Nancy VanReece, president and CEO of Nashville's UPSHOT team, introduced the Nashville Vibe as the city’s new women’s professional basketball team during a reveal event at Vanderbilt Memorial Gym on Tuesday. This announcement marks the sixth team in the UPSHOT league, which started in May 2026 with four franchises in the Southeast.
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Hundreds gathered at the event, which featured prominent figures from women’s basketball with connections to Tennessee, including Cathy Bender, the first Black woman to receive a full athletic scholarship at Vanderbilt. Bender emphasized the investment potential of the team, citing a strong demand for entertainment and sports in the state. “Tennessee is a women’s basketball state,” she declared, indicating plans for outreach from Nashville to Knoxville with multiple teams across Tennessee.
Statistics support her assertion, with WNBA viewership and attendance rising about 12% compared to last year.
Chamique Holdsclaw, a University of Tennessee alumna and six-time Olympic gold medalist, also spoke at the event, sharing her experiences of personal sacrifice during her early career, including playing overseas after WNBA seasons concluded. She expressed the importance of having more opportunities to build community ties.
Remarks were also made by Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Metro Nashville Public Schools Superintendent Adrienne Battle, who addressed the crowd that included students from local middle and high schools.
Other notable attendees included WNBA legends Cheryl Miller and Candice Dupree, who serves as head coach of Tennessee State University’s women’s basketball team. The Nashville Vibe is set to debut in summer 2027 alongside the Baltimore Starlings.