have the opportunity to build something special. \u2026The class that left before us was really talented, and we knew it was going to be a rebuilding year, so I loved the idea of building something, competing, and growing. I think it\u2019s just as special being a part of this team, too, because we\u2019re the team that has the target on our back, and just being at the top and winning and being able to go compete for that every single day is awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n A midrange magician, Pulliam\u2019s jumper floats with the elegance of a feather before finding the bottom of the net. Pulliam\u2019s father, Anzalo, was the one in the gym with her when she was young, sharpening the pull\u2011up jumper that\u2019s become her signature. At the same time, her mother, Susan, provided balance by picking her up emotionally when those workouts got heated.<\/p>\n Fast forward years later, Pulliam is averaging 30 minutes per game and has scored in double digits 13 times this season. Another impressive part of her game, given that she\u2019s a bigger guard, has been her rebounding, in which she\u2019s grabbed at least five in 13 games. Her 19 points and nine rebounds helped Jacksonville edge Charlotte, 100-98, on June 26.<\/p>\n Many players are intentionally working on a specific skill set or two to accomplish their goals of signing a WNBA contract and sticking on a roster. Some of what Pulliam is focused on doesn\u2019t even appear on the box score and would be easily missed by casual fans. While scoring is always appreciated, Pulliam understands it\u2019s not unique, since everyone can put the ball in the basket.<\/p>\n Instead, she\u2019s learning to be a better rebounder by recognizing angles and positioning. In addition, playing defense, consistently bringing energy, and leading by example are subtle ways in which Pulliam continues to develop into a complete player who will be hard to ignore as the WNBA continues to expand.<\/p>\n \u201cTo get there, I got to be where my feet are every single day, and I have to do the little things to get to that to get to that step,\u201d Pulliam said. \u201cThe W is always going to be the goal, but before it gets to that, I need to continue to grow and get better and be where I am because if I don\u2019t do that, then that\u2019s never going to be an opportunity. So, like, a big thing for me this season has just been focusing on what else do I? It is my way of locking in and thinking about what a team would want me to do and what I bring if I get an opportunity in the league. Focusing on where I am in the moment and knowing that everything that I do day-to-day right now in this season is what\u2019s going to get me back there.\u201d<\/p>\n
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We are excited to announce the launch of TWO new podcasts for all the women\u2019s sports fans out there looking for a daily dose of women\u2019s sports news and analysis. Stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts, and make sure to subscribe!<\/p>\n![\"Reigan](\"https:\/\/www.theixsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Richardson-Emily-Furr-683x1024.jpg\")
Charlotte\u2019s Reigan Richardson is averaging 12.3 points per game. She has scored in double digits in five of the Crown\u2019s seven games in July. (Photo credit: Emily Furr | Charlotte Crown)<\/p>\n![\"AD](\"https:\/\/www.theixsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Durr-3-Travis-Holshouser-683x1024.jpg\")
AD was once the No. 2 draft pick of the New York Liberty in 2019. After overcoming complications from COVID-19, AD is enjoying their new chapter with the Charlotte Crown. (Photo credit: Travis Holshouser | Charlotte Crown)<\/p>\n
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Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The IX Basketball and The IX Sports, wrote this deeply reported book. \u201cRare Gems\u201d follows four connected generations of women\u2019s basketball pioneers, from Elvera \u201cPeps\u201d Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.<\/p>\n![\"Charlotte's](\"https:\/\/www.theixsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Gwynn-3-Travis-Holshouser-849x1024.jpg\")
Nicole Gwynn played two years at South Carolina State before playing one year each at Georgia Southern and Queens, before averaging 28 points while playing in Morocco. She was signed on June 4 and has been a key cog for the Crown. (Photo credit, Travis Holshouser | Charlotte Crown)<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Here at The IX Sports, our audience is a collection of the smartest, most passionate women\u2019s sports fans in the world. If your business has a mission to serve these fans, you should reach out to our team at BAlarie@theixsports.com<\/a> to discuss ways to work together in 2026.<\/p>\n![\"Jacksonville's](\"https:\/\/www.theixsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/UPSHOT-Charlotte-Jax-8300-1024x683.jpg\")
Jacksonville Waves guard Lindsey Pulliam is averaging 11.3 points per game through July 20 following a strong collegiate career at Northwestern. Pulliam is one reason why Jacksonville has the best record in the Upshot League at 17-4. (Photo credit: Gary Lloyd McCullough | Jacksonville Waves]<\/p>\n
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