Boston`s National Women`s Soccer League (NWSL) expansion team has officially chosen its name: Boston Legacy Football Club. This decision comes after the team initially faced criticism for their first name choice, BOS Nation FC.
Boston was granted an NWSL expansion team in September 2023. This long lead time gives them the most preparation for a debut season of any new NWSL team. Denver NWSL, the 16th expansion team, was announced in January, and both Boston and Denver are scheduled to begin playing in 2026. The name Boston Legacy FC was revealed five months after a previous marketing campaign, associated with the BOS Nation FC name, was unsuccessful.
Team owner Jennifer Epstein stated, “Our name is just the start. We will build its meaning together through hard work, dedication, and commitment. We want our values to represent Boston`s competitive spirit, passion, and pride. We also want to honor those who came before us, including the pioneers who helped establish women`s professional soccer in Boston. Looking forward, we are excited for the next generation of players and fans who will continue to build upon what we create today.”
Following negative reactions from fans online and locally to the original name and marketing, the club released a public apology to the LGBTQ+ community and fans for any offense caused. They also promised to improve their engagement with the community.
As a first step, the club listened to fan feedback. They mentioned on their team blog that they conducted a public survey with 1,500 fans and soccer industry experts. They gathered over 500 name suggestions and feedback from social media, survey responses, and advisors with experience in women`s soccer.
Next, they invited over 400 interested individuals to focused listening sessions to discuss feedback in detail. These smaller sessions helped the club refine their criteria for the new name. The final name needed to:
- Respect Boston`s rich history and diverse communities
- Celebrate women`s soccer
- Unite the majority of Bostonians
- Be easily understood
- Be timeless
- Avoid colonial, Revolutionary War, and nautical themes
- Not clash with names of existing Boston women`s professional teams
The team plans to announce their official colors and crest later. However, the name reveal suggests they will continue to use a bright green color. Boston Legacy FC’s launch will mark the return of an NWSL team to the New England area for the first time in almost ten years.
The Boston Breakers, a former NWSL team, closed down before the 2018 season after competing in the WUSA and WPS leagues previously. Now, when Boston Legacy FC takes the field, they will wear uniforms displaying the club name, Boston Legacy.
Kristine Lilly, former USWNT midfielder, two-time World Cup winner, and advisor to the club during the renaming process, commented, “It`s always a positive moment when women`s professional soccer returns to Boston. I am excited to see Boston Legacy FC develop a club for a new generation while respecting those who helped build the sport. This is a thrilling period for women`s soccer, and I look forward to supporting Boston Legacy.”
