Blair Steward
I’ll be honest, I used to buy into the misconception that WNBA team names were somehow “softer” or less intimidating than their male counterparts. Looking deeper into this topic has been an eye-opening journey that has exposed my own biases and revealed a much larger truth about how we perceive women’s sports through something as seemingly simple as what we call our teams.
The reality is that WNBA team names are not just trendy and powerful, but they are also deeply rooted in the culture and identity of their cities and communities. Names like the Las Vegas Aces, Seattle Storm, Phoenix Mercury, and the upcoming Golden State Valkyries are not weak; they are culturally rich, modern, and memorable. The Connecticut Sun represents life-giving energy and consistent power. The Indiana Fever embodies the passion for basketball in a state where the sport runs through the veins of its people. The Atlanta Dream is directly connected to a city synonymous with civil rights progress and limitless possibilities.
When I began analyzing these names in comparison to traditional sports naming conventions, I realized the WNBA was not just ahead of the curve, but it was also setting a new standard. What’s more intimidating: another generic animal mascot or facing a storm? What carries more weight: being called a Tiger or representing the speed of Mercury, the Roman messenger god? The more I thought about it, the more I realized my initial reaction to these names said more about my own biases than it did about their actual strength or meaning.
These names follow contemporary branding trends observed across all professional sports, where newer franchises often opt for unique, culturally significant identities over traditional naming conventions. The WNBA isn’t an outlier; it’s leading the way in creating team identities that resonate with modern audiences while honoring local culture and values. Traditional sports leagues are filled with repetitive themes: animals that attack, warriors from various cultures, and weather phenomena meant to intimidate opponents. The WNBA has chosen a different path, selecting names that inspire rather than intimidate, that celebrate culture rather than appropriate it, and that connect with communities on a deeper level than simple fear or aggression.
Take the Las Vegas Aces, for example. This name perfectly encapsulates the gambling culture and high-stakes atmosphere of Nevada’s entertainment capital, while simultaneously suggesting excellence and being the best. An ace is the highest card in the deck, the best pilot in a squadron, someone who excels at their craft. There’s nothing weak about claiming to be the best at what you do. The name works on multiple levels: it’s locally relevant, aspirational, and memorable. Compare that to a name like “Lions” or “Bears” that could apply to virtually any city and carries no unique cultural significance.
The Seattle Storm might be the most genuinely intimidating name in all of professional sports when you think about it. Natural disasters are among the most feared and respected forces on Earth, something far more formidable than any human opponent or animal. Storms are unpredictable, powerful, and can change everything in an instant. The name also connects perfectly to the Pacific Northwest’s famously dramatic weather patterns, making it both culturally relevant and symbolically powerful.
The Phoenix Mercury draws from both mythology and astronomy, referencing the messenger of the gods, known for its incredible speed, and the planet closest to the sun. Mercury was known for being quick, clever, and essential to communication between realms. In astronomy, Mercury is the fastest orbiting planet, completing its journey around the sun in just 88 days. The name suggests speed, intelligence, and cosmic significance while connecting to Phoenix’s desert location and intense heat. This level of layered meaning creates a richer identity than most traditional team names ever achieve.
The Atlanta Dream connects to the civil rights movement and the concept of the American Dream, powerful ideas that have shaped our entire nation. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech was delivered from Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, making this name a direct tribute to one of the most critical moments in American history. Dreams represent hope, aspiration, and the belief that change is possible. In a city that served as the headquarters for the civil rights movement, this name carries profound historical weight and cultural significance.
Even newer additions to the league demonstrate this thoughtful approach to naming. The Golden State Valkyries, set to begin play in 2025, chose a name steeped in Norse mythology that references mighty female warriors who chose which fighters would live or die in battle. Valkyries were divine figures who served Odin and decided the fate of warriors. This choice directly connects to themes of female empowerment and divine feminine strength while honoring the Bay Area’s spirit of innovation and breaking traditional boundaries.
What struck me during this exploration is how these naming choices reflect a sophisticated understanding of modern branding and cultural relevance. While traditional team names often rely on intimidation through aggression or fear, WNBA names create intimidation through excellence, natural forces, and cultural power. They’re not trying to scare opponents with claws and teeth; they’re asserting dominance through representing the best of human achievement, the power of nature, and the strength of essential ideas.
The more I researched, the more I realized my initial assumptions about these names being “weak” were rooted in outdated thinking about what makes something powerful. I was unconsciously applying masculine standards of aggression and violence to determine strength when, in reality, the WNBA’s approach represents a more sophisticated and meaningful way to create team identity. These names don’t need to threaten physical harm to demonstrate power; they assert dominance through representing excellence, natural forces, and cultural significance.
This realization forced me to confront uncomfortable questions about my own biases and how they shaped my perception of women’s athletics in general. If I was dismissing these genuinely strong team names as weak, what other aspects of women’s sports was I unfairly judging by inappropriate standards? The problem wasn’t the team names; the problem was my framework for evaluating them.
The real issues facing the WNBA have nothing to do with naming conventions and everything to do with systemic inequalities. The pay gap between WNBA and NBA players is staggering, with WNBA superstars earning in a year what some NBA bench players make in a few games. Currently, 69% of WNBA team ownership remains in the hands of men, limiting women’s voices in shaping the league’s direction. These are the battles worth fighting, not critiquing perfect team names that represent innovative branding.
The timing of my realization couldn’t be better, because this league is surging in ways that should excite any basketball fan. The rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has captured national attention, bringing storylines and competitive drama that rival anything in men’s sports. The WNBA is expanding with new teams, growing viewership, and attracting unprecedented media coverage. Players like A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Sabrina Ionescu showcase elite-level basketball that’s fast, physical, and incredibly entertaining.
My research into team names became a mirror reflecting broader biases about women’s sports that I didn’t even realize I held. When we assume women’s team names are “weaker,” we’re expressing unconscious beliefs that women’s sports are inherently lesser competitions. This mindset doesn’t just disrespect the athletes; it robs us of incredible entertainment and athletic excellence.
The stigma against women’s sports often manifests in seemingly minor ways, like dismissing team names for not being traditionally “masculine” enough. However, these small biases accumulate to create an environment where women’s athletics are constantly measured against male standards rather than being appreciated for their innovations and excellence. The WNBA’s approach to naming represents evolution in sports branding, not weakness.
This journey of understanding has been genuinely transformative for me. Recognizing my own biases about something as simple as team names revealed deeper assumptions about women’s sports that I carried without conscious awareness. Growth comes from questioning these automatic judgments and being open to perspectives that challenge our default thinking.
Supporting the WNBA means challenging our assumptions about everything from team names to quality of play, questioning why we might view women’s sports differently, and recognizing that different approaches don’t mean inferior quality. The league’s modern approach to branding reflects innovation and cultural awareness that should be celebrated rather than criticized or dismissed.
The WNBA’s team names aren’t the problem; they’re part of a solution that embraces modernity, cultural significance, and community connection. The real challenge is dismantling the stigma that treats women’s sports as secondary entertainment rather than elite competition deserving of our full attention and respect. When we approach the WNBA with open minds, we discover team names that are stronger and more meaningful than most traditional sports naming conventions. That’s not weakness, that’s strength we’ve been overlooking for far too long.
Blair Steward 