NASHVILLE, TN — The UPSHOT League’s Nashville Vibe has announced the hiring of two-time WNBA champion Yolanda Moore as the team’s first head coach. Moore brings an extensive basketball resume to the first-year franchise, with more than two decades of experience as a player, coach, and commentator.
As a coach, Moore led turnarounds at LSU Eunice and Clark Atlanta, winning the 2018 SIAC Conference Tournament Championship and SIAC Coach of the Year honors. She has also participated in NBA coaching development programs, landing her opportunities including guest coach for the Indiana Mad Ants during the G-League Winter Showcase, head coach of the NBA Academy International Team at the Atlanta Summer Tournament, and an on-court clinician at the NBA Basketball without Borders Coaches Clinic in Japan.
“It is an honor to be named Nashville’s first head coach,” said Moore. “This game has given me the opportunity to compete, grow, and lead at every level, and I’m excited to create those same opportunities for the next generation of Vibe players. We want to build a winning culture in Nashville rooted in how we compete on the court and how we show up for the community.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Yolanda Moore as head coach and general manager of the Nashville Vibe” says President and CEO of the Nashville Vibe Nancy VanReece. “Her commitment to basketball excellence matches the standard we want to set for this team from day one. I’m excited for our players to learn from her and for Nashville to see the team she builds.”
Moore earned First Team All-SEC honors in 1995 and 1996 at the University of Mississippi before winning back-to-back WNBA championships with the Houston Comets in 1997 and 1998. She was inducted into the Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, and awarded SEC Legend status by the Southeastern Conference in 2012.
“Naming Yolanda Moore as the Nashville Vibe’s first head coach is a tremendous moment for this franchise and for the League” said UPSHOT Deputy Commissioner Taj McWilliams-Franklin. “Coach Moore has built a career defined by excellence, leadership, and a genuine commitment to developing players. Her ability to connect with athletes, build strong cultures, and lead with purpose makes her an exceptional fit for Nashville, and we are excited to have her set the standard for professional women’s basketball in the city.”
Moore’s appointment is the latest step in building toward the Vibe’s inaugural season, following the franchise’s September 15 name and identity reveal. Nashville will begin play at Vanderbilt Memorial Gymnasium in May 2027, as UPSHOT continues to expand for its second season.
Season memberships, group outing packages and Vibe merchandise are available at NashvilleVibe.com.
The Nashville Vibe is Nashville’s professional women’s basketball franchise competing in the UPSHOT League. The organization is committed to delivering an exceptional experience for fans, players, partners and the community while building one of the premier organizations in women’s professional sports.
