WNBA veteran Lexie Brown has joined UPSHOT as an investor, becoming the first active player to join the league’s growing ownership group. The partnership fuses Brown’s firsthand understanding of today’s women’s basketball landscape with UPSHOT’s commitment to expanding professional opportunities for elite players.
Brown has spent more than eight seasons in the WNBA after being selected ninth overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft. A 2021 WNBA champion, she has played for multiple teams across the league following a standout collegiate career at Maryland and Duke, where she earned All-America honors.
“I am honored and excited to be a member of the UPSHOT family. The explosive growth and visibility of women’s basketball has been a catalyst for so many opportunities on and off the court,” said Brown. “UPSHOT is a place for players to improve their game, build their brands and develop relationships for the future, and I have been impressed from day one by the commitment to investing in women’s sports. As I pursue opportunities in front office leadership and ownership, UPSHOT is the perfect place for me to learn more about the business of basketball and professional sports.”
“Lexie represents exactly the kind of voice we want involved in UPSHOT as we grow,” said Andy Kaufmann, UPSHOT Co-Founder and CEO of Zawyer Sports & Entertainment. “She understands what today’s players want from the game and is equally invested in where women’s basketball is headed off the court. We’re excited for her to grow alongside the league.”
UPSHOT completed its inaugural season in August, with the Charlotte Crown earning the league’s first championship following a season of play across Charlotte, Greensboro, Jacksonville, and Savannah. Planning for the 2027 season is underway, with new teams in Baltimore and Nashville joining the league and additional expansion markets in development.
The league was created to expand the number of high-level professional opportunities in women’s basketball in the United States — a mission that continues to guide UPSHOT as it enters its second season.
ABOUT THE UPSHOT LEAGUE
The UPSHOT League is a premier women’s professional basketball league built on elite competition, player opportunity, and community connection. With a foundation rooted in high-level talent and global experience, the league aims to redefine the professional landscape while expanding opportunities for women’s basketball in the United States. The league currently consists of six teams, including: Jacksonville Waves, Charlotte Crown, Greensboro Groove, Savannah Steel, Baltimore Starlings, and Nashville Vibe. For more information, including live game schedules, tickets, and real-time statistics, visit the UPSHOT league website at upshotleague.com or follow @upshotleague on major social platforms.