Providence will host a new professional women’s basketball team when the Upshot League’s eighth franchise begins play in May 2027, officials said. The team will compete at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, a 14,000‑seat arena that also houses the Providence Bruins and Providence College men’s basketball, providing downtown residents with additional family‑friendly entertainment options.
According to turnto10.com, the league’s inaugural season featured four teams, and the expansion class of 2027 adds Providence alongside Tampa Bay, Baltimore and Nashville. The new franchise will be the league’s eighth team and the first Upshot franchise in New England.
Whatsupnewp.com reported that the ownership group is led by board chair and managing partner Mark Walsh, with operations handled by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment, a Jacksonville, Florida company that also runs the Upshot League and several minor‑league hockey clubs. Walsh emphasized that the team aims to give young girls across Rhode Island a local professional role model, saying, “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.”
Deputy commissioner Taj McWilliams‑Franklin highlighted the league’s confidence in the Rhode Island market, noting “tremendous opportunity in the Rhode Island community with such a strong basketball presence.” The team’s name has not yet been decided; the league is running a “Name the Team” contest at Providenceupshot.com, where fans can submit suggestions and purchase season memberships.
Mayor Brett Smiley, quoted by turnto10.com, said the franchise is expected to become “a true institution in this community,” while Governor Dan McKee expressed personal enthusiasm, calling the team “a win for women’s sports, a win for a capital city, and a win for Rhode Island.” The Upshot season runs through August, giving local fans a summer schedule of games.
Ernie Almonte, board chairman of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority, added that the arena’s management by Oak View Group will ensure “thrilling, affordable, family‑friendly entertainment for fans across the region.”
What’s next: The naming contest remains open, with submissions accepted online until the deadline announced on the league’s website. Season tickets and memberships are already on sale, and the team’s branding and roster details are expected to be revealed later this year as the May 2027 start date approaches.
Sources: turnto10.com, whatsupnewp.com
