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 title and brand, there’s a number of new within the league. With new groups comes new logos, names, jerseys, and cities to get pleasure from ladies’s basketball in. The present groups try to maintain up by constructing new follow services, updating designs, and getting extra artistic with the way in which their promote their groups.

On this rising stage of the WNBA, the league’s branding is actually a bit in every single place. 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 alter with a number of impression is a brand. Sports activities logos typically change with the traits of tradition and design, and simply tweaking it could 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 completely different brand choices, and likewise has a rule that the crew’s major 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 crew 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 could be 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 coloration. They had been type of handed that coloration given it’s the identical because the Statue of Liberty, which the crew is called after. It’s so distinctive to sports activities although, and appears good irrespective of for those who’re placing it on a court docket, jerseys, or merchandise.

The emblem itself is a straightforward crest with a hand holding the Torch, with “NY” within the crew’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 crew’s title and id.

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 in fact. The emblem is a pegasus(?) with the phrases “Wings” and “Dallas” under. The crew’s colors of navy blue and neon inexperienced are an fascinating combo as effectively.

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

Washington Mystics: 7/10

The Washington Mystics are the “sister” crew 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, additionally they share a colorway with the Wizards, the navy blue, grey, and crimson. Very patriotic in fact.

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. Perhaps it’s the little elaborations, 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 crew within the league who has by no means modified their brand. Because the crew entered the WNBA in 2000, they’ve had the identical brand. It’s merely a round crest with the Indiana Fever of their crew font. The colours are crimson, 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 guage.

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 typical trope of present design in minimalism… which isn’t that enjoyable? Seattle’s brand is the primary of minimalist WNBA brand’s we’ll 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 title 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

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

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

Phoenix Mercury: 8/10

The Mercury are one other crew affiliated with an NBA crew, on this case the Phoenix Suns. Because of that, their branding could be very cohesive, they usually 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, in fact. The font doesn’t resemble every other crew’s they usually’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, they usually 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 brand is a circle that includes a palm tree, a basketball, and the Los Angeles Sparks title 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 crew is apparent however completely different sufficient. It will get excessive factors from me as a result of it just a few delicate decisions make the emblem LOOK distinctive with out going too far. The off heart title, the lovable Lynx.

Is it leading edge? 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 like the earth and the “C” for Connecticut to appear like… effectively, 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 essentially 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 brand appears to be like like a basketball going right into a web, but additionally encompasses 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 constructing one thing recent and distinctive.

Atlanta Dream: 8.75/10

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

The Dream’s brand has a number of historical past, which is smart because the crew 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 virtually dulls it a bit. 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 will get. Initially, they nailed the colours with that gorgeous 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 straightforward however distinctive. The V-shape is apparent but additionally distinctive, the “basketball” component is the traces inside the crest. Even the crew’s font is exclusive but easy. It’s simply… cool.

Toronto Tempo: 4/10

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The one you’ve all been ready for? This one is tough as a result of 1) it’s the latest crew brand within the league and a pair of) it’s actually my residence market. This brand was additionally leaked six weeks earlier than the crew was planning to drop the title 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 presupposed to be maroon/crimson/the rest). Whenever you take a look at it a sure approach, it appears to be like like a piano, which is enjoyable.

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

It simply… missed the mark a bit.