Please indulge me this Pokemon World Championships weekend. I spent time this season putting together the ideal Pokemon squad for every WNBA team that represents their vibe as a team and also how they play.

I tried to make the most balanced VGC team I could for each, while keeping in mind the spirit of the vibes of the team. Even if a Pokemon isn’t “good” per se, if it fits the aesthetic vibe, my job was to find a way to make it work.

Toronto Tempo:
Togekiss (flying/fairy): Follow Me, Metronome, Safe Guard, Air Slash
Clefairy (fairy): Metronome, Encore, Rest, Draining Kiss
Glaceon (ice): Blizzard, Protect, Baby-doll Eyes, Freeze Dry
Shedinja (ghost/bug): Toxic, Protect, Swagger, X-Scissor
Arcanine (Hsuian) (rock/fire): Head Smash, Flare Blitz, Extreme Speed, Wild Charge
Articuno: (ice/flying) Tailwind, Blizzard, Light Screen, Reflect

The first Pokemon I thought for this one was Clefairy, known for the move Metronome which I thought felt like a fit for a team called the Tempo. After that, the Tempo give me ice-fairy trainer vibes, so Glaceon, Togekiss and Articuno fit that aesthetic. Hsuian Arcanine adds some balance as a fire-rock type and is one of the best users of Extreme Speed, which is the best priority attacking move in the game.

Shedinja is their gimmick Pokemon as a super-fast option that can only be taken down by critical hits.

Portland Fire:
Rapidash (fire): Flame Charge, Bounce, Will-o-wisp, Protect
Ludicolo (grass/water): Rain Dance, Weather Ball, Protect, Giga Drain
Amoonguss (grass/poison): Spore, Rage Powder, Sunny Day, Giga Drain
Charizard (fire/flying): Dragon Dance, Flare Blitz, Earthquake, Solar Beam
Incineroar (fire/dark): Fake Out, Dark Larient, Flare Blitz, Parting Shot
Ceruledge (fire/ghost): Bitter Blade, Shadow Sneak, Close Combat, Protect

The challenge here was to not just have all the fire type Pokemon because they’re, well, the Fire. Charizard, Incineroar and Rapidash were musts, then I wanted to capture actual Portland vibes too. Amoongus — a trans icon — is a great fit as a mushroom and Ludicolo is one of the most iconic rain setters in the game.

I liked Ceruledge as a fire type that can also do surprising things, just like Alex Sarama’s play calls.

Chicago Sky:

Staraptor (normal/flying): Close Combat, Brave Bird, Protect, U-Turn
Rayquaza (dragon/flying): Dragon Ascent, Extreme Speed, Protect, Swords Dance
Dragonite (dragon/flying): Extreme Speed, Protect, Dragon Claw, Iron Head
Tornadus (flying): Tailwind, Bleakwind Storm, Taunt, Protect
Altaria (flying/dragon): Will-o-wisp, Protect, Tailwind, Brave Bird
Pyroar (fire/normal): Hyper Voice, Heat Wave, Protect, Snarl

The Sky easily could have been all flying types, but had to save some of those for other teams. Staraptor, Altaria and Rayquaza felt like good enough, and Rayquaza is a great get but it literally lives at the Sky Pillar.

Tornadous is a nightmare with its ability to set a tailwind and then taunt opposing teams into only attack moves. Pyroar was a fit for me to represent the bronze lion statues outside the Art Institute of Chicago, and its female form works here, too.

Solrock (rock/psychic): Rock Slide, Helping Hand, Psychic, Will-o-wisp
Sunflora (grass): Solar Beam, Weather Ball, Earth Power, Protect
Volcarona (fire): Quiver Dance, Giga Drain, Bug Buzz, Firey Dance
Solgaleo (psychic/steel): Sunsteel Strike, Flare Blitz, Protect
Heliolisk (electric/normal): Thunderbolt, Volt Switch, Protect
Sudowoodo (rock): Low Kick, Wood Hammer, Sucker Punch, Rock Slide

This was as sun-themed as possible, where Solrock was the obvious answer. Heliolist and Solgaleo fit that theme without going aggressive fire-heavy too, as does Sunflora. I was pretty proud of the type diversity of this team, actually.

I put Sudowoodo here because I wanted a rock-type and one pretending to be a tree feels like a good fit on a sun team.

Abomasnow (grass/ice): Blizzard, Giga Drain, Protect, Earth Power
Luxray (electric): Wild Charge, Crunch, Facade, Protect
Skitty (normal): Fake Out, Scratch, Helping Hand, Protect
Perrserker (steel): Iron Head, Fake Out, Helping Hand, Close Combat
Umbreon (dark): Foul Play, Moonlight, Snarl, Yawn
Sawsbuck (normal/grass): Horn Leech, Protect, High Horsepower, Double-edge

Cats! Also, this team is so balanced — two normal types (one is Skitty but it is a cat and I am having it hold an eviolite and use Helping Hand pretty much) with a grass/ice type, electric, steel and dark gives this team a lot of protection, like the Lynx.

Abomasnow is there because, Minnesota, and same for Sawsbuck. I put his autumn form though because the Lynx always go deep into the fall for the playoffs.

LA Sparks:

Toxicitry (poison/electric): Sludge Bomb, Boom Burst, Protect, Overdrive
Raikou (electric): Volt Switch, Snarl, Scald, Protect
Raichu (Alolan) (electric/psychic): Fake Out, Thunderbolt, Nuzzle, Expanding Force
Exeggcutor (Alolan) (dragon/grass): Trick Room, Giga Drain, Protect, Draco Meteor
Groudon (ground): High Horsepower, Heat Crash, Protect, Precipice Blades
Torkoal (fire): Earth Power, Heat Wave, Eruption, Protect

Alohlan Raichu feels like it was made to be a Sparks Pokemon. It surfs and is an electric type!

With the palm trees in the logo, Alohan Exeggutor felt like it had go to here. That has symmetry with Groudon, a great sun setter in double battles.

I like having Torkoal there to work inside of Exeggutor’s Trick Room as well to blast opponents with Eruption.

Las Vegas Aces:

Victini (pyschic/fire): Protect, V-Create, Final Gambit, U-Turn
Persian (normal): Pay Day, Fake Out, Endeavor, Foul Play
Salazzle (poision/fire): Fake Out, Heat Wave, Sludge Bomb, Protect
Gholdengo (steel/ghost): Make it Rain, Shadow Ball, Nasty Plot, Protect
Kadabra (psychic): Psyshock, Protect, Encore, Dazzling Gleam
Cinderace (fire/fighting): High Jump Kick, Sucker Punch, Protect, Flare Blitz

I felt the proudest of the symmetry with this team I think. Victini never loses, allegedly in its lore, and its ability helps raise the accuracy of itself and its teammates. Its giving A’ja Wilson.

Gholdengo feels like it would hang out at a casino, Persian’s signature move is Pay Day, Cinderace has Ace in its name and Kadabra has drawn comparison to IRL magician, Uri Geller.

Salazzle is a Pokemon that can only exist as a female and is an absolutely dominant option in the desert.

New York Liberty:

Braixen (fire): Will-o-wisp, Heat Wave, Protect, Psychic
Liepard (dark): Fake Out, Encore, Knock Off, Foul Play
Braviary (normal/flying): Dual Wingbeat, Close Combat, Protect, Tailwind
Cufant (steel): High Horsepower, Iron Head, Play Rough, Rock Slide
Kingambit (dark/steel): Kowtow Cleave, Protect, Sucker Punch, Swords Dance
Lapras (water/ice): Perish Song, Protect, Freeze Dry, Chilling Water

There isn’t really a patriotic Pokemon and the Liberty doesn’t fit with many Pokemon overall, so this one was tough even though the Unova region is supposed to be literally New York.

I viewed Braixen as Breanna Stewart here, with the defensive Will-o-wisp to slow down other attackers. Braviary is based off a bald eagle, which fits New York, and then I had Lapras to represent the ferries in NYC and Cufant is Ellie, of course.

Kingambit has the aggressiveness the Liberty have displayed, while Liepard is another Unova native that could work as a difficult member to get off the field.

Indiana Fever:
Electabuzz (electric): Taunt, Follow Me, Electroweb, Protect
Infernape (fire/fighting): Fake Out, Overheat, Encore, Fire Punch
Blaziken (fire/fighting): Protect, Close Combat, Flare Blitz, U-Turn
Hawlucha (flying/fighting): Acrobatics, Close Combat, Protect, Coaching
Keldeo (water/fighting): Surf, Secret Sword, Protect, Icy Wind
Revavroom (poison/steel): Iron Head, Gunk Shot, Protect, Shift Gear

I liked Revavroom here as a nod to the Indianapolis 500 and then after it was just vibes.

I don’t know why I see the Fever as a fire team. This is also a hyper-offense, disruption and speed-control team, which feels to me like the Indiana Fever. I built this team to have Electrabuzz represent Caitlin Clark, whose moves Follow Me and Taunt seemed like the right vibe, with Electroweb able to hit from distance. Infernape represents Kelsey Mitchell, who can catch fire, and Blaziken is a physical, dominant representation of Aliyah Boston.

Atlanta Dream:
Espeon (psychic): Dazzling Glem, Protect, Helping Hand, Yawn
Hatterene (fairy/psychic): Trick Room, Protect, Dazzling Glem, Rest
Darkrai (dark): Dark Void, Sludge Bomb, Protect, Dark Pulse
Jigglypuff (fairy): Sing, Icy Wind, Helping Hand, Protect
Munna (psychic): Hypnois, Psychic, Dream Eater, Protect
Cresselia (psychic): Lunar Blessing, Moonlight, Protect, Psychic

Call this the Dream Eater team because that’s the strategy I’d be going with if I had this in doubles! Darkrai has that symmetry with Cresselia which is fun.

Every Pokemon on this team can do damage to a Pokemon that is asleep or puts them to sleep. It turns the Dream into a Nightmare! Jigglypuff can Sing a team to sleep before Munna eats their dream, or Darkrai can Dark Void both while Cresselia knocks them out with Psychic.

Washington Mystics:
Pancham (fighting): Fake Out, Parting Shot, Coaching, Protect
Meowscarada (grass/dark): Flower Trick, Knock Off, Protect, Sucker Punch
Alakazam (psychic): Protect, Focus Blast, Dazzling Gleam, Psychic
Noivern (flying/dragon): Draco Meteor, Boom Burst, Tailwind, Protect
Indeedee (F) (psychic): Follow Me, Helping Hand, Encore, Psychic
Lunala (psychic/ghost): Psychic, Moon Blast, Protect, Moongeist Beam

This has some similarities to the theme of the Dream or Aces, but is more specific to the Mystics. First, Pancham is there because their mascot is a panda.

Then when thinking of mystical Pokemon, Lunala has to be near the top, followed by the beast that is Alakazam. Meowscarada and Indeedee also fit the theme, while Noivern adds a dragon element but sticks to the vibe. From a practicality standpoint, Noivern can also set Tailwind and then led Alakazam cook.

Dallas Wings:
Tauros (normal): Close Combat, Rock Slide, Raging Bull, Earthquake
Rapidash (Galarian) (psychic/fairy): High Horsepower, Play Rough, Psychic Fangs, Protect
Corviknight (steel/flying): Brave Bird, Roose, Iron Head, Tailwind
Seviper (poison): Poison Jab, Coil, Knock Off, Taunt
Sandshrew (ground): Fake Out, Dig, Slash, Rollout
Noctowl (normal/flying): Tailwind, Roost, Hypnosis, Air Slash

A team called the Wings has to have some wings — enter Corviknight, one of the best flying threats in the game, and Noctowl, which seemed to fit the Texas vibe. Rapidash looks an awful lot like the Pegasus mascot of the Wings, then Sandshew, Tauros and Seviper are giving the Texas energy.

I like a Corviknight and Seviper leadoff especially to combat opposing Fairy types, too. I also put no protects on this team to represent the high-offense nature of the Wings.

Phoenix Mercury:

Ninetales (fire): Heat Wave, Will-o-wisp, Protect, Helping Hand
Delphox (fire/psychic): Heat Wave, Psychic, Protect, Dazzling Gleam
Furret (normal): Fake Out, Follow Me, Protect, Fire Punch
Moltres (flying/fire): Heat Wave, Air Slash, Protect, Tailwind
Cacturne (dark/grass): Sucker Punch, Needle Arm, Spiky Shield, Leech Seed
Talonflame (flying/fire): Brave Bird, Flare Blitz, Tailwind, Protect

There are so many teams in the WNBA that could just be fire types, so I had to back off a little bit with the Mercury. Talonflame felt like a need, and Delphox was also the exact Mercury vibe, Moltres and Ninetales rounds out the fire types.

I put Cacturne there to represent the desert and Furret feels like the kind of Pokemon that would scurry around Phoenix. Also, its surprisingly tall? Did you know Furret is 5-foot-11? Put her on the wing!

Seattle Storm:

Jolteon (electric): Thunder, Volt Switch, Electroweb, Protect
Pelipper (water/flying): Hurricane, Weather Ball, Tailwind, Protect
Wailord (water): Ice Beam, Water Spout, Hydro Pump, Earth Power
Thunderus (electric/flying): Thunder, Taunt, Rain Dance, Protect
Castform (normal): Weather Ball, Hurricane, Thunder, Protect
Primarina (water/fairy): Hyper Voice, Moonblast, Ice Beam, Energy Ball

Storm is an easy theme, and this would obviously be a weather team. Pelipper can set the rain with its Drizzle ability, then Jolteon and Thunderus can be scary as electric power hitters.

Primarina fits as a water type with some versatility with fairy moves, Wailord is a defensive stalwart like Dominuqe Malonga and fits the water theme, and Castform is literally the storm Pokemon.

Golden State Valkyries:
Gardevoir (fairy/psychic): Psychic, Moonblast, Helping Hand, Protect
Aegislash (ghost/steel): King’s Shield, Iron Head, Shadow Sneak, Sacred Sword
Dragonair (dragon): Dragon Tail, Thunder Wave, Coil, Protect
Ninetales (Alolan) (ice/fairy): Light Screen, Blizzard, Aurora Veil, Protect
Murkrow (dark/flying): Tailwind, Haze, Taunt, Roost
Articuno (Galarian) (psychic/flying): Blizzard, Protect, Freeze-Dry, Ice Beam

Galarian Articuno looks like if Violet became a Pokemon, so that was the automatic fit. Then the Valkyries really feel like a fairy type team to me, with Murkrow in there as a real raven and Dragonair having the grace to fit the theme and Aegislash is a sword.

This team is also going to have max defense stats, obviously, and I gave them some moves with less-than-perfect accuracy. There are also lots of Helping Hands because the Valkyries love to share the ball.