Lele Grissett Adds Pro Title to Her Championship Résumé With Charlotte Crown
Former Gamecock Lele Grissett has won another title, helping the Charlotte Crown capture the inaugural Upshot League championship with an 81-76 win over the Jacksonville Waves at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Charlotte trailed by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter after Jacksonville led 57-49 heading into the final frame, but stormed back with a 32-19 fourth-quarter surge to seal the win. Grissett contributed five points and a team-high seven rebounds in the title game, while former North Carolina star Deja Kelly earned MVP honors after scoring 29 points.
Charlotte’s path to the championship included a rocky start — the team won its opener before dropping six straight games. The turnaround coincided with a role change for Grissett, who was moved from the starting lineup to a bench role, mirroring the high-energy reserve function she filled during her time at South Carolina. The adjustment paid off in a big way: Charlotte went 23-5 the rest of the way, finishing second in the standings behind Jacksonville before beating them for the title. Grissett settled into the new role productively, averaging 9.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 23.1 minutes per game.
The Upshot League itself operates as a developmental pipeline toward the WNBA, currently fielding teams in Charlotte, Jacksonville, Greensboro, and Savannah, with expansion to Baltimore and Nashville planned for next season. The league’s WNBA ties were reinforced this year when two players, Christyn Williams and Ugonne Onyiah, were signed by WNBA teams mid-season.
For Grissett, the title adds to an already accomplished career. She played for South Carolina from 2017-2022, winning a national championship in 2022 while averaging 4.8 points and 3.6 rebounds across her college career. She appeared in 150 games for the Gamecocks, a total that stood as the program’s all-time record upon her departure and now ranks third in program history.
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