The Baltimore Starlings, the newest team in the UPSHOT League, will begin play in May 2027, bringing professional women’s basketball to the city. The team unveiled its name and logo Sept. 10 and will play its home games at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Cantonsville.
The Starlings are the fifth franchise in the UPSHOT League and its first expansion team. The league began its inaugural season in May 2026 with four teams: the Jacksonville Waves, Savannah Steel, Charlotte Crown and Greensboro Groove. UPSHOT also announced the Nashville Vibe as an expansion team ahead of the 2027 season, bringing the league to six teams.
For Baltimore, the arrival of the Starlings comes as women’s basketball continues to build a larger presence in the region. The city continues to host the CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament at CFG Bank Arena, with the 2026 tournament taking place this past February and March. The tournament has brought thousands of basketball fans to the city since moving to Baltimore.
The Starling’s identity is designed to connect the new team with the existing Baltimore sports culture. The team’s name was selected through a fan contest, while its logo incorporates elements associated with Maryland and Baltimore, including the state’s flag and the star connected to Fort McHenry. The Starlings also continue Baltimore’s tradition of professional teams using bird names, joining the Orioles and Ravens.
Baltimore Starlings President and associate director of Secretariat Sonia Chase was named president of the franchise in August. Chase, a Baltimore native, and University of Maryland alum brings a great deal of experience as a former WNBA player to the fold. She said the team’s name reflects the connection between the franchise and the city.
“The Baltimore Starlings represent everything this city stands for: determination, grit, and pride,” Chase said in an announcement after the Starlings’ name and logo reveal. “Just like the flocks that fill our skies every fall, our fans, our players, and our city are strongest when we move together. This name and this logo were shaped by the people of Baltimore, and we couldn’t be prouder to bring this identity to life for our hometown.”
The franchise is also being led by Greg Resh, a Baltimore native and former CFO of the Washington Commanders, who serves as governor of the Starlings. Resh said the team hopes to build on Baltimore’s existing sports culture and involved the community from the beginning
“This city is a sports town and sports unites everyone in our communities,” Resh said. “The Starlings are built on that same spirit of unity and community, and I want to thank every fan who submitted a name and cast a vote – the Starlings is the perfect name for this team and in this town.”
The Starlings will enter Baltimore as part of a young league attempting to create additional professional opportunities in women’s basketball – the league’s setup reminiscent of that of the men’s G-League, providing a pathway to the WNBA.
Michelle Onyiah, who played for the Charlotte Crown during the inaugural season, became the first UPSHOT player to sign a WNBA contract when the Indiana Fever added her in July. The league later announced that of Shyanne Sellers of the Jacksonville Waves and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda of the Savannah Steel also signed with the Los Angeles Sparks
The Charlotte Crown finished the season as the league’s first champions, defeating the Jacksonville Waves in the UPSHOT championship game. Jacksonville’s Ariel Hearn was named the league’s regular-season MVP after averaging 15.1 ppg, while Charlotte’s Deja Kelly earned championship game honors.
This development gives Baltimore’s new franchise a larger role than simply adding another team to the local sports calendar. The Starlings will become part of a league attempting to give professional players another place to compete while creating a new women’s basketball audience in Baltimore.
The team has yet to announce its head coach or player roster, with those decisions expected in the months leading up to the 2027 season.
The Starlings will begin their first season in May 2027 at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena. Season memberships are currently available for deposit, while individual game tickets are expected to go on sale in 2027.
Senior at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism
UMD '27