Black Athletes in the Spotlight: HBCU Sports & Local Highlights
- The franchise starts play in 2027 at Vanderbilt Memorial Gymnasium.
- Nancy VanReece says the name was chosen from 25+ options to reflect Nashville's music, energy, and community spirit.
- Wordmark set in a typeface nodding to Nashville's printing business history; logo uses an italic treatment.
Updated Sept. 15, 2026, 8:46 p.m. CT
- Nashville’s new professional women’s basketball team has been named the Nashville Vibe.
- The team is the sixth franchise in the UPSHOT professional women’s basketball league.
- The team’s blue and yellow colors and logo are inspired by the city of Nashville’s flag and history.
Three-time Tennessee Lady Vols basketball All-American Chamique Holdsclaw cracked a sly grin when she talked about her suggestion for the nickname of the UPSHOT Nashville professional women’s basketball team.
“I thought it should be the Nashville Volunteers,” Holdsclaw said, seated on a panel inside Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gym where the franchise will begin play in 2027.
She got the first letter correct. A few minutes later, the logo was unveiled along with the announcement that the team name will be the Nashville Vibe.
UPSHOT Nashville, the sixth franchise of the professional women’s basketball league, unveiled its team name and logo on Sept. 15 and will be known as the Nashville Vibe.
The announcement marks the next milestone for the Upshot League franchise ahead of its inaugural season, which begins in 2027 at Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium. Nashville was awarded the franchise in April.
The Vibe name was developed internally after the organization considered more than 25 possibilities.
The name was selected, according to team officials, to capture the unique vibe of Nashville.
“The Nashville Vibe captures everything that makes this city special − our music, our energy, and the spirit that brings people together,” said Nancy VanReece, President/CEO of the Vibe. “This identity was built to reflect Nashville in every detail, from the colors on our flag to the sound that fills our streets, and we can’t wait to bring it to life for our fans.”
The team’s new italic logo and color palette, blue and yellow, pay tribute to the flag of Nashville and Davidson County. The “NASHVILLE” wordmark is set in a typeface that nods to the city’s printing business history.
“Nashville moves to its own rhythm, and now our team does too,” said Mark Walsh, managing partner of the Vibe. “The Vibe represents world-class women’s professional basketball with the same energy, creativity, and heart that define this city, and we’re proud to bring that identity to Vanderbilt Memorial Gymnasium starting in 2027.”
Mayor Freddie O’Connell attended the unveiling of the logo and name reveal at Memorial Gym.
“I can’t wait to bring my family to watch the Vibe, and I’m excited for the city to build upon our reputation as a great sports town,” O’Connell said. “I appreciate UpShot’s belief in Nashville, bringing their sixth team here to play in historic Memorial Gymnasium.”
Additional announcements regarding the Vibe’s inaugural coach, player signings, jersey unveil, mascot, and more will follow in the coming months.
Along with Nashville, the UpShot League’s 2027 season will feature five teams: the Jacksonville Waves, Savannah Steel, Charlotte Crown, Greensboro Groove and Baltimore Starlings.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
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