Aces to Valkyries: Grading the WNBA Logos

With WNBA Growth chugging alongside steadily with the Golden State Valkyries draft, and the reveal of the Toronto Tempo identify and emblem, there’s a number of new within the league. With new groups comes new logos, names, jerseys, and cities to get pleasure from girls’s basketball in. The present groups try to maintain up by constructing new observe 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 somewhat in all places. 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 a number of impression is a emblem. Sports activities logos usually change with the traits of tradition and design, and simply tweaking it may possibly refresh a complete franchise.

The WNBA additionally has guidelines on what groups have to incorporate in these logos. For instance, the league requires groups to have three completely different emblem choices, and in addition has a rule that the workforce’s major emblem should in some way contain a basketball.

With all of that being stated, let’s rating every of the WNBA’s 14 recognized workforce 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 emblem 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 attractive Seafoam coloration. They have been form of handed that coloration given it’s the similar because the Statue of Liberty, which the workforce 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 brand itself is an easy crest with a hand holding the Torch, with “NY” within the workforce’s signature font. The flame of the torch is the place they’ve integrated the basketball, with the “flames” popping out of the highest. It’s easy, to the purpose, distinctive, and strongly hyperlinks to the workforce’s identify and identification.

Dallas Wings: 6/10

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

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

Washington Mystics: 7/10

The Washington Mystics are the “sister” workforce 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 purple. Very patriotic after all.

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

Indiana Fever: 7/10

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

NOW, if we have been rating jerseys, and the Fever’s Stranger Issues jersey was nonetheless in play… that may 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 emblem is the primary of minimalist WNBA emblem’s we’ll discover. Their inexperienced and gold colours are a traditional that look enjoyable, however I miss the Storm logos of the 2000s — funky!

This crest options the house 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 emblem, which is tremendous enjoyable. See beneath:

Las Vegas Aces: 6/10

Perhaps I’m being harsh on minimalism… I’ll maintain going. The Aces’ emblem is extraordinarily on model, which is enjoyable. Sadly they just lately modified their colors to silver and black as a substitute of purple and black. The purple and black went with the Aces identify so effectively, nodding to taking part in playing cards.

Their diamond formed emblem is one other nod to taking part in playing cards. Being named the Aces as a Las Vegas workforce is simply so good, and their emblem conveys that but it surely’s additionally… simply that.

Phoenix Mercury: 8/10

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

It will get increased factors as a result of it strays from minimalism, after all. The font doesn’t resemble every other workforce’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 may save themselves extra by incorporating extra of their third coloration, teal, into the combination. Whereas the Sparks don’t share express affiliation to the Lakers, they do share the enduring purple and gold.

The Sparks present emblem 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 emblem would get increased factors from me if there was extra teal.

Minnesota Lynx: 8.5/10

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

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

Connecticut Solar: 8/10

This one is enjoyable as a result of they use the basketball to appear to be the earth and the “C” for Connecticut to appear to be… effectively, the solar. It will get additional 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 good, and really cute. Their emblem seems like a basketball going right into a internet, but additionally includes a “skyline-esque” constructing element.

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

Atlanta Dream: 8.75/10

Okay, perhaps I’m getting somewhat too particular…

The Dream’s emblem has a number of historical past, which is sensible for the reason that workforce was named after the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. I like a lot about this emblem — 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 emblem primarily gray. It nearly dulls it somewhat. It’s clear but it surely’s not flashy. Perhaps 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 unimaginable, however Golden State’s branding is as shut as you may get. To start with, 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 brand itself is straightforward however distinctive. The V-shape is apparent but additionally distinctive, the “basketball” factor is the traces throughout the crest. Even the workforce’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 tough as a result of 1) it’s the most recent workforce emblem within the league and a pair of) it’s actually my dwelling market. This emblem was additionally leaked six weeks earlier than the workforce was planning to drop the identify and emblem.

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 presupposed to be maroon/purple/the rest). If you take a look at it a sure means, it seems like a piano, which is enjoyable.

Listed here are the criticisms which have been circulating for the reason that workforce confirmed the emblem: It resembles the Indiana Pacers emblem, the New Steadiness Brand, and the Ontario Hockey League emblem. It’s additionally somewhat one dimensional. So most of the logos above have dimension, layers, and appear to be they’re leaping off the web page.

It simply… missed the mark somewhat.