Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) on Wednesday unveiled the six team names and crests for its inaugural season this spring, including the Chicago Tempest.
The other teams include: Bay Breakers, Boston Banshees, Denver Onyx, New York Exiles, and the Twin Cities (TC) Gemini.
The league, in partnership with UK-based creative agency MATTA, announced in a release that it drew inspiration from the teams’ home cities, along with input from players and fans.
“In a tie to the extreme weather of the windy city, the Chicago Tempest plan to bring destruction, power, and unyielding challenge on the pitch and to their opponents. As the winters test the spirit of Chicagoans but never break their will, the team reflects a thunderous storm and reckoning force. The crest features a storm above the iconic Willis Tower in its momentum tied together with Lightning Yellow and Tempest Gray colors,” according to the announcement.
Bryan Colbridge will serve as the Tempest’s head coach. He has already chosen the team’s five foundational players, according to The Rugby Breakdown, including: Anabel Diaz, Emma Farnan, Cienna Jordan, Betty Nguyen and Kadie Sanford.
Women’s Elite Rugby announced its launch in August, a day after the U.S. women’s rugby team won bronze at the Paris Olympics, the country’s first-ever medal in rugby sevens, for men or women.
The season is set to begin in March. The Tempest will join other women’s sports teams in Chicago, including the Chicago Red Stars soccer team, Chicago Sky women’s basketball and roller derby leagues the Windy City Rollers and Chicago-Style Roller Derby.