The WNBA made one more splash final week once they unveiled a model new brand for the Finals, ending an eight-year run for the somewhat generic white textual content brand we’ve had since 2018. Because the league approaches its thirtieth Finals, the brand new brand looks like a callback to a number of the traditional championship logos we’ve seen throughout sports activities within the 90s and 2000s.
The brand new WNBA Finals brand is the sixth model in league historical past and is definitely probably the most detailed we’ve seen to date, that includes the championship trophy and a font that’s extra artful than generic. Whereas it has touches of retro logos we’ve seen previously, it nonetheless seems to be like a contemporary brand that is smart within the 12 months 2026.
Of the six variations, you possibly can make a critical case that the brand new brand is the very best of all of them. And since we’ve a month with out stay WNBA motion in the course of the FIBA World Cup break, we’d as nicely take this time to rank all of them and see the place all of them stand.
6. 2018-2025
It feels good to go from nothing to one thing, and that’s what the WNBA is doing by upgrading probably the most generic, soulless Finals brand in league historical past to 1 that stands among the many finest. At time of unprecedented progress for the league, the fact of the scenario was that this bland brand simply didn’t stay as much as the colourful period the WNBA has entered. The period will principally be remembered for A’ja Wilson and the Aces unprecedented dominance, as they’ve gained three titles within the eight years it was energetic.
5. 1997-2001
The one change between the 1997-2001 brand and the 2002 change was changing the phrase Championship with Finals, coinciding with the league’s resolution to rebrand the collection over 20 years. Whereas it was a serviceable brand for a younger league on the time, there wasn’t all that a lot character and the size of “championship” causes some clunkiness. There have been some constructive traits in regards to the brand, however we’ll get extra into that whereas discussing its successor. The brand is most deeply related to the Houston Comets, who gained the primary 4 championships in league historical past.
4. 2002-2006
It’s not possible to rank the 2002 replace too far forward of its predecessor due to how related they’re, however the 2002 model does profit from the phrase change. Finals traces up with WNBA on the road above a lot better, and the brand is a little more sq. than the previous model. It actually isn’t a groundbreaking design, however it included the championship trophy and the league’s signature recreation ball which is at all times a plus. It was actually an period of parity for the league, as 4 totally different groups gained titles within the 5 seasons the brand was energetic.
3. 2013-2018
The introduction of the orange. It was actually a pivotal change for the league, separating from the everyday crimson, white and blue that aligned it with not simply the NBA however each different American sporting league. Coinciding with the change of the general league brand, the orange textual content and retro font make for a brand that has loads of character and one which was a definitive assertion in an period the place the WNBA was desperate to make one. It’s not exhausting to think about Diana Taurasi’s Phoenix Mercury or Maya Moore’s Minnesota Lynx whenever you see this brand, and that was actually a particular time for the league.
2. 2007-2012
There’s little question about it, the 2007 brand replace has extra character than some other in league historical past. The inclusion of the signature recreation ball is a needed contact, and I even have constructive nostalgic emotions in regards to the alternating higher and lowercase textual content on this model of the Finals brand. Sadly, the character of the brand didn’t actually align with the place the WNBA was headed in that second as a number of of the league’s founding franchises folded as a result of monetary woes that grew to become unmanageable throughout and after the 2008 Monetary Disaster.
1. 2026-
A brand new mark for the second that issues most 🏆
Right here’s a more in-depth take a look at the weather behind the brand new WNBA Finals brand. From our iconic Logowoman and championship trophy to customized lettering impressed by the velocity and depth of championship basketball pic.twitter.com/0xYm69HqAx
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 30, 2026
I gained’t go so far as saying that is the proper brand, however it’s a house run for a league that has extra eyes on it than ever earlier than. It has the proper stability of character and seriousness, plus it has a extra detailed depiction of the championship trophy than we’ve seen on any of the previous logos. The font and tailed S on the finish of the phrase Finals add a traditional aptitude to the brand that may virtually actually look nice on the hardwood. It is going to on the very least be a serious enchancment from the generic nonsense we’ve handled the final eight years. Which gamers and groups will come to outline this period? That’s nonetheless to be decided, however there are many intriguing candidates.
