WHAT HAPPENED
The National Women's Soccer League recently introduced their newest addition to the league, BOS Nation, but before even playing a game, the franchise is considering a name change after a disastrous campaign announcement. BOS Nation faced criticism almost immediately after the name was revealed, but the rollout video that accompanied the announcement was what stirred most of the controversy.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The video and campaign stated that "maybe there are too many balls in this town" and was paired with a Web address (toomanyballs.com). The URL and merch that was once live, has been taken down.
The campaign "Too Many Balls" missed the mark and offended the transgender community and beyond. After the backlash from the community, the club released a statement: "We fully acknowledge that the content of the campaign did not reflect the safe and welcoming environment we strive to create for all and we apologize to the LGBTQ+ community and to the trans community in particular for the hurt we caused."
WHAT BOS NATION FC ARE SAYING
BOS Nation released a statement on Tuesday about the process to create a new name.
"We want to assure you that we have heard your feedback and are actively listening. We share your high expectations, and together, we will build a storied club that reflects the essence of the beautiful game and the character of our dynamic city.
"To that end, we have launched a deliberate process through which we will seek out, listen to, and reflect on input about our team name from fans, supporters, and a group of advisors assembled to reflect a diverse range of voices and perspectives.
"We are approaching this work with an open mind and will report back as soon as we have more to share. Alongside you, we will build a championship-caliber team that reflects our values on and off the field. Thanks for being here with us."
WHAT'S NEXT
The expansion side is set to compete in the 2025 season, but it's unknown what the team name will be come kick off.
