Why WNBA is in trademark dispute over ‘The W’ with Cubs, Nationals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The WNBA finds itself caught up in another controversy — but this time, it’s related to a different kind of court.
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Last year, the league filed for a trademark application for the phrase “The W,” which has often been used as a nickname for the organization itself. But now, two other professional sports franchises are throwing a hitch into those plans.
Front Office Sports reported Friday that two MLB teams, the Cubs and the Nationals, are caught in a dispute over the WNBA’s “The W” trademark filing.
Here’s what to know about the trademark dispute between the Cubs, Nationals and WNBA.
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Why WNBA is in trademark dispute with Cubs, Nationals
In March 2025, the WNBA filed its trademark application for “The W,” seeking to use it for apparel like jerseys, shirts and hats, per Front Office Sports. Previously, the league did the same in 2024, but for “entertainment and educational services in the nature of ongoing television and radio programs in the field of basketball and rendering live.”
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But on Friday, the outlet reported that the Cubs and Nationals are opposing those new plans.
The two MLB teams said in a joint opposition filing, according to Front Office Sports, that the WNBA’s trademark could cause “confusion” for the general public. Each of the three conflicting sports organizations uses the term in a different way, however.
While the WNBA uses it as a nod to “The W” within its league name, the MLB teams each use it in other fashions. For the Nationals, a stylized “W” has long been a part of their uniforms and brand. For the Cubs, throughout franchise history, they have “Flown the W” flag after wins.
Per Front Office Sports, an MLB source said they have been in “constant communication with the WNBA and NBA” to solve the dispute and that the sides are attempting to establish “clear boundaries” to distinguish the trademarks. The dispute is expected to be solved “amicably” and soon.
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A trademark law expert told FOS that he believes the WNBA has a strong legal argument in the case.
“That creates what we call a really unique commercial impression,” Josh Gerben told Front Office Sports. “A consumer that sees the phrase ‘The W’ versus just the stylized W that the Washington Nationals have or that the Cubs are using in some cases—the argument is that consumers aren’t going to get confused.”
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When did the WNBA start using ‘The W’?
The WNBA’s nickname of “The W” has come along in more recent years. In 2019, the league announced a rebranding, including a new logo design, color scheme and more.
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Around that time, the nickname began to catch on more — and by 2024 and 2025, the league was filing for a trademark around the phrase.
When did the Cubs start using ‘The W’?
The Cubs’ tradition of flying a white flag with a blue “W” on it after wins at Wrigley Field is believed to have started in the 1930s, with the team building a manually operated scoreboard in 1937.
It has become one of the most beloved aspects of one of MLB’s most historic franchises,
When did the Nationals start using ‘The W’
When the Nationals relocated to Washington D.C., rebranding from being the Montreal Expos, they implemented the “Curly W” look and logo. However, the “W” logo has a longer history than that in D.C. sports.
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The Washington Senators also used the exact same “Curly W” logo when they played in the American League from 1961-71. However, the team was relocated to become the Texas Rangers.
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