Charlotte Crown, the city's new professional women's basketball team, will debut in May 2026 as part of the UpShot League.

Why it matters: Women's sports are on the rise, with new leagues like UpShot creating more avenues for women to play and for some to ultimately reach the WNBA.

Context: Charlotte Crown will be one of the inaugural teams in the UpShot League, joining franchises in Jacksonville, Fla.; Savannah, Ga.; and Greensboro.

• The team will play 17 regular-season games at Bojangles Coliseum from May to August.
• Former WNBA player Trisha Stafford-Odom has been named head coach. She also coached at Duke, North Carolina Central and UNC. Stafford-Odom will scout local talent at college games around town, she tells Axios.
• Season ticket deposits are $44 and available now.

Between the lines: UpShot is a developmental league for athletes aspiring to play in the WNBA. Two more teams will be announced in early 2026.

Context: Florida-based Zawyer Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Charlotte Checkers and Gastonia Ghost Peppers, owns Charlotte Crown.

What's next for the Charlotte teams

💼 See who's hiring around the city.

1. Environmental Scientist / Phase I ESA Specialist at Atlas Environmental Inc.
2. Chief Philanthropy Officer at Roof Above.
3. School Health Nurse at Mecklenburg County.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

Banana Ball returns to Charlotte in 2026 as the Firefighters and the Texas Tailgaters head to Truist Field June 4-6.

Why it matters: This will be the first time fans will see Banana Ball at Truist Field.

Context: The wacky dancing style of baseball, which has been made popular by the Savannah Bananas, has expanded to include the Firefighters, the Texas Tailgaters and the Party Animals — all teams under the Banana Ball umbrella.

What's next: Fans will sign up for the Banana Ball Ticket Lottery once the World Tour City Draft ends Thursday, Oct. 9, for a chance to buy tickets. The lottery closes on Oct. 31.

Flashback: The Savannah Bananas took on the Party Animals during a two-night stint at Bank of America Stadium down the street from Truist Field earlier this year.

Zoom in: CRVA is working with the Charlotte Knights, which owns the 10,000-seat ballpark and the Charlotte Sports Foundation, to bring Banana Ball back to Charlotte.

Zoom out: Banana Ball will be one of more than 200 events held at Truist Field next year, Knights executive VP and COO Dan Rajkowski tells Axios.

Keep reading

The Bill Belichick era in Chapel Hill took another eventful detour this week, with speculation mounting about the NFL coaching legend's future.

Why it matters: A wave of bad headlines prompted Carolina Athletics to release a context-free and out-of-the-norm statement on X from Belichick, simply saying: "I'm fully committed to UNC football and the program we're building here."

• It was accompanied by a statement from Bubba Cunningham, UNC's athletics director, assuring Belichick has the full support of the university.

Between the lines: The mood in Chapel Hill is not good, as UNC's high-profile hiring of Belichick has so far lent itself to more jokes than success, despite Belichick promising to turn the program into the "NFL's 33rd team."

Yes, but: It's only five games into the 73-year-old's tenure, and he is managing a roster with 70 new players.

Keep reading ... Subscribe to Axios Raleigh

Eleven juveniles have lost their lives to a homicide so far this year, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department data shows. In all of 2024, there were 12 juvenile homicide victims. (WBTV)

A new street psychiatry program is deploying psychiatrists, nurses and outreach teams to people experiencing homelessness in Mecklenburg County. The pilot, "Wellness Without Walls," aims to reach 20 patients a month in the first year. (Observer)

Gov. Josh Stein and House Speaker Destin Hall have called for the resignation of Rep. Cecil Brockman, a Democrat from High Point, after he was charged with indecent liberties with a child and statutory rape. (WUNC)

North Carolina has reported this season's first flu death. An adult in the western part of the state died from complications. (WBTV)

Suicide deaths rose sharply among young adults in North Carolina and most states from 2014 to 2024, a new analysis finds.

Driving the news: The suicide rate for U.S. adults aged 18-27 increased nearly 20% between 2014 and 2024, rising from 13.8 per 100,000 people to 16.4, per a new analysis of CDC data from Stateline, a nonprofit newsroom.

• That came as Gen Zers entered that age range and millennials left it, and was driven largely by Black and Hispanic men, especially in the South and Midwest.

By the numbers: The young adult suicide rate increased the most in Georgia (+65%), North Carolina (+41%), Texas (+41%), Alabama (+39%) and Ohio (+37%).

Where it's decreasing

📅 See what's going on around the city.

• Fall Plant Sale at Wing Haven's Nursery now through Sat: Shop a wide variety of local favorites and unusual plants. All proceeds benefit Wing Haven's gardens and programs. Admission to the gardens is free during the plant sale.
• Atlanta Pride Festival Sat-Sun: Plan a fall getaway to Atlanta to see Flo Milli, Bob the Drag Queen and more at the nation's largest free Pride celebration.
• Panthers Bud Light Backyard Tailgate at Bank of America Stadium Sun: Visit the Bud Light Backyard before each Panthers home game this season. GA is open to the public, fans can enjoy food trucks, a DJ, cornhole, football toss, & more. Must be 21+ to purchase alcohol.
• Free Fall Fitness Series on the SouthPark Loop at The Loop at The Colony Apartments Oct 13: Get moving on the SouthPark Loop with a free community workout led by local fitness partners every Monday this October.
• Shameless Improv Comedy at The Comedy Club at Duckworth's Oct 15: Voted Charlotte's Best Improv Show 2 years in a row, don't miss out on the wildest, most unhinged comedy show in the Queen City. Follow @ShamelessImprov for more.
• Fall Pop-Up at Isabella + Noble Collective Oct 15: Shop fall styles from Chosen Boutique, discover local artists, and find holiday gifts from Bonnie & Bud. Enjoy free coffee 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. while you sip and shop.
• Dolly Parton's Threads: My Songs in Symphony at Knight Theater Oct 17-18: Celebrate the fabulous Dolly Parton at her new multimedia concert experience with vocalists and orchestra. $44+.
• The Mystery of Holy Angels: 70th Anniversary Gala at The Revelry Camp North End Nov 8: Kick off the 70th Year of Holy Angels, a nonprofit supporting individuals with disabilities. Through unique entertainment, discover the heart of our mission and the lives it continues to transform. $300.

Want more things to do? Check out our Event Board.

Hosting? Purchase an Event Listing.

This week's hot homes keep you close to it all, whether it's a short walk to the greenway, a quick hop to the airport and overlook, or an option with prime Uptown walkability.

• Take this remodeled beauty, for instance, which is listed for $399,000.

Why we love it: This house is just nine minutes from the airport, convenient for frequent flyers.

Neighborhood: Toddville Road

Realtor: Brett Carraway and Paulina Martinez • Northstar Real Estate, LLC

Specs: 3 beds, 2 baths and 1,555 square feet

Notable features: open floor plan, brick fireplace, new appliances, spacious bedrooms, patio and large backyard.

See inside + 4 more hot homes