The newest entry into the USL W League is hoping to pack a wallop with its new name and crest.
The Greenville, South Carolina-based club unveiled its name and crest during an event at a local restaurant on Thursday evening. When they kick off their season in May, they’ll be known as the Greenville Liberty.
The crest features the South Carolina state flower, the yellow jessamine, on a navy blue shield with a light blue border. The yellow jessamine plant can grow three to six feet high, and all parts of the plant contain toxins related to strychnine and should not be consumed by humans or livestock. Its sap can also cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. It was proclaimed the state flower of South Carolina in 1924.
The “Liberty” moniker is echoed in several other local landmarks and institutions, such as the Liberty Bridge and the Liberty Theater.
The Liberty is a sister club to Greenville Triumph SC, which has played in USL League One since 2019.
“We felt strongly that the women’s team deserved an identity of its own that could inspire and rally the Upstate,” said Triumph vice-president and chief brand officer Doug Erwin on the club’s website. “We underwent a rigorous process with lots of community feedback, and we couldn’t be more excited with where we ended up.”
Design firm Brandiose, based in San Diego, developed the Liberty identity. Though they’re more known for their minor-league baseball identities, Brandiose has been branching out into soccer lately, focusing on the USL.
The USL W League is “pre-professional women’s soccer league set to kick off in May 2022. The USL W League strives to use women’s soccer as a force for societal good by creating a national platform to increase opportunity, gender equity, and career development. The League and its member clubs are committed to investing in women’s soccer – through not only financial resources but also with time, energy, and attention – and are united in our mission to grow the women’s game.”
The Liberty kicks off its season on May 15 when they visit the Charlotte Independence. Their first home game will be on May 20 against NC Courage U23 at Legacy Early College in Greenville.
Feature graphic courtesy GreenvilleTriumph.com
