In Norse mythology, warrior women often depicted flying with swords would come down to battlefields and select dead men to fight in a battle at the end of the world.
Their name, valkyrie, or valkyrja in Old Norse, means chooser of a dead man on the battlefield.
It’s also the name of the WNBA’s new team, the Golden State Valkyries, who will build their first roster through Friday’s expansion draft.
In May, the franchise announced the name, describing Valkyries as “a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering — flying through air and sea alike.” The visual design of the Valkyries includes elements symbolizing the Bay Bridge, which also invokes imagery of a sword — all meant to represent “courage, power and authority,” the team said when it unveiled its logo.
We are the Golden State Valkyries
Narrated by Kehlani pic.twitter.com/VGY0AAJKa5
— Golden State Valkyries (@wnbagoldenstate) May 14, 2024
Jackson Crawford, a scholar of Norse mythology, said valkyries are a rare example of powerful female characters in male-dominated medieval culture and mythology.
“They’re not on the sidelines. They’re in the middle of every battle,” he said. “I think that it’s a cool, appropriate name for a women’s sports team.”
Crawford described valkyries as “fearsome.”
“A lot of the times when female characters come in they’re love interest to the men or something like that,” he said. “But there’s an interesting way in Norse myth that in spite of that, it seems like we do get a certain amount of women characters with a lot of agency, who aren’t deplored for having that agency. Valkyries are celebrated as being pretty cool.”
That seems to be the energy Golden State wants to channel, at a moment when women’s sports, and the WNBA in particular, is booming. Just one day before the Valkyries’ expansion draft as the WNBA’s 13th team, the Toronto Tempo, announced its branding. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said she hopes the league will expand to 16 teams by 2028.
With all the new names and logos joining the WNBA, here’s how the league’s other teams got their names.
How WNBA teams got their names
Atlanta Dream
The Dream’s name was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech from 1963. King delivered the speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., but he was born and raised in Atlanta. Forty-five years later, Atlanta’s WNBA franchise took the name to honor its famed resident.
Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky’s name unveiling included a 15-foot high T-shirt with the team’s logo. (Randy Belice / NBAE via Getty Images)
The Sky and the team colors, blue and yellow, reference the city’s skyline. Margaret Stender, the Sky’s founding president and CEO, said the branding represented “a beautiful day in Chicago between the blue sky and bright sunlight to highlight the spectacular skyline,” according to a WNBA history of the team. The Sky’s mascot, named Skye, is a lioness referencing the Art Institute of Chicago’s lion sculptures and represents “strength, feminine power, grace, and the courage to overcome obstacles,” according to the team.
Connecticut Sun
The Sun gets its name from Mohegan Sun, the casino owned and operated by the Mohegan Tribe where Connecticut plays at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The Mohegan Tribe’s purchase of the former Orlando Miracle in 2003 made the Sun the first professional sports team owned by a Native American tribe. The team’s logo and uniform include colors and iconography connected to Mohegan history and culture.
Dallas Wings
The Wings — formerly the Tulsa Shock until 2015 — get their name and logo from a Pegasus, a mythological creature featured in park names and shops across the city. Dallas’ connection to the winged horse dates back to 1934 when Magnolia Oil Co. put a red, neon Pegasus on top of what was at the time the tallest building in the city. Mobil acquired Magnolia in 1959 and continues to use the red Pegasus logo to this day. The Wings mascot, Lightning, is also a Pegasus.
Indiana Fever
The Fever’s name was first unveiled in 1999 by Kelly Krauskopf, the team’s inaugural chief operating officer. Krauskopf, who rejoined the organization this offseason, said the newly minted Indiana franchise simply wanted fans in Indianapolis to catch the WNBA fever of the rapidly growing league.
The name also embodies Indiana’s statewide love for hoops, otherwise known as basketball fever. “We worked with the league office to develop a name that captures that passion and appeals to all ages of our fan base,” Krauskopf said in 1999, according to ESPN. “We hope that everyone catches WNBA fever this summer as we begin our inaugural season.”
Las Vegas Aces
Few names fit a city as well as the Aces and Las Vegas. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
The San Antonio Stars began playing as the Las Vegas Aces in 2018, referring to the team’s desire to be the best — and the casino culture in the city. At the time, MGM Resorts International owned the Aces. Raiders owner Mark Davis now owns the team. “‘Las Vegas Aces’ is a nod to the excellence, confidence and competitive spirit of our new hometown,” former coach Bill Laimbeer said when the team moved to Vegas.
Los Angeles Sparks
The Sparks were one of the WNBA’s original eight franchises, but little information exists publicly about how they gained their name. The Athletic has reached out to the Sparks for more information on the name’s origin, but did not hear back by time of publication. Know something? Email us!
Minnesota Lynx
Similar to their NBA counterparts, the Timberwolves, the Lynx were named after a natural Minnesota predator. The Lynx share the same arena and color scheme as the Timberwolves, along with a similar logo design.
New York Liberty
The Liberty’s name, along with its seafoam color and torch logo, reference New York City’s Statue of Liberty. “It is no secret the Statue of Liberty is synonymous with New York City and the opportunities it presents,” the Liberty says.
Phoenix Mercury
This one isn’t surprising: Phoenix gets really hot, and mercury in thermometers rises in high temperatures. And thus, the Phoenix Mercury.
It’s a similar tale (along with similar color scheme) as the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Named after the sun, which again, is hot. Just like Phoenix.
Seattle Storm
The Storm takes its name from Seattle’s infamously rainy weather — and the team’s aspirations upon joining the league as one of four expansion teams in 2000. “It’s the perfect name because of the weather here and what the team plans to do in the league,” said president and CEO Karen Bryant at the time.
Washington Mystics
The Mystics’ name is a compliment to the Washington Wizards, which also play in Washington, D.C. The two teams are owned by Ted Leonsis, chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
Toronto Tempo
The heartbeat of competition is Tempo— the unseen force that shapes the game.
Introducing your Toronto Tempo, the WNBA’s first international expansion team. #TorontoTempo pic.twitter.com/eCNT4AYkuG
— Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) December 5, 2024
The Tempo, who will join the league in 2026, unveiled their name this week. According to the franchise, the term tempo and the team logo reflect values of forward motion and “the team’s desire for progress.” Crucially, the word “tempo” is the same in both English and French.
Required reading
(Image: Golden State Valkyries)
