Basketball
USF Men’s Basketball Opens Chris Mack Era With 98–71 Win Over Charleston Southern
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The University of South Florida men’s basketball team opened its 2026–27 season with a 98–71 victory over Charleston Southern on Monday, November 2, at the Yuengling Center, securing new head coach Chris Mack’s first win with the Bulls.
South Florida faced early resistance from the Buccaneers but closed the first half with a 7–2 run, taking a 43–33 lead into halftime.
The turning point came in the second half, when Chris Davis Jr. connected on consecutive three-pointers to help the Bulls extend their advantage. USF scored 55 second-half points while shooting 60 percent from the field to secure the win.
A South Florida Bulls Chris Davis Jr. (#4) protects the basketball while looking for an opening against Charleston Southern’s defense during the 2026–27 men’s basketball season opener at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida, on November 2, 2026. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill/ Florida National News
High Leads South Florida’s Offense
Zayden High led the Bulls with a career-high 20 points and eight rebounds, while Sonny Wilson added 19 points and six assists. Chris Davis Jr. contributed 15 points, and Mike James finished with 14.
South Florida placed five players in double figures and recorded 13 steals while limiting Charleston Southern to 21.7 percent shooting from three-point range.
Charleston Southern’s No. 0 attempts a contested shot between South Florida forward Zayden High near the basket during the men’s basketball season opener at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida, on November 2, 2026. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News
A New Chapter Under Chris Mack
The victory marked the beginning of Mack’s tenure at South Florida following the program’s American Conference championship season.
Ahead of his debut, Mack outlined the expectations surrounding the Bulls:
“This program now has championship expectations and we have everything in place to be successful.”
— Chris Mack, USF Head Coach, in pregame remarks published by USF Athletics.
South Florida (1–0) will travel to Chicago to face DePaul on Thursday, November 5, for its first road matchup of the season.
– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
New team will debut at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027 as fans help shape the franchise’s identity
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — UPSHOT League officially announced the arrival of professional women’s basketball in Tampa Bay, with the new franchise scheduled to begin play at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027.
UPSHOT Tampa branding unveiled as the league prepares for its inaugural 2027 season in Tampa Bay. Image courtesy of UPSHOT Tampa.
Owner Morgan Busby introduced the vision behind bringing elite women’s basketball to the region, while Garland Cooper was announced as team president. UPSHOT Deputy Commissioner Taj McWilliams-Franklin also joined the launch alongside local leaders as the organization emphasized community involvement, fan experience and competitive excellence as core parts of the franchise.
FAN INVOLVEMENT: The Tampa franchise does not yet have an official team name. Fans are being invited to submit ideas and take part in helping shape the team’s identity ahead of its inaugural season. Season-ticket deposits and founding membership opportunities are also available.
UPSHOT Tampa President Garland Cooper speaks with media following the announcement of Tampa Bay’s new professional women’s basketball franchise. Photo courtesy of UPSHOT Tampa.
Community outreach began immediately with a “Shoe a Day” initiative supporting young athletes in the Tampa Bay area. During media availability, Cooper also spoke about the importance of giving young girls an opportunity to see what is possible through professional women’s sports.
Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise and Advisory Board Chair Kathleen Shanahan were among the community leaders in attendance, highlighting the potential economic and social impact of adding another professional sports organization to the region.
INAUGURAL SEASON: UPSHOT Tampa is scheduled to tip off at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027, adding professional women’s basketball to an established Tampa Bay sports market that already includes the Buccaneers, Lightning and Rays.
The team name, branding and additional franchise details are expected to be announced as the organization continues building toward its first season.
– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
Former Maryland standout becomes the first Jacksonville Waves player to earn a WNBA opportunity after helping lead the team to the UPSHOT League championship game.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — Jacksonville Waves guard Shyanne Sellers has signed a Player Development Pool contract with the Los Angeles Sparks after a standout 2026 season in the UPSHOT League.
Sellers averaged 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game for Jacksonville while ranking third in the league in assists. Her performance helped the Waves reach the UPSHOT League’s inaugural championship game and earned Sellers another opportunity in the WNBA.
From Maryland Standout to the Pros
A former University of Maryland standout and member of a basketball family from Ohio, Sellers has continued building her own professional career.
She was selected No. 17 overall by the Golden State Valkyries in the 2025 WNBA Draft and later spent time with the Dallas Wings before joining the Jacksonville Waves.
The UPSHOT League’s inaugural season gave players such as Sellers another opportunity to compete at a high level, develop their games and position themselves for additional professional opportunities.
Jacksonville Waves guard Shyanne Sellers drives to the basket against a Charlotte defender during UPSHOT League action. Photo: Nisey Spruill/Florida National News
First Jacksonville Waves Player to Earn WNBA Opportunity
Sellers’ performance in Jacksonville ultimately put her back into the WNBA pipeline, making her the first Waves player to receive a WNBA opportunity.
Her Player Development Pool contract with Los Angeles represents another significant step in her professional career and an early milestone for the Jacksonville Waves organization.
A Jacksonville Waves player drives to the basket for a layup while being defended by a Charlotte player during UPSHOT League action. Photo: Nisey Spruill/Florida National News
Jacksonville-to-WNBA Pipeline Takes Shape
Sellers’ signing also highlights the potential role of the UPSHOT League and Jacksonville Waves as a pathway for players seeking to remain competitive and earn opportunities at the highest level of women’s professional basketball.
For Jacksonville, Sellers becomes the franchise’s first player to make the jump from the Waves to a WNBA organization.
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– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
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