The 2025 offseason is hotter than ever, largely due to the tense CBA negotiations pushing the WNBA and its players’ union toward a possible standoff. Yet amid the back-and-forth, a new storyline has grabbed the spotlight—former WNBA President Donna Orender has joined forces with Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller to launch a bold new basketball initiative that could reshape the game’s future.

The initiative is called The Upshot. “We’re announcing the launch of a new professional women’s basketball league. It’s called the Upshot League because it’s all about upping everyone’s shot involved. We do this at a time when women’s sports growth is nothing but explosive,” shared the league’s commissioner. And explosive it truly is—especially in viewership, popularity, and financial growth.

So yes, it’s the right time to launch a league, and that’s where Upshot steps in. With Orender as the first commissioner and Cheryl Miller and Anne Meyers Drysdale as investors, the league is all set to debut. Operated by Zaqyer Sports & Entertainment, it’s scheduled to tip off in May 2026 at Bojangles Coliseum.

Initially, it will feature four teams – the Crown, Jacksonville Waves, Savannah Steel, and a team in Greensboro, whose name is yet to be revealed. The Upshot League will begin with four to six teams competing across 80 games in the first season, with 40 hosted at Enmarket Arena.

Everything seems ready, as Orender put it: “This is a special time – and I would say, it’s about time.” But while it’s all roses for Upshot and the players, the W has landed in a far more intense situation.

That’s because the league is just two days away from the lockout deadline of October 31. While it had offered a 30-day extension, sources suggest the WNBPA is likely to decline. A lockout isn’t new for the league – it happened before in 2019 when the last CBA was pulled out.

But unlike before, this time, players have more options. They’ve got foreign leagues, Unrivaled, Upshot, and many other initiatives underway. As ESPN’s Brian Windhorst warned on Front Office Sports, “You also have something that the NBA doesn’t have, which is potential rival leagues… You have Unrivaled, which is already operational, and you have the potential that other international leagues may start to rival the WNBA.”

He added, “And the fact that their contracts allow them to play in those leagues is a tacit admission that they’re not paying the players enough. The reason they allow them to do it is that if they didn’t, for many, many years, those players would not play in the WNBA.”

And yes, that’s true. When the NBA went into lockdown in 2011, players – restless and eager to stay in rhythm – turned to outdoor courts that defined basketball’s grassroots culture. From the legendary Rucker Park in Harlem to Dyckman and beyond, pros began showing up where the game’s heart truly beat.

That’s exactly when the spotlight on AEBL, Goodman League, and others grew brighter on the national stage. So, it’s possible that rival leagues to the W could see a surge in popularity too. As Orender said, “It’s time.” Though she’s not the only one recognizing the potential.

While Unrivaled has already become a $340 million league in just one year, more are on the way. Project B—a Formula 1 and LIV Golf-inspired 5-on-5 women’s league—will debut in Fall 2026, running from November to April. These leagues don’t directly compete with the WNBA, but their higher pay and broader opportunities could make a major impact on the W’s future.

So, what’s next for the WNBA?

The priority is clear: get a new CBA done so league operations aren’t halted. Over 100 WNBA players are set to hit free agency this winter, and with two expansion teams – the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo – in the works, the clock is ticking. Trades, drafts, and team building all depend on reaching a deal before the 2026 season begins.

If a lockout happens, everything will be delayed. To prevent that, the league’s only option may be to meet some of the WNBPA’s demands – starting with better revenue sharing, improved facilities, and higher salaries. That’s where things get complicated, since 50% of the league is owned by the NBA, while the other 50% is split between the WNBA and private equity.

So, a structure like the NBA’s 50-50 basketball-related income split isn’t realistic. Still, there’s hope the W can work things out at the negotiating table and finalize a deal by the end of November – but only if the WNBPA agrees to the extension. What do you think – will they?