New WNBA Brand Identity

[waldowest]

The new logo is doing layups. How appropriate.

This is the problem. Men make fun of the WNBA for the lack of dunking, but you question and mock Brittney Griner's gender based on the fact that she can and does dunk. This is the unfortunate paradoxical stereotype women's sports have. If they are too athletic they must be a man, if they are not athletic enough its boring, and if they are not sexy its not worth watching. Its a shame.

I'm a woman and I dislike Brittney Griner because I don't think she's actually any good, not because "she's a man". I vehemently defend her when people suggest she is.

The only reason she's so "dominant" is because she's a giant. But she's not athletic. She's 6'8" and has to go full stretch to complete a lame dunk. When Nate Robinson can dunk easier than she can, there's something missing. The women's game is getting a lot better, but it's not even close to where it needs to be right now.

But I agree - a change in logo isn't going to change the public's perception, which is a shame.

[Gothamite]

This is just polishing a turd.

Thousands of people are not going to watch the WNBA because of a logo change.

It is also not going to stop it from being the most ridiculed sports league in America.

You stay classy, now.

[phutmasterflex]

The new logo is doing layups. How appropriate.

This is the problem. Men make fun of the WNBA for the lack of dunking, but you question and mock Brittney Griner's gender based on the fact that she can and does dunk. This is the unfortunate paradoxical stereotype women's sports have. If they are too athletic they must be a man, if they are not athletic enough its boring, and if they are not sexy its not worth watching. Its a shame.

I'm a woman and I dislike Brittney Griner because I don't think she's actually any good, not because "she's a man". I vehemently defend her when people suggest she is.

The only reason she's so "dominant" is because she's a giant. But she's not athletic. She's 6'8" and has to go full stretch to complete a lame dunk. When Nate Robinson can dunk easier than she can, there's something missing. The women's game is getting a lot better, but it's not even close to where it needs to be right now.

But I agree - a change in logo isn't going to change the public's perception, which is a shame.

Genetics. Evolution! Rabble. Rabble. Rabble!

The new logo accomplishes nothing and the fact that it's a layup actually gives me a vibe that the league doesn't appreciate the athleticism of their players.

[illwauk]

(btw, Knoxville? same here - I guess I'm spoiled with the Lady Vols)

I'm a proud alum myself. GBO! But, yes, we're exposed to women's bball much more than other markets here in Knoxville. I guess that's why we have the Women's BBall Hall of Fame here.

I actually didn't attend UT, but I've lived here my whole life. Suppose I probably should be more of a fan of the school besides the LVs...

I never understood why the WNBA never tried to expand into Tennessee... if not in Knoxville itself, then certainly Nashville. Just load the roster up with UT and Vandy (if in Nashville) alums.

[waldowest]

(btw, Knoxville? same here - I guess I'm spoiled with the Lady Vols)

I'm a proud alum myself. GBO! But, yes, we're exposed to women's bball much more than other markets here in Knoxville. I guess that's why we have the Women's BBall Hall of Fame here.

I actually didn't attend UT, but I've lived here my whole life. Suppose I probably should be more of a fan of the school besides the LVs...

I never understood why the WNBA never tried to expand into Tennessee... if not in Knoxville itself, then certainly Nashville. Just load the roster up with UT and Vandy (if in Nashville) alums.

Yeah, I feel like they're missing out on a huge market. If we actually had a team around here, I'd probably have season tickets. I know a good majority of LV fans would too, even without the UT alums. But that kinda mismanagement seems fitting for the wnba so

[TFoA]

The Icon and new colour choices are nice. Hate the type treatment. Is it the WnBa? Why mix cases on an acronym?

Yes. Never understood on it here either:

Why not just use a capital N?

Oh great, this is gonna bother me forever now.

That being said, I like the new logo, especially the change of colors.

[Nyk33]

This is just polishing a turd.

Thousands of people are not going to watch the WNBA because of a logo change.

It is also not going to stop it from being the most ridiculed sports league in America.

You stay classy, now.

Is there anything in that post that wasn't correct.

It is all truth.

[Korkie]

The new logo is doing layups. How appropriate.

This is the problem. Men make fun of the WNBA for the lack of dunking, but you question and mock Brittney Griner's gender based on the fact that she can and does dunk. This is the unfortunate paradoxical stereotype women's sports have. If they are too athletic they must be a man, if they are not athletic enough its boring, and if they are not sexy its not worth watching. Its a shame.

I'm a woman and I dislike Brittney Griner because I don't think she's actually any good, not because "she's a man". I vehemently defend her when people suggest she is.

The only reason she's so "dominant" is because she's a giant. But she's not athletic. She's 6'8" and has to go full stretch to complete a lame dunk. When Nate Robinson can dunk easier than she can, there's something missing. The women's game is getting a lot better, but it's not even close to where it needs to be right now.

But I agree - a change in logo isn't going to change the public's perception, which is a shame.

Genetics. Evolution! Rabble. Rabble. Rabble!

The new logo accomplishes nothing and the fact that it's a layup actually gives me a vibe that the league doesn't appreciate the athleticism of their players.

Agreed on both posts. Regarding Griner, I agree she's the Shaq of the women's game, but Kate Fagan's piece on her hits the sociological mirror nail on the head (http://espn.go.com/w...backlash-not-us) (Fagan uses the Shaq comparison as a compliment, I don't. Physical gifts are different than talent. I take Hakeem over Shaq for my center play; the 95 Finals are Exhibit A. But her larger social point still stands about the broader conversation.)

The logo does no good, I wish she was jump shooting, which would be a better example of the women's game. Choosing the layup is provocative in a bad way, as this thread shows.

[BRice16]

New logo and identity for the WNBA:

Full story here: http://www.wnba.com/...ing_032813.html

Seems a good move forward, though I'm not sure it will help popularity of the league...good stuff from a design prospective nonetheless, imo.

Fellow Knoxvillian here, as a friend and fan of the sport in general, though definitely more college than the WNBA, I don't think this logo is a step forward, The layup is not something the game needs as a logo.

[29texan]

The new logo is doing layups. How appropriate.

This is the problem. Men make fun of the WNBA for the lack of dunking, but then question and mock Brittney Griner's gender based on the fact that she can and does dunk.

Um.... that's NOT the reason...

[dfwabel]

As for the logo itself, I like it because it is not red/white/blue just to look "American".

(btw, Knoxville? same here - I guess I'm spoiled with the Lady Vols)

I'm a proud alum myself. GBO! But, yes, we're exposed to women's bball much more than other markets here in Knoxville. I guess that's why we have the Women's BBall Hall of Fame here.

I actually didn't attend UT, but I've lived here my whole life. Suppose I probably should be more of a fan of the school besides the LVs...

I never understood why the WNBA never tried to expand into Tennessee... if not in Knoxville itself, then certainly Nashville. Just load the roster up with UT and Vandy (if in Nashville) alums.

No team there is two-fold. First, local investors know it will be hard to be profitbale. Second, fans like Lady Vols or Vandy hoops and may not want to spend cash on anything else. Somewhat like you may enjoying watching your kid play and financially support youth soccer, but are not too keen going to see the MLS or NASL.

[loneranger158]

I followed the WNBA until the team left my hometown. As someone who has a good amount of knowledge about the league design over its entire history I say downgrade.

[hugevolsfan]

(btw, Knoxville? same here - I guess I'm spoiled with the Lady Vols)

I'm a proud alum myself. GBO! But, yes, we're exposed to women's bball much more than other markets here in Knoxville. I guess that's why we have the Women's BBall Hall of Fame here.

I actually didn't attend UT, but I've lived here my whole life. Suppose I probably should be more of a fan of the school besides the LVs...

Speaking of the HoF, do they have the old logo on that ball? Hah, can't imagine changing that thing.

I live just outside of Knoxville & work in Knoxville on Alcoa Highway good to see another East Tennessean on the boards.

[Lee Noire]

Say what you want but I like the WNBA. I have an old soul when it comes to sports so as much as I enjoy a high flying dunk(Clipper fan here), I watch because those women play like there is no tomorrow. Which to be frank there may not be given the history of womens leagues.

As far as the logo, I also prefer a jump shooting "logo woman" over the layup, but I'll just pretend she is doing a version of the skyhook.

[Conrad.]

(btw, Knoxville? same here - I guess I'm spoiled with the Lady Vols)

I'm a proud alum myself. GBO! But, yes, we're exposed to women's bball much more than other markets here in Knoxville. I guess that's why we have the Women's BBall Hall of Fame here.

I actually didn't attend UT, but I've lived here my whole life. Suppose I probably should be more of a fan of the school besides the LVs...

Speaking of the HoF, do they have the old logo on that ball? Hah, can't imagine changing that thing.

I live just outside of Knoxville & work in Knoxville on Alcoa Highway good to see another East Tennessean on the boards.

that's 4 of us that have shown up in this thread alone.

(i'm based out of Seymour, fwiw)

[KCScout76]

I'd like to buy another vowel for $200. Let me see, which one will it be . . . ?

[FiddySicks]

The new logo is doing layups. How appropriate.

This is the problem. Men make fun of the WNBA for the lack of dunking, but then question and mock Brittney Griner's gender based on the fact that she can and does dunk.

I'm yeah, no. People don't mock Brittney Griner because she can dunk. They mock her because she looks like Chrish Bosh with long hair and has a deeper voice than Barry White.

[29texan]

The new logo is doing layups. How appropriate.

This is the problem. Men make fun of the WNBA for the lack of dunking, but then question and mock Brittney Griner's gender based on the fact that she can and does dunk.

I'm yeah, no. People don't mock Brittney Griner because she can dunk. They mock her because she looks like Chrish Bosh with long hair and has a deeper voice than Barry White.

Pretty much, yeah.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF-N13hmvcA

[rainmaker17]

.....and she's a dirty player.

[Korkie]

The new logo is doing layups. How appropriate.

This is the problem. Men make fun of the WNBA for the lack of dunking, but then question and mock Brittney Griner's gender based on the fact that she can and does dunk.

I'm yeah, no. People don't mock Brittney Griner because she can dunk. They mock her because she looks like Chrish Bosh with long hair and has a deeper voice than Barry White.

Pretty much, yeah.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF-N13hmvcA

I never said people make fun of her for dunking, I said they question and mock her gender, which you are doing by sarcastically pointing out traditionally male attributes she displays.

This being the logos forum, I will reiterate that the logo is a bad idea because it calls attention to the very thing that makes women's basketball inferior to many people: lesser athleticism.