Boston`s National Women`s Soccer League (NWSL) expansion team has officially announced its new name: Boston Legacy Football Club. This decision comes after the team reconsidered their initial name, BOS Nation FC, following fan feedback.
Boston was granted an NWSL expansion franchise in September 2023, giving them an extended period to prepare for their inaugural season in 2026. Denver NWSL, the 16th expansion team, was announced in January and will also begin play in 2026. The name change to Boston Legacy FC occurs after the team`s previous marketing campaign and initial team name faced criticism.
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 define it. We want our values to reflect Boston`s spirit of competition, passion, and pride, while also honoring the pioneers of women`s professional soccer in the city. We are also looking towards the future, for the next generation of players and fans who will build upon our foundation.”
Following negative reactions from fans and the LGBTQ+ community to the original name and marketing, the club issued a public apology and committed to better engagement with their supporters.
As a first step, the club actively listened to fan feedback. They conducted a public survey with 1,500 fans and soccer industry experts, collecting over 500 name suggestions and feedback from various channels, 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 further refine their criteria for the new name. These sessions helped the team establish key requirements for the definitive name:
- Reflect Boston`s rich history and diverse communities
- Celebrate women`s soccer
- Unite the majority of Bostonians
- Be self-explanatory
- Stand the test of time
- 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 in the future. The recent name reveal suggests a continued use of bright green. 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, the previous NWSL franchise in the city, folded before the 2018 season after competing in the WUSA and WPS leagues. Now, Boston will take the field as Boston Legacy, representing a new chapter for women`s soccer in the region.
Kristine Lilly, former USWNT midfielder, two-time World Cup champion, 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`m excited to see Boston Legacy build a club for a new generation while honoring the legacy of those who came before. This is an exciting time for women`s soccer, and I look forward to supporting Boston Legacy.”
Adrian Whitmore