The WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) is a basketball league based in the US. It’s the counterpart of the NBA which is the men’s league. Though the WNBA does not have the same demand as the NBA, it still needs to be appreciated for many reasons.
Firstly, it allows women to compete and shine in a national-level basketball league and secondly, it will enable others, especially women the privilege of watching a female-centric sport. In fact, as of January 2024, professional-level basketball was ranked as the 2nd most watched women’s live sport in the US, tied with tennis.
The WNBA league has also seen a 200 percent increase in revenue in 2023 compared to 2022. They are on the rise and some statistics prove the increase in viewership in recent years.
That’s why we thought it appropriate to talk about their branding, a.k.a the WNBA logos. In this blog, we hope to break down 7 of the best WNBA logos in the league.
These amazing WNBA logos will also be of much value for those looking to create jaw-dropping basketball team logos.
Let’s bounce right into it!
The Atlanta Dream was founded in 2008. They are known for their dynamic play and strong community involvement. The team has made multiple playoff appearances but they are yet to win a major championship. Regardless, they have won the game of branding with their incredible logo design.
The Atlanta Dream logo is an emblem, one of the common logo types seen among WNBA logos. The current Atlanta Dream logo is an upgraded version of its 2020 rendition (shown below).
The 2020 version features a phoenix, a shooting star, and a basketball. When this 2020 logo was designed by Tantrum Agency, they maintained that the rising phoenix symbolizes Atlanta’s resurgence from the ashes of the Civil War to its status as a global city. The shooting star connects the Dream to its origins, a nod to the team’s first logo, while the basketball represents the sport itself.
Tantrum Agency uses these 3 symbols in a layered fashion (shown above) to turn out the final result – a noteworthy practice to adopt when designing meaningful basketball team logos.
This rebranding was a try at getting more media coverage to highlight the relevance of the Atlanta Dream and to show that they had an agenda of promoting diversity and inclusion.
The current logo seamlessly integrates all of the same elements, with the addition of a bold capital “A” at the forefront. All in all, it’s one of the sturdiest WNBA logos and is a good example of a timeless logo that combines the unique aspects of the team.
Observing this logo would give ample inspiration to craft basketball team logos.
The Chicago Sky, established in 2006, is celebrated for its competitive spirit and impressive performances in the WNBA. The team clinched its first WNBA championship in 2021, marking a historic milestone in its journey.
The Chicago Sky has had only two primary logos since its inception in 2006. While the current logo retains the colors of the original (shown below), it features a significantly different design.
The new logo prominently includes the Willis Tower, a monumental building representing the city of Chicago. It also incorporates a basketball and a net, symbolizing the sport. The modern design captures the essence of the city and the game, reflecting the team’s identity and connection to Chicago.
All in all, the updated logo underscores the Sky’s dedication to its roots and its sport. An example all those creating basketball team logos should follow. According to the Franchise’s CEO Adam Fox, the new logo symbolizes the excitement they have for the brewing success of the franchise.
Besides the primary logo, they introduced a secondary logo as well during this time (shown below).
This logo featured layers from the primary logo to maintain a simplistic pictorial mark logo which is still identifiable as Chicago Sky.
Out of all the WNBA logos, the Chicago Sky also has a unique color scheme of yellow, sky blue, black, and white. This makes their brand stand out.
The Las Vegas Aces, originally founded as the Utah Starzz in 1997, have quickly become a powerhouse in the WNBA since relocating to Las Vegas in 2018. Known for their strong roster and competitive play, the Aces won their first championship in 2022 and again in 2023.
The Las Vegas Aces logo is one of the most unique WNBA logos. Since their establishment in 2018, the Las Vegas Aces have maintained two primary logos. It could be considered one of the most subtly altered WNBA logos.
The core design features a striking diamond shape formed by the ligature of the letters ‘A’ and ‘V’.
The sole modification from the original logo (shown above) to the current iteration is the removal of the vibrant red accent at the base of the diamond and the smaller diamond at the top. The gold is also fully substituted with silver.
This minimal change preserves the emblem’s integrity and keeps it timeless and elegant – a powerful combination to infuse when creating basketball team logos.
The Los Angeles Sparks, one of the WNBA’s original teams established in 1996, are renowned for their storied legacy. They have won multiple WNBA championships in 2001, 2002 and 2016. They have consistently showcased elite talent and have been pivotal in growing women’s basketball.
The Los Angeles Sparks’ logo initially draws comparisons to the Los Angeles Lakers’ logo, primarily due to their shared color scheme. It’s one of the WNBA logos that follow its counterpart NBA team’s colors. However, it should be noted that they are not affiliated with each other even though they both represent Los Angeles.
There is no rationale on the respective WNBA page as to why the Sparks shifted to adopt their counterpart NBA team’s colors and there have been no concerns raised so far as well.
Over their history, the Sparks have employed only two primary logos, with their current design standing out as a timeless representation compared to the original version (shown below) from 1997 which uses a triadic color scheme.
The current logo drops the blue-green and sticks to only 2 colors. It is a contemporary emblem that features essential elements: a prominent palm tree symbolizing the city’s abundance of such flora, a basketball at its center signifying the sport’s essence, and the letters “LA” reinforcing the team’s local identity.
Placing the team name both at the top and bottom ensures clarity and eliminates ambiguity, showcasing a pragmatic approach to logo design. This is a practice that those looking to create basketball team logos should follow.
The Minnesota Lynx, established in 1999, has become one of the WNBA’s most successful franchises. They have four WNBA championships which is the most number a team has won and they hold this position tied with 2 other teams, the Houston Comets and the Seattle Storm. The Lynx have consistently been a dominant force in the league.
They are affiliated with their NBA counterpart the Minnesota Timberwolves. This is probably why the Lynx’s logo looks so similar to the Timberwolves (shown below).
They both follow the same concept with only format and element changes, particularly to the featured animal.
The Minnesota Lynx logo has evolved through three primary versions. The first two logos (shown below) were nearly identical, with only minor color changes.
The current logo, however, marks a significant departure, offering a powerful depiction of the team’s identity- speed and agility.
This updated design features a partial side profile of a lynx, moving away from traditional emblem styles. It’s one of the only WNBA logos that features the profile of a real animal. The Lynx is added to signify the Canadian Lynx which is a rare wildcat in Minnesota. It also includes a basketball within the emblem to signify the game.
The logo thus combines the game of basketball as well as parts dear to the region raising awareness about the animal Lynx as well seeing they’re listed under the Endangered Species Act in 2000.
This kind of meaningful design approach needs to be present when creating basketball team logos.
The New York Liberty, one of the WNBA’s original teams established in 1997, is known for its rich history and passionate fan base. The team has been a cornerstone of the league, showcasing remarkable dedication to women’s basketball. Although they’ve not won a WNBA championship they made it to the finals 5 times.
The New York Liberty’s logo is one of the top WNBA logos that contain powerful elements. The original logo has undergone significant evolution even though some of the core elements are intact. The previous logo (shown below) followed an old-school design.
The current logo features a stylized version of the Statue of Liberty’s torch, symbolizing freedom and empowerment, with a basketball cleverly integrated into the flame, highlighting the sport.
This imagery not only represents the team’s connection to New York City but also embodies the feminine power and quality of Lady Liberty herself. It’s further accentuated by adopting the same color of the statue.
In this new version, the wordmarks are dropped and instead replaced by the most common initials for the city – NY. The font used for NY is the same font used for the words Liberty in the previous logo. Other changes like to the symmetry or the angle of the logo make it more simple, adaptable, and flexible
Thus the logo’s modern design maintains the iconic elements of the original while adopting a sleeker, more dynamic look.
Similarly, helping logos evolve into better versions that can stand the test of time is something to think about if you’re in the process of creating basketball team logos.
The Phoenix Mercury, founded in 1997 as one of the WNBA’s original teams, is renowned for its high-energy play. They have won 3 WNBA championships making them a formidable opponent to reckon with. With standout players, Mercury has dominated the game of basketball in the US.
The Phoenix Mercury logo has not undergone major changes throughout the years. The only changes would be to the colors of the various elements as shown below.
The current logo features a basketball that looks like it’s wrapped in the talons of a real Phoenix – the mythical creature. The use of this imagery reflects the fierce spirit of the city of Phoenix itself.
The typography and imagery all come together with the multiple shadows on the left side in purple and black. The slanted look of the logo also promotes the logo’s dynamicity. As evident, they’ve adopted some simple techniques to give energy and motion to the logo. A tactic that those designing basketball team logos can adopt in their own creations.
And with that, we wrap up this list of WNBA logos.
If you’re in the process of researching the various factors that go into designing basketball team logos, this list of WNBA logos would’ve proven ideal. These WNBA logos are rich with meaning and tie so perfectly well not only to the game of basketball but also to their roots and their regions.
Finding this synergy of combining the essence of the sport with its regions or roots when designing basketball team logos is what helps logos become powerful assets. Good inspiration helps steer clear of generic logos. So go over these WNBA logos and the descriptions we’ve provided a few more times to be inspired to create basketball team logos, that mesmerize beholders.
