Toronto WNBA Name Debate: The People Have Spoken

Chelsea dives into emails from readers to go over the most popular name suggestions for the Toronto WNBA team.

We’re back with another edition of the Toronto WNBA name discourse! When I started writing these silly name pieces a few weeks ago, I never would have thought people would become so invested in them. I mean, I knew I was invested, but I have been manifesting this team for years.

So, when I started getting emails and messages to my personal accounts from fans suggesting names to me — asking me for my opinions on them — I was a little shocked. How fun! There ended up being enough of them that I decided to compile them into a mailbag-esque article to share my opinions on each one.

If you’re new to this discourse, take a look at my first two posts where I share my opinions on what I think should go into choosing the name for Toronto’s new WNBA team!

What Should the Toronto WNBA Team be Named?

Every Toronto WNBA Team Name Suggestion and Why None of Them Are Good

TLDR: here are my (personal) main criteria when it comes to picking a name for the team:

• Feminine ties without being overtly girly
• Nothing weak just because it’s a women’s team
• No weather names (too many in the WNBA)
• No terrible Canadian/Toronto cliches
• Not named after a men’s team or in relation to a men’s team

Now, lets get in to some of the suggestions readers sent to me, and how I’d grade them:

Toronto Rebels – A-

I actually really like this name, so shout out to the reader who emailed me with the suggestion. It hits my criteria, sounds cool, and just overall kind of embodies qualities you would want in a women’s sports franchise.

To start, “Rebels” to me is powerfully feminine but also not inherently “girly.” You think about rebels and rebellions in pop culture and the first things that come to mind are Star Wars/Leia/Rey, and also the idea of feminism being a sort of rebellion to the patriarchy. To me, the most influential women in society and sports have been rebels — Billie Jean King, Megan Rapinoe, and more who made their mark by refusing to stay in line.

Sure, the name “Rebels” doesn’t have any inherit ties to Toronto or Canada, but I feel like you could draw symbolism in there somewhere. That’s the main reason it gets an A as opposed to an A+, but this is a really strong suggestion to me.

Toronto Ice Dragons – C+

I struggle with this name a little — it’s not the worst but it’s also not the best. Toronto Ice Dragons is a mouth-full, to start. I have said multiple times before that I think Dragons are cool in general, which makes me think it’s an awesome name.

The “ice” part kinda ties it back to Canada in a way, but it’s a little on the cliche side. Every time I think about something I like about this name, I can immediately twist it into something else I don’t like.

Toronto Thunderbirds – A

There are many reasons the names Toronto Thunderbirds gets such a high mark for me. Let’s start with the simplistic reasons — it sounds cool, it’s intimidating, and while it slightly relates to weather, it’s intimidating weather…

Sure, it doesn’t have a huge “women” aspect, but it does have ties back to Canada. I’ve said through this whole process that it would be really cool for the team to honour the Indigenous people of our region through the team’s name. Thunderbirds represent power, protection and strength in Indigenous culture, according to my research. They are prominent figures in many different groups Indigenous to Canada’s geography.

Overall I think this would not only lend to a cool meaning for the team, but also create a lof of cool imagery and branding inspiration.

Toronto Six – D

I’ve had this name suggested to me a few times, and here are a few quick reasons it’s a no from me: first, it’s a HUGE Toronto cliche. Whether you refer it back to the “416” area code or the six boroughs of Toronto, it’s just become too mainstream.

More importantly, the name is not even available. The PHF (a former women’s hockey league before the PWHL was created) had Toronto 6ix as their team name, and due to copyright and legal reasons it probably can’t be used again.

Toronto Power – B-

Another so-so name for me. It seems a little obvious to me, like we all know women are powerful, right? It’s fun and super hero-y, which is cool, but it’s not all that unique. It’s another one that I would say isn’t terrible but also isn’t a favourite to me.

Then, going back to the Canadian Connection (which seems to be important to the front office)… there doesn’t seem to be one. Unless we are talking about the iconic-ness of Ontario’s Hydro-Power system (is it iconic? Idk I pay all-inclusive rent lol).

Toronto Pride – B+

I thought this was an interesting suggestion. The reader who suggested it made connections to prides of lions, and how they are mostly made up of female lions who support and defend their community. I think that’s a cool connection!

Are lions inherently Canadian? No, unless you’re going to the African Lion Safari in Cambridge, ON, where this writer worked as a bus driver/tour guide in college.

I also thought about how the WNBA has such a large LGBTQIA+ population, and how this would be a great way to celebrate that aspect of the league too. You could have a really fun rainbow jersey edition, and the WNBA happens during Pride Month as well which could be fun.

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What do you think of these names? Any others you would suggest! Hit us up on twitter @RaptorsHQ and @chelsealeite or drop a line to chelsealeite@gmail.com to give your Toronto WNBA name suggestions.