Fans Have Final Say in Naming WNBA Team

Originally Published: Dec 4, 2009 10:30 AM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY -- WNBA fans are asked to cast their votes for their favorite team name as Tulsa gears up for their latest franchise addition.

The WNBA team recently relocated from Detroit to Tulsa, giving basketball fans a look at women’s professional basketball.

Fans can vote on the Tulsa Shock, Fire and Tempo by visiting the WNBA Tulsa Web site. The poll will be open until Dec. 13 and the new name and team logo will be revealed to the public in January.

Vote on your favorite choice for Tulsa's new WNBA team!

Each of the three name choices represents ties to Oklahoma, according to one of the franchise’s lead investors, Bill Cameron.

Cameron said the Shock can stand for a sudden or intense impact, or even a “shock of wheat,” which would highlight the state’s agriculture.

The Shock as a team name is recognized by fans of the Detroit, but the new team would carry a fresh logo and colors.

If fans choose Fire, Cameron believes it could represent Oklahoma in a number of ways. Fire could embody the state’s blazing sunsets, or the basketball term, “on fire.”

The Tempo could easily represent the fast-paced speed of basketball and its athletes. It could also stand for The Tulsa Sound, a mixture of Rockabilly, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Country and Blues. The music genre originated in Tulsa in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The team will officially begin its season in May 2010, and a schedule will be released in the coming months.

For ticket information, call 1-877-90-HOOPS (46677), visit the WNBA Tulsa Web site or send an email to tickets@wnbatulsa.com.