Hempstead, NY – Hofstra women's basketball guard Emma Von Essen has joined former Hofstra women's basketball assistant coach Jessica Bogia and the Jacksonville Waves of the UpShot League, a four-team women's professional basketball league in the United States beginning its inaugural season.
 
Von Essen joins Bogia and the Wave after a standout career with the Pride, appearing in 127 games and making 96 starts over the course of her four years at Hofstra, finishing with 1,137 points to rank 18th in Hofstra women's basketball history. Von Essen was a prolific three-point shooter, finishing second all-time in program history with 244 threes, while her 85 threes made during the 2023-24 season were the third-most in a single season in program history. Additionally, Von Essen was named the 2026 CAA All-Tournament Team after averaging 10 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.8 made three pointers on 35% from beyond the arc and 45.5% from the floor as the #10 seed Pride became the lowest-seeded team to ever reach the championship game of the CAA Women's Basketball Championship.
 
Bogia was a former member of the Hofstra women's basketball coaching staff for two seasons as an assistant coach from 2023 until the end of the 2025 season. Hofstra won 15 games with Bogia on the bench, including 14 wins in 2024-25 that saw Hofstra earn the #8 seed in the 2025 CAA Women's Basketball Championship. Bogia also held the title of recruiting coordinator during the 2023-24 season.
 
The Waves begin its inaugural season on Friday, May 15, against the Charlotte Crown.