After years of waiting, women's professional basketball is officially back in the Queen City. The Charlotte Crown tips off their inaugural season this Friday, marking an exciting new chapter for the UPSHOT League—and giving athletes a fresh platform to showcase their talents on home soil.
"Everybody is going to be tuned in, right?" said Crown guard AD Durr, the former second overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft. "The game is starting to grow even more now. There are so many more leagues out there where players don’t have to go and play overseas for six to eight months."
Durr, a two-time ACC Player of the Year during her standout career at Louisville, knows the grind firsthand. She was playing in China when she first heard about the new league, but her journey hasn't been without hurdles. After being sidelined for two WNBA seasons due to long-haul COVID-19, she's grateful for every moment back on the court.
"I want to say all glory to God," Durr shared. "Even being able to walk without any pain, feeling sick or being extremely tired. I’m just so thankful to just have life."
The Crown's inaugural roster is loaded with talent, featuring 11 players and two developmental spots. Among them are three-time First-Team All-ACC selection Deja Kelly, national champion E'lisia Grissett, and multiple McDonald's All Americans—a lineup that promises to bring serious firepower to the court.
Leading the charge is head coach Trisha Stafford-Odom, a former WNBA player with an impressive coaching résumé that includes stints at North Carolina Central and Concordia Irvine, plus assistant roles at UCLA, Duke, and North Carolina. She's coined her style "TSO basketball"—and it's more than just her initials.
"Yes, that's Trisha Stafford-Odom, but 'transition, stops, and offense,'" she explained. "Our primary goal is to bring something that the city can be proud of. I don't have to beg for them to be proud of us because we're preparing to produce a product that will be here for a long time."
The Charlotte Crown kicks off their season Friday night in Florida against the Jacksonville Waves. The home opener is set for May 21st at 7 p.m. at Bojangles Coliseum, where fans can finally cheer on their hometown team in person. Get ready, Charlotte—women's pro basketball is back, and it's here to stay.