Boston`s National Women`s Soccer League (NWSL) expansion team has announced its official name: Boston Legacy Football Club. This decision comes after the team initially faced criticism for their first proposed name, BOS Nation FC.
Boston was granted an NWSL expansion franchise in September 2023, giving them an extended period to prepare for their inaugural season in 2026, the longest for any new NWSL team. Denver NWSL, the league`s 16th expansion team, will also debut in 2026. The name change to Boston Legacy occurred five months after a poorly received marketing campaign associated with the BOS Nation FC name.
Team owner Jennifer Epstein stated, “Our name is just the beginning. It`s what we build together through dedication, commitment, and hard work that will give it meaning. We want our values to reflect Boston`s competitive spirit, passion, and pride. We also want to honor those who came before us, including the pioneers who established women`s professional soccer in Boston. Looking ahead, we are focused on the future generation of players and fans who will continue to build upon what we are creating today.”
Following negative reactions from fans online and local supporters to the original name and marketing campaign, the club issued a public apology to the LGBTQ+ community and fans, promising to improve.
As a first step, the club listened to fan feedback. They conducted a public survey with 1,500 fans and soccer industry professionals and collected over 500 name suggestions from various sources, including social media and advisors within the women`s soccer community.
The club then invited over 400 interested individuals to participate in focused listening sessions to gather more detailed feedback. These sessions helped the club define the criteria for the new name. The chosen name had to be definitive and meet several requirements:
- Reflect Boston`s rich history and diverse communities
- Celebrate women`s soccer
- Unite the majority of Bostonians
- Be self-explanatory
- Be timeless
- Avoid colonial, Revolutionary War, and nautical themes
- Not conflict with existing Boston women`s professional team themes
The team plans to announce their official colors and crest later. The recent name reveal suggests they will maintain a bright green color. Boston Legacy FC`s debut 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 franchise, ceased operations before the 2018 season after competing in both the WUSA and WPS leagues. Now, Boston will return to the pitch as Boston Legacy.
Kristine Lilly, former USWNT midfielder, two-time World Cup champion, and advisor to the club during the renaming process, commented, “It`s always wonderful to see women`s professional soccer return to Boston. I am excited to watch Boston Legacy build a club for a new generation while honoring the game`s history in the city. This is an exciting time for women`s soccer, and I look forward to supporting Boston Legacy.”
Dominic Ashworth