UPSHOT Providence Pro Women’s Basketball is here. What shall we call it?

Opportunity, Community, and Culture Come Together in the Creative Capital

The UPSHOT League, the professional women’s basketball league, announced today that Providence, Rhode Island, has been awarded the league’s eighth franchise. UPSHOT Providence will tip off in May 2027 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion (the AMP) in the heart of downtown Providence, bringing professional women’s basketball to the region.

The announcement marks another major step in the rapid rise of the UPSHOT League, which tipped off its inaugural season in May 2026. Providence joins Tampa Bay, Baltimore, and Nashville in the league’s 2027 expansion class, giving New England its first UPSHOT franchise and bringing the league to one of the region’s most passionate basketball markets.

Basketball history runs deep in Providence. For decades, fans have packed the downtown arena to cheer on the Providence College Friars, while high school gyms and neighborhood courts from Federal Hill to Fox Point have produced players with grit and pride. Known as the “Creative Capital,” Providence is a city of bold ideas, rich history, and close-knit neighborhoods, where events like WaterFire, the community’s award-winning public art installation and bonfire tradition, bring the whole community together downtown. That same spirit of connection makes Providence a natural home for UPSHOT.

“This region has a rich history of world-class basketball, from the Boston Celtics and Connecticut Sun at the professional level to UConn, Providence College, Boston College, Holy Cross, Rhode Island and many others at the college level,” said Mark Walsh, UPSHOT Providence Board Chair and Managing Partner. “Providence is a basketball city—from PC Friars games at the AMP to packed high school gyms across the state, this community knows great basketball. Women’s sports are having a moment that is here to stay, and we want to give young girls across Rhode Island and the region a team to call their own—professional athletes they can see, meet, and look up to right here at home.”

“Providence is a great addition to the continued growth of the UPSHOT League,” said Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Deputy Commissioner of the UPSHOT League. “We see tremendous opportunity in the Rhode Island community with such a strong basketball presence and the potential to build meaningful connections with its fans. As we continue to expand into New England, bringing the UPSHOT League to Providence is another important step in creating opportunities for players, growing the game, and building a league that communities can take pride in. We look forward to becoming part of the Providence community and welcoming its fans into the UPSHOT family.”

UPSHOT Providence will work closely with local leaders, businesses, youth programs, schools, and community organizations across the region to grow the game and create new pathways for girls and women in sports. The team’s brand and community initiatives, including its official name, will be unveiled in the coming months.

UPSHOT Providence will play its home games at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in downtown Providence beginning in May 2027. The arena is owned by the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority and managed by Oak View Group (OVG).

“Welcoming the UPSHOT League to Providence marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Amica Mutual Pavilion and for Rhode Island,” said Ernie Almonte, Board Chairman of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority. “We are proud to bring professional women’s basketball to downtown Providence and to provide thrilling, affordable, family-friendly entertainment for fans across the region. We’re committed to supporting the growth of women’s sports and look forward to watching these athletes inspire the next generation right here at home.”

Fans will play a central role in shaping the franchise’s identity through a Name the Team contest. Rhode Islanders and basketball fans everywhere are invited to submit their ideas for the team’s official name at Providenceupshot.com, where contest rules and deadlines are available.

Season memberships for UPSHOT Providence’s inaugural 2027 season are available now. For more information, to enter the Name the Team contest, or to reserve a season membership, please visit Providenceupshot.com.

Groups, businesses, and organizations can learn more about group outings and premium seating at providenceupshot.com/group-outings.

About UPSHOT Providence

UPSHOT Providence is a professional women’s basketball team in the UPSHOT League that will begin play in May 2027 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. UPSHOT Providence is owned by a group of investors led by Mark Walsh and will be managed and operated by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment.

About UPSHOT League

The UPSHOT League, a professional women’s basketball league, tipped off its inaugural season in May 2026. UPSHOT launched with franchises in Savannah, GA; Jacksonville, FL; Greensboro, NC; and Charlotte, NC. In May 2027, UPSHOT Tampa Bay, UPSHOT Providence, the Baltimore Starlings, and the Nashville Vibe begin play. This next platform in the increasingly popular women’s professional sports space is built on a culture of opportunity, connection and community through quality and engaging experiences.

About Zawyer Sports & Entertainment

Zawyer Sports & Entertainment (ZSE) is a sports ownership and management company creating exceptional experiences for athletes, fans, and communities. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, ZSE owns and operates the UPSHOT League and its Jacksonville Waves, Greensboro Groove, Savannah Steel, Charlotte Crown, and Baltimore Starlings; the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen, Savannah Ghost Pirates, and Greensboro Gargoyles; the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers; and the SPHL’s Huntsville Havoc and Mobile Mysticks. ZSE also serves as a consultant for the ECHL’s Tahoe Knight Monsters and Augusta Lynx and the UPSHOT League’s Nashville Vibe and UPSHOT Tampa Bay. In addition to sports franchises, ZSE operates the Community First Igloo in Jacksonville, the Ghost Pirates Ice Cove in Port Wentworth, GA, and 32 Degrees Marketing. With a focus on opportunity, community, and connection, ZSE builds platforms where players shine, fans engage, and cities thrive.