As we do earlier than each NWSL season, we grade each new equipment launch from throughout the league.
The 2026 season is upon us, and whereas each new season is thrilling, this one is especially titillating, because the league will add a pair of enlargement golf equipment to the combination: Boston Legacy and Denver Summit.
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The 2 additions carry the overall variety of groups to 16, a testomony to the league’s progress since its inauguration in 2012. And whereas we may go on about how a lot the NWSL has modified over time, and the brand new Excessive Impression Participant rule, and blah blah blah, we’re right here for the kits.
In its third season with totally accountable for equipment designs, the NWSL formally revealed the brand new 2026 kits final week, and now that we’ve had a while to overview all of them correctly, it’s time for our annual grading of every new design.
One thing new for this 12 months: within the spirit of enlargement, I’ve added a set of tiers to additional arrange the jerseys, as a result of extra kits means extra alternatives for issues to get misplaced within the fold.
Let’s begin with the underside tier and ascend to the highest, we could?
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Tier 4: At Least You Tried
I’ll say, there aren’t any kits among the many bunch which lack effort or are overly plain, which was an enormous drawback with the preliminary . Besides, not the entire designs have been pleasing to take a look at.
Boston Legacy Away: F
There’s wanting to face out, after which there’s this. A jagged, mish-mash sample is complemented by vibrant splashes of coloration that resemble a toddler’s artwork mission. This one isn’t getting hung up on the fridge, nevertheless.
Washington Spirit Main: F
Holy loud. This one hurts to take a look at. The cherry blossom inspiration has been utilized by a number of groups in our nation’s capital to nice success, which makes this miss all of the extra puzzling. The have additionally had a few of the finest jerseys within the league over the previous few years, and this one stands out like a sore thumb amongst the remaining. Mixed with the highlighter yellow secondary equipment (which I like), Washington will definitely be the NWSL’s most seen staff on the pitch this 12 months.
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Portland Thorns Secondary: D
I actually don’t know what’s been happening in Portland over the previous couple of seasons, however the membership has missed on nearly each single equipment because the great dwelling and away shirts it launched in 2020.
The introduction of volt yellow (inexperienced?) in 2024 was bewildering, and the appear insistent on conserving that pattern alive with this new shirt. The floral sample itself isn’t unhealthy, and resembles the away shirt from final 12 months, however pink and volt don’t go collectively in any approach in anyway. If we need to deal with the positives, it is a step up from the atrocious dwelling equipment it replaces from final season.
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Gotham FC Third: C-
Since present process among the finest rebrands in latest soccer reminiscence, has been probably the most aesthetically pleasing golf equipment within the sport, along with hoisting a pair of league titles. Nevertheless, this new third equipment doesn’t fairly meet the excessive requirements the membership set for itself.
Blue and orange is a traditional New York coloration scheme, with the Knicks, Mets, and Islanders all using it all through their uniforms and branding. But, this doesn’t really feel prefer it’s for Gotham FC. Certain it’s a 3rd equipment, which opens the door for brand spanking new coloration combos and patterns, nevertheless it’s the antithesis to the entire nice Gotham jersey designs from years previous. Busy, dissonant, and harsh on the eyes. I applaud the massive swing right here, however this design is definitely a whiff.
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Houston Sprint Third: C-
One other third equipment that may be a bit too busy for its personal good, the wished to pay tribute to their dwelling with this design. And it’s all too on the nostril. Need to honor the structure of the town? Why not simply slap a graphic of a constructing on the entrance of the shirt? A bit subtlety would have gone a good distance right here.
The colour scheme and accents on the collar and sleeve are fairly good, however every thing is so disjointed, and there’s merely an excessive amount of to take a look at.
Tier 3: Simply OK
The following tier up is a set of kits that look good in some lights, however unhealthy in others. Whereas they aren’t disasters, they go away me a bit upset, particularly with the stellar equipment histories that a few of these golf equipment have.
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Racing Louisville Third: C
Whereas outcomes have but to manifest for , who’ve solely made the playoffs as soon as of their five-year historical past, the membership has persistently had a few of the finest jerseys within the NWSL 12 months in and 12 months out. Maybe it’s on this steep curve during which I’m grading Racing’s new third equipment, however the disco-inspired design fell a bit flat.
The colour scheme is fairly candy, and one you don’t sometimes see on a soccer jersey. However the sample doesn’t actually make any sense, and whereas it’s a cool proven fact that it nods to 90% of the disco balls made within the disco period being from Louisville, I’m unsure that’s readily obvious with out an infographic explainer.
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Seattle Reign Third: C
It’s cool that NWSL groups are getting third kits this 12 months, nevertheless it’d be so much cooler if the designs have been truly good. The went with a water-inspired sample for his or her third equipment, however, like Louisville’s disco print, it doesn’t actually come throughout in execution. A serious win right here is that it doesn’t exchange both of the kits the membership had final 12 months, which have been amongst one of the best within the league.
Bay FC Third: C
new third equipment is vibrant, daring, and boring on the identical time. The colour selection is strong, and matches in with the membership’s coloration scheme. Tying it to the poppy, the California state flower, is a tidy selection as nicely. However I’m left wanting a little bit extra with the sample, which is described as a “bridge print.” I don’t know what which means, and I don’t actually care to search out out.
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Denver Summit Main and Secondary: C+
The Denver Summit went with a reasonably secure identify selection, and did the identical with their kits. The colour scheme is among the many finest within the league, and whereas I perceive the practicality of going a safer route for a membership’s inaugural kits, I’m hoping the staff takes just a few extra dangers within the coming years, as a result of there’s a variety of potential for some lovely kits right here.
Tier 2: Fairly, Fairly Good
Sufficient of destructive Nancy. It feels good to have one thing to reward. The following two tiers of jerseys are all hits, and whereas there are some flaws in Tier 2, they aren’t jarring sufficient to break the general designs.
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Boston Legacy Main: B
Whereas Boston’s secondary equipment was a real eyesore, the house equipment is a reasonably strong providing. A daring shade of neon inexperienced definitely stands out (for the precise causes this time), and it’s clear with out being boring, due to the pink and black accents on the sleeve and neck cuffs.
North Carolina Braveness Third: B
I initially thought this is able to be the new dwelling equipment due to its coloration, and I used to be stunned to see that it was truly the third equipment. Facet by aspect with the house shirt, it seems fairly comparable, however that doesn’t take away from this equipment’s magnificence.
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Volt and pink accents complement the navy base nicely, and the Venus flytrap sample is enjoyable. My solely notice can be that it’s form of bizarre {that a} membership has the identical coloured dwelling equipment as a 3rd equipment, however that’s me being pedantic.
Orlando Pleasure Secondary: B
One other membership with a historical past of incredible kits, the Orlando Pleasure get one other one with the “Unity” secondary shirt. It’s not as enjoyable because the citrus-inspired shirt it replaces, nevertheless it’s nonetheless aesthetically pleasing whereas additionally staying true to the membership and group’s ethos. A tribute to the 10-year anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub capturing makes it all of the extra significant too.
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Kansas Metropolis Present Third: B+
Now it is a third equipment. A special shade than Kansas Metropolis’s dwelling and away shirt, with a cool sample that performs into the staff’s identify. There’s not a lot else to say right here aside from, what number of wins can Kansas Metropolis really get? They’ll’t preserve getting away with this!
Tier 1: Works of Artwork
We’ve lastly reached the highest of the pyramid. These are the cream of the crop.
Chicago Stars Main: A-
You don’t see stripes executed like this on many soccer jerseys, nevertheless it works on this case, largely partially to some eye-pleasing colours. The primary new dwelling equipment design for the Stars since rebranding, this is among the higher seems from a staff that has a storied jersey historical past.
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Utah Royals Third: A
A blackout third equipment isn’t a foul concept, and the definitely executed this one fairly spot on. The membership crest embedded entrance and heart is harking back to Mexican membership , and the brilliant yellow accents on the sponsor and Nike Swoosh make every thing pop only a bit extra.
Angel Metropolis FC Main: A
After a really great debut dwelling shirt, observe up was a bit disappointing. However the 2026 “Flare” providing is a return to kind, with a stunning sample anchored by a centered crest.
I’ve a normal predisposition for centered crests, however acknowledge they’re polarizing and exhausting to execute appropriately. Angel Metropolis definitely did it proper right here, and we’ll see if the return to dwelling equipment will equate to a return to the playoffs.
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San Diego Wave Main: A+
As an Angel Metropolis fan, this one hurts to confess. That is a completely great shirt, from the colour scheme to the main points. has among the finest crests and coloration schemes within the league, nevertheless it hasn’t at all times equated to nice jerseys. The membership definitely turned the tides right here, and produced in my eyes one of the best design from the bunch in 2026.