Aces to Valkyries: Grading the WNBA Logos

With WNBA Enlargement chugging alongside steadily with the Golden State Valkyries draft, and the reveal of the Toronto Tempo identify and brand, there’s plenty of new within the league. With new groups comes new logos, names, jerseys, and cities to take pleasure in ladies’s basketball in. The present groups are attempting to maintain up by constructing new apply amenities, updating designs, and getting extra inventive with the best way their promote their groups.

On this rising stage of the WNBA, the league’s branding is truthfully a bit everywhere. Some groups look futuristic, some are deliberately utilizing throwback branding, and a few simply appear caught within the 00s. One factor that’s simple to vary with plenty of affect is a brand. Sports activities logos usually change with the traits of tradition and design, and simply tweaking it may refresh a whole franchise.

The WNBA additionally has guidelines on what groups have to incorporate in these logos. For instance, the league requires groups to have three totally different brand choices, and likewise has a rule that the group’s fundamental brand should one way or the other contain a basketball.

With all of that being stated, let’s rating every of the WNBA’s 14 identified group logos. The 12 “present” groups, plus the Golden State Valkyries who enter the league in 2025, after which the Toronto Tempo who enter in 2026. The one unknown brand proper now’s Portland’s.

New York Liberty: 9.5/10

The New York Liberty have actually nailed all of their branding, beginning off with their beautiful Seafoam shade. They had been form of handed that shade given it’s the similar because the Statue of Liberty, which the group is known as after. It’s so distinctive to sports activities although, and appears good regardless of when you’re placing it on a courtroom, jerseys, or merchandise.

The emblem itself is an easy crest with a hand holding the Torch, with “NY” within the group’s signature font. The flame of the torch is the place they’ve included the basketball, with the “flames” popping out of the highest. It’s easy, to the purpose, distinctive, and strongly hyperlinks to the group’s identify and identification.

Dallas Wings: 6/10

A part of my confusion round this one is that we aren’t actually advised what a “wing” is. Is it a pegasus? The horse theme hyperlinks them to the Dallas Mavericks after all. The emblem is a pegasus(?) with the phrases “Wings” and “Dallas” under. The group’s colors of navy blue and neon inexperienced are an attention-grabbing combo as nicely.

The basketball factor simply is available in as a result of they put a basketball below the horse(?). It’s all high-quality, however doesn’t stand out in opposition to a number of the stronger logos within the league.

Washington Mystics: 7/10

The Washington Mystics are the “sister” group of the Washington Wizards, and in my humble opinion, ought to have been named the Washington Witches. Preserve the alliteration, and witches are simply cool. Anyway, in addition they share a colorway with the Wizards, the navy blue, grey, and pink. Very patriotic after all.

This brand is fairly cool, however to me one thing about it’s giving the vibe of being inside a Restricted Too retailer in 2003. Possibly it’s the little gildings, perhaps it’s the font, perhaps it’s the colors. It’s on theme and isn’t inherently unhealthy it’s simply… very 2003.

Indiana Fever: 7/10

Curiously sufficient, the Indiana Fever are the one group within the league who has by no means modified their brand. For the reason that group entered the WNBA in 2000, they’ve had the identical brand. It’s merely a round crest with the Indiana Fever of their group font. The colours are pink, yellow, and blue — they work fairly nicely collectively, however not my private cup of tea. I put on 99% black although so who am I to evaluate.

NOW, if we had been rating jerseys, and the Fever’s Stranger Issues jersey was nonetheless in play… that might get a ten/10 from me, that was sick.

Seattle Storm: 5/10

A standard trope of present design in minimalism… which isn’t that enjoyable? Seattle’s brand is the primary of minimalist WNBA brand’s we are going to discover. Their inexperienced and gold colours are a basic that look enjoyable, however I miss the Storm logos of the 2000s — funky!

This crest options the area needle inside a basketball-esque crest, a lighting bolt, and the Seattle Storm identify of their font. It’s not ugly by any means, it’s simply not the older brand, which is tremendous enjoyable. See under:

Las Vegas Aces: 6/10

Possibly I’m being harsh on minimalism… I’ll hold going. The Aces’ brand is extraordinarily on model, which is enjoyable. Sadly they lately modified their colors to silver and black as a substitute of pink and black. The pink and black went with the Aces identify so nicely, nodding to enjoying playing cards.

Their diamond formed brand is one other nod to enjoying playing cards. Being named the Aces as a Las Vegas group is simply so sensible, and their brand conveys that however it’s additionally… simply that.

Phoenix Mercury: 8/10

The Mercury are one other group affiliated with an NBA group, on this case the Phoenix Suns. On account of that, their branding could be very cohesive, and so they share the orange, purple, black colours. The Mercury’s brand to me is giving 70’s diner vibes, which is fairly cool. Their “basketball” is merely an orange circle, however once more it appears to be like very diner-esque.

It will get increased factors as a result of it strays from minimalism, after all. The font doesn’t resemble some other group’s and so they’ve actually leaned into the classic vibes.

Los Angeles Sparks: 7/10

This one is what I’ll name borderline minimalism. They save themselves with a palm tree, and so they might save themselves extra by incorporating extra of their third shade, teal, into the combination. Whereas the Sparks don’t share express affiliation to the Lakers, they do share the long-lasting purple and gold.

The Sparks present brand is a circle that includes a palm tree, a basketball, and the Los Angeles Sparks identify in an outer circle. The palm tree is cool, and this brand would get increased factors from me if there was extra teal.

Minnesota Lynx: 8.5/10

The Lynx featured in Minnesota’s brand could be very cute, and the relation to the Timberwolves NBA group is clear however totally different sufficient. It will get excessive factors from me as a result of it a couple of refined selections make the emblem LOOK distinctive with out going too far. The off middle identify, the lovable Lynx.

Is it leading edge? Not essentially, however it delivers the message. We aren’t breaking into a brand new frontier with this one, however it does the job.

Connecticut Solar: 8/10

This one is enjoyable as a result of they use the basketball to seem like the earth and the “C” for Connecticut to seem like… nicely, the solar. It will get further factors for a enjoyable distinctive form that resembles the solar’s rays.

Total it’s quirky, on theme, and delivers the message. Is it probably the most jaw-dropping factor to ever exist? No. Does it have enjoyable particulars? Sure.

Chicago Sky: 9/10

The Chicago Sky have a enjoyable colorway of sky blue and yellow — sky and solar. Fairly sensible, and really cute. Their brand appears to be like like a basketball going right into a web, but additionally incorporates a “skyline-esque” constructing element.

Total it’s tremendous distinctive, nods to the well-known Chicago skyline, and appears like a basketball brand with out being too cookie-cuter. I believe the Sky did an excellent job of creating one thing recent and distinctive.

Atlanta Dream: 8.75/10

Okay, perhaps I’m getting a bit too particular…

The Dream’s brand has plenty of historical past, which is sensible for the reason that group was named after the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. I like a lot about this brand — the star, the font, the symbolism. It’s highly effective and the form of the crest is sharp and distinctive.

For me the one downfall is making a brand primarily gray. It nearly dulls it a bit. It’s clear however it’s not flashy. Possibly that was the purpose. Total, nonetheless excessive in rating.

Golden State Valkyries: 9.9/10

This will get a 9.9 as a result of perfection is unattainable, however Golden State’s branding is as shut as you may get. Initially, they nailed the colours with that beautiful lavender. The Valkyries are related to the Golden State Warriors, and Valkyries are Norse feminine warriors… once more, actual good things.

The emblem itself is easy however distinctive. The V-shape is clear but additionally distinctive, the “basketball” factor is the strains throughout the crest. Even the group’s font is exclusive but easy. It’s simply… cool.

Toronto Tempo: 4/10

The one you’ve all been ready for? This one is difficult as a result of 1) it’s the most recent group brand within the league and a couple of) it’s actually my dwelling market. This brand was additionally leaked six weeks earlier than the group was planning to drop the identify and brand.

Right here’s what I like about it: The colours are very nice, with an icy blue and plum (don’t even attempt to inform me that’s purported to be maroon/pink/anything). While you take a look at it a sure manner, it appears to be like like a piano, which is enjoyable.

Listed below are the criticisms which were circulating for the reason that group confirmed the emblem: It resembles the Indiana Pacers brand, the New Steadiness Emblem, and the Ontario Hockey League brand. It’s additionally a bit one dimensional. So most of the logos above have dimension, layers, and seem like they’re leaping off the web page.

It simply… missed the mark a bit.