CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – Trisha Stafford-Odom said she saw a blank sheet of paper when sitting down before the Charlotte Crown began its inaugural season.<\/p>\n
As she drew in her mind on that paper, at the bottom she always saw a championship.<\/p>\n
Her team is one win away from realizing that goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re where we want to be,\u201d Stafford-Odom said. \u201cThe only thing better is to top it off and finish it the way we\u2019ve visualized it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Crown wrapped up their final practice Thursday in preparation of the first UPSHOT League championship game Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Charlotte will face first-place Jacksonville in a winner-take-all title game on the road.<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody visualizes losing, but we\u2019ve worked to win,\u201d Stafford-Odom said. \u201cI\u2019m overjoyed because we worked for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The UPSHOT League\u2019s inaugural season has been defined by opportunity.<\/p>\n
Dozens of women have gotten an opportunity to show they can still play at a high level.<\/p>\n
One of those women who made the most of that opportunity is Charlotte guard Deja Kelly, who led the league with 17.8 points and 4.1 assists per game.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us to be part of the first, that\u2019s huge,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cWe don\u2019t take this opportunity for granted.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a 1-6 start to the year, the Crown found its rhythm in the second half of the season.<\/p>\n
Charlotte ended the year winning 14 of its final 15 games, including a 105-73 win over Jacksonville on Aug. 2. <\/p>\n
The Crown and the Waves will tip off the championship game Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. in VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.. <\/p>\n
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