Kobe Bryant-Inspired WNBA Team Name Proposal Faces Backlash originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
On June 30, the WNBA officially announced it would expand to 18 teams by 2030, adding franchises in Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030).
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This milestone reflects record viewership, surging attendance and deep investments from NBA ownership groups committed to growing women’s professional basketball.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert cited robust market analyses, strong arena proposals and passionate local fan bases as key drivers behind selecting these cities for expansion, saying she’s “confident that these new teams will reshape the landscape of women’s basketball.”
On July 31, Off Season Athletics, a women-owned small business specializing in hand-designed, Philly sports-inspired apparel, took to Instagram with a bold pitch: rebrand the future Philadelphia WNBA franchise as the “Philadelphia Mambas,” inspired by the late NBA legend and Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant.
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Their post featured a proposed logo and a purple and black color scheme, accompanied by a caption invoking Bryant’s legacy in the city.
Fan Backlash: Reddit Reacts
Within hours, a reddit WNBA discussion thread picked up the pitch and stirred controversy.
One user wrote, “That really pissed me off,” while others chimed in with terse rejections: “Veto,” “I highly doubt this would ever actually be considered…for a variety of reasons,” “Shame to whoever pitched this,” “I’d prefer the cheesesteaks over this and that’s an awful name,” and “Absolutely not although I do think Kobe would love to see how the WNBA has blossomed.”
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Overall, the community sentiment skewed negative, questioning both the name’s fit with Philadelphia sports culture and the branding’s sincerity.
A Look Back on Kobe Bryant’s Historic NBA Career
Kobe Bryant spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers and over that time cemented his status among basketball’s all-time greats.
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Won five NBA championships (2000-02, 2009-10), earned the league MVP award in 2008 and captured Finals MVP honors twice (2009, 2010).
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Was selected to 18 All-Star games, made 15 All-NBA Teams (11 First Team) and 12 All-Defensive Teams (nine First Team).
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Ranks fourth all-time in both regular-season scoring (33,643 points) and postseason scoring (5,640).
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His 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006, stands as the second-highest single-game output in NBA history.
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Was posthumously named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021 and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice; first in 2020 as an NBA player, again in 2025 as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.
Los Angeles Clippers small forward Caron Butler (5) and center DeAndre Jordan (6) guard Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) during a game at the Staples Center.© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Beyond the stats, Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality,” a philosophy that inspired the WNBA expansion team name proposal, left an indelible mark on basketball culture.
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Rooted in relentless preparation, mental toughness and a champion mindset, Bryant inspired those around him to elevate their work ethic and competitive fire.
Off the court, Bryant also won an Academy Award for his short film “Dear Basketball” and launched initiatives supporting youth sports and women’s basketball development.
In 2017, the Lakers retired both his No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys, making Bryant the only player in league history to have multiple jersey numbers retired by the same organization.
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WNBA’s Philadelphia Debut: Timeline and Ownership
Philadelphia’s WNBA team, owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (which also owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers), will tip off in the 2030 season.
Josh Harris, co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, said that, “Philadelphia is one of the most storied basketball cities in the world and our region is home to some of the best women’s players and coaches to ever grace the hardwood. It’s only right that this city gets the WNBA team it deserves.”
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The expansion fee for each of the three new clubs, Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia, was set at $250 million.
Since the Philadelphia team will be the last expansion team to take the court, which won’t be for another five years, the franchise is still in the early stages of creating an identity.
Related: WNBA Team in Line for Punishment After Indiana Fever Game
Related: Lakers President Jeanie Buss Has Unexpected Offer for Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
