Catch the Vibe!: Nashville reveals name of town’s new pro team

NASHVILLE, TN - Music City officially caught the Vibe on Tuesday.

At a lively ceremony inside Vanderbilt University’s historic Memorial Gymnasium, UPSHOT Nashville unveiled the name and logo of its new professional women’s basketball franchise: the Nashville Vibe.

The team will tip off its inaugural season in 2027 as the sixth franchise in the UPSHOT League, playing home games at Memorial Gym. The announcement completed a long-awaited chapter for a city that already boasts Predators, Titans, Nashville SC, Nashville Sounds, and a deep women’s basketball tradition stretching from Vanderbilt to the University of Tennessee.

“This team is so overdue for Nashville,” said Cathy Bender, one of the co-owners and Nashville native and legend, reflecting on years of conversations at the Sports Authority table. “Tennessee is a women’s basketball state. The demand is here. We don’t have to create it.”

The franchise, organizers stressed, represents more than another sports team — it completes Nashville’s circle of professional franchises while strengthening a civic and economic asset. Three-time national champion and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Chamique Holdsclaw, an investor and panelist, drew laughs when she admitted her preferred name. “I thought it should be the Nashville Volunteers,” she said with a grin. The group settled on Vibe after considering more than 25 options, choosing a name meant to capture the city’s rhythm, energy, neighborhoods, music and sports culture.

The blue-and-yellow color scheme and logo pay tribute to the Nashville-Davidson County flag, with a subtle musical-note motif woven in. Mayor Freddie O’Connell joked about rejected suggestions of his own — “Nashville Nothing But Nets,” “Nashville 9 to 5” and even “Traveling Violations” — before offering full support. “I can’t wait to bring my family to watch the Vibe,” he said. “I’m excited for the city to build upon our reputation as a great sports town.”

Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Adrian Battle welcomed the team as inspiration for the next generation of student-athletes, while local sponsors including Vireo Systems and pH-D Feminine Health (both based in Madison) were highlighted for their early investment in the franchise and community.

Nancy VanReece, president and CEO, and managing partner Mark Walsh framed the Vibe as an identity built for Nashville’s unique swagger. Jersey unveilings, player signings, a head coach announcement and a mascot are expected in the coming months.

Season memberships and merchandise are already available at NashvilleVibe.com.

For a city that has long loved women’s basketball, the Vibe is finally here — and the energy is already building toward tip-off in 2027.