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Dallas Wings introduce Lightning, the WNBA’s only female mascot

By Russell Steinberg

ARLINGTON, TX - MAY 20: The Dallas Wings mascot entertains the crowd before the game against the Minnesota Lynx in a WNBA game on May 20, 2017 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - MAY 20: The Dallas Wings mascot entertains the crowd before the game against the Minnesota Lynx in a WNBA game on May 20, 2017 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The newest addition to the WNBA hails from Dallas and expects to be a fixture at Wings games for years to come.

At their home opener last week against the Lynx, the Dallas Wings introduced their new mascot, Lightning.

Here she is, meeting her new fans:

ARLINGTON, TX – MAY 20: The Dallas Wings mascot entertains the crowd before the game against the Minnesota Lynx in a WNBA game on May 20, 2017 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – MAY 20: The Dallas Wings mascot entertains the crowd before the game against the Minnesota Lynx in a WNBA game on May 20, 2017 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Lightning is the first female mascot to represent a Dallas/Fort Worth-area team. Somehow, she is also the only female mascot currently in the WNBA, though it should be noted that mascots like Maddie (Liberty) and Doppler (Storm) are purposely genderless*.

*Minnesota did not respond to multiple requests by The Summit asking to confirm the gender of its mascot, Prowl, but Prowl’s bio omits any use of pronouns. Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve, however, referred to Prowl as a “he” here, so the mystery lives on.

Lightning is modeled after the iconic Pegasus that has been a fixture of the Dallas skyline for more than 60 years. Most importantly, she appears to be the most majestic mascot in the game:

Lightning replaces Volt the Shock Fox, who represented the franchise when it was known as the Tulsa Shock. By moving to Dallas and adopting the pegasus logo, Volt quickly became outdated.

TULSA, OK – MAY 4: Joel Johnson, a registered nurse with Maxim and Tulsa Shock mascot Volt prepare to give vaccinations to students during the WNBA Cares Vaccines for Teens event on May 4, 2011 at Madison Middle School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Shane Bevel/NBAE via Getty Images)
TULSA, OK – MAY 4: Joel Johnson, a registered nurse with Maxim and Tulsa Shock mascot Volt prepare to give vaccinations to students during the WNBA Cares Vaccines for Teens event on May 4, 2011 at Madison Middle School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Shane Bevel/NBAE via Getty Images) /

We’ll never forget you, Volt.

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