Maine Wildness Named, 5,000 Deposits Sell Out

Maine’s new USL W League team will be called the Maine Wildness and is scheduled to begin play at Portland’s Fitzpatrick Stadium in May 2027. The name and crest were unveiled to about 500 people after months of community input and consideration of more than 300 names; the identity draws on Maine’s landscapes and the character of its women, with the name also evoking Henry David Thoreau’s writing about wildness. Designed by Portland artist Pame Chévez, the crest features Katahdin, waterways, wildflowers and the Dirigo Heart, linking the team to the Portland Hearts of Pine while establishing a distinct identity. The club says all 5,000 inaugural season-ticket deposits were claimed in under an hour, and two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Michelle Akers has joined as a founding adviser.