Charlotte Crown Captures Inaugural UPSHOT League

By Judaea Ingram Special To The Carolinian JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Charlotte Crown closed out the inaugural UPSHOT League season with a championship, overcoming a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Jacksonville Waves 81-76 on Aug. 29. The championship game at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, was played in front of a large and energetic crowd as the league crowned its first champion. The atmosphere remained loud throughout the night as Charlotte fought its way back after trailing for most of the game. For a league in its first season, the championship showed the level of support that had developed around the teams and players. 'We have so many supporters,' Charlotte Crown forward Quinzia Fulmore said. Charlotte entered the fourth quarter trailing Jacksonville by double digits but outscored the Waves 32-19 in the final period. The Crown took the lead in the final minutes and held on for the win, securing the first championship in league history. Deja Kelly led the Crown with 29 points and six rebounds and was named the championship's Most Valuable Player. Kelly, who led the league in scoring and assists during the regular season, scored 16 of her 29 points in the second half. 'This is a blessing, such an honor, it's been a journey for me,' Kelly said. The championship capped a major turnaround for Charlotte. The Crown began the season 1-6 before becoming one of the league's strongest teams down the stretch. Charlotte won 14 of its final 15 games entering the championship. Kelly was not the only player who made an impact in the championship. KK Deans and A.D. Durr each hit three 3-pointers, while LeLe Grissett led Charlotte with seven rebounds. The championship also drew notable figures from the basketball world. NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal was among those in attendance, sitting courtside for the game. Basketball legends Cheryl Miller, Ann Meyers Drysdale and Tamika Catchings were also in attendance. For Fulmore, seeing the support surrounding a new league was meaningful. 'For this to be a new league, I am so surprised,' Fulmore said. 'We have so many supporters.' The UPSHOT League's inaugural season featured four teams: the Charlotte Crown, Jacksonville Waves, Greensboro Groove and Savannah Steel. The league was created to provide additional opportunities for professional women's basketball players and build a new platform for the sport. Charlotte's championship marks the end of the league's first season, but the energy surrounding the title game offered a glimpse of what the league could become as it continues to grow. The Crown now hold the distinction of being the first team to lift the UPSHOT League championship trophy, while Kelly holds the distinction of being the first championship MVP.