Charlotte Crown Win UPSHOT League's Inaugural Championship

A team that started their inaugural season with just one win in seven games just made history as champions.

The Charlotte Crown defeated the Jacksonville Waves 81-76 to claim the UPSHOT League's first championship title. The victory was especially sweet since it came on the road against the team that dominated regular season play and held home court advantage.

Deja Kelly led the Crown with 29 points and earned Championship MVP honors. Her performance capped off a remarkable turnaround for a team that refused to let their rough start define their season.

"It feels really good to be a champ, but it feels even better to have gotten the job done with such a great group and great coaches," said A.D. Durr, who contributed 11 points in the title game. "Winning on the road made this game even more special for us."

The league's inaugural season featured four teams playing a demanding 34-game schedule. For Durr, the championship represented a personal comeback after two years away from full-season play following their selection as the No. 2 pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft.

The mental and physical demands of the season pushed players to grow together. "Every day in practice we were grinding," Durr explained. "We needed everybody on that team. We all had to learn and we all had to teach at some point."

Why This Inspires

The Crown's journey from 1-6 to championship winners proves that early struggles don't determine final outcomes. Their collective effort and daily commitment to improvement created a championship culture that overcame a difficult start.

For players like Durr, being part of the UPSHOT League's first season carried extra meaning. "I know it comes with a higher responsibility in terms of making sure you are a good representation, not just of you but your team, the league, the coaches," they said.

The league recognized excellence across the board, with Jacksonville's Ariel Hearn winning Season MVP, Charlotte's Schaquilla Nunn earning Defensive Player of the Year, and Taylor Soule receiving the Sixth Woman award.

After celebrating this historic achievement, the champions are already looking ahead to continuing their growth and building on their success.