This Year’s New NWSL Kits Ranked From Hot to Not
Jerseys and clothing in sports have become more than just a representation of an organization. Kits around the world now represent communities and fans and pay tribute to the history and culture of the cities representing each team. Year after year, there are few things to get you excited about your team more than a brand-new kit drop. The NWSL and its teams have done a great job in creating and promoting these kits with the respective companies, and each release has a chance to set a new trend. Let’s rank the 2023 NWSL kits, and let us know how’d you rate them differently.
12. North Carolina Courage
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First–but last–on our list of the best new NWSL kits is the Courage. The Courage has history when it comes to winning titles, but when it comes to their kits, they’ve never done anything remarkable.
This year, their kits have a new look with a new sponsor, but the font doesn’t match the rest of the jersey. The crest on the kit looks futuristic and unique, but the rest isn’t deviating much from their previous jerseys, especially with color.
11. Washington Spirit
Sleek black kits for 🏠 pic.twitter.com/NTXht0nhnj
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) March 1, 2023
There’s nothing wrong with keeping things simple because sometimes less is more. However, the all-black design–something that has been done by other teams, including Gotham–doesn’t make this kit unique or different in any way. They’ll look great out on the pitch, and black is the simple and easy choice, but nothing else makes this kit stand out in any way.
The opportunity to come out with a great red and black kit or a cherry blossoms kit was wasted. The Spirit might’ve been worried it would look like some of the Portland Thorns’ older kits.
10. San Diego Wave
The @sandiegowavefc unveil details for their 2023 kits!
🌊 Number design mimics Pacific Ocean’s waves
🌊 Away kit (white) jock tag inspired by club’s sell-out match & goal celly at Snapdragon
🌊 Home kit (navy) jock tag is inspired by neighborhood signs in San Diego#NWSL pic.twitter.com/dT2BFqtWFp— Women’s Sports Exchange (@wsportsxchange) March 6, 2023
The Wave didn’t deviate too far from last year’s kit, with some minor changes to the home kit at the top. However, based on Twitter comments under all the Waves’ posts, the fans aren’t happy with it and would like some more color.
While there could be more color, other cool details make this kit stand out. The away kit has the surfboard patch on it to represent the surf celebration they made popular last year. The home kit has a tag inspired by neighborhood signs from San Diego, and their numbers have a wave design in them.
It’s only year two. We’ll believe they’re leaving some room for more exciting designs in the future.
9. Gotham FC
That new kit heat. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aMM3lvEkDM
— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) March 7, 2023
Gotham has had some great kits since their creation, and the black with teal offers some interesting options for a design. I’m not sure what Gotham was going for here, whether it’s meant to be a lightning bolt or a stripe, but I’m getting zebra vibes when I see this kit.
It’s a bright color that they could’ve used differently, but these will look interesting on TV, to say the least.
8. Orlando Pride
Ahead of the 2023 NWSL season, the Orlando Pride has announced an updated look to its Luna Kit ⚽️
With the change, they become the first NWSL team to entirely do away with white shorts in order to ease players’ period concerns 👏 pic.twitter.com/xwuPIjHzCB
— The GIST USA (@thegistusa) March 1, 2023
Orlando took a huge step for women by changing the color of their shorts, they will no longer wear the whites, and you can see in the tweet they are now black. The shorts look great, and the actual kit itself, with the gray sleeves on the white shirt, is nice but nothing spectacular.
The purple kit will always be a mainstay of the NWSL, but the alternate kit is just fine.
7. OL Reign
OL Reign have dropped their "Purpose" kit for the 2023 season!
The design symbolizes the club’s bold mindset and dedication to advocating for the community when it comes to sustainability, social justice, the empowerment of women and LGBTQ+ rights, to name a few.#NWSL pic.twitter.com/RQxX24W1N0
— Women’s Sports Exchange (@wsportsxchange) March 17, 2023
The OL Reign made a big splash for their “Purpose” kit, which is meant to advocate for and uplift communities in need.
Seeing the Black Future Co-op Fund as their primary sponsor supports that vision and lets everyone know what the OL Reign stands for. The solid blue with the black stripes and red trim works and has more to look at than their jerseys from previous years.
6. Kansas City Current
NWSL's Kansas City Current "Power Up" New Away Kit for 2022.
Story: https://t.co/nfC8QjfAVj pic.twitter.com/NOUXma4jBW
— Chris Creamer (@sportslogosnet) April 28, 2022
Like Louisville, the electric “Power Up” kit was released last year. However, the Current has gone all in on their team name, and I love it because they now have a theme they can center everything around. The idea of the current running like water to create electricity is the inspiration behind this kit.
It features a nice teal color to support the white trim, which really accentuates the jersey overall. It also stays in line with their theme as a team, which is why I have it slightly higher on the list.
5. Houston Dash
✨The Houston Dash’s new ‘La Estrella’ home kit is out now!
Picks up where some past shirts have left off in terms of being VERY orange, with the rather routine Nike trim and collar.
Vibey freshness comes from multiple orange tones creating a wavy effect and texture. pic.twitter.com/lPn5ZuKYa6
— Theo Lloyd-Hughes (@theolloydhughes) February 22, 2023
Houston also didn’t go crazy with their new kit, but it still has some unique additions. Rather than just go for one solid orange, the team added multiple tones of orange for depth, and it pops. It’ll look even better out on the pitch, and the team now has black shorts to go with the orange. Halloween colors in Houston with a summer and fall season don’t sound like a bad idea at all.
4. Portland Thorns
The new Portland Thorns kit is confirmed, and it definitely bucks the trend of plain white shirts in the #NWSL, I'll give it that. Pretty sure we'll never forget this kit 😬
The club says it is "both audacious and authentic, rooted in the city and inspired by its artistry." pic.twitter.com/CF2rXQcq8N
— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) March 14, 2023
If there were a list of the most polarizing jerseys, this would take the top spot.
Everyone has an opinion about this jersey, and for people looking in from the outside, they don’t like it. However, having spoken to fans in Portland and having visited there before, everything about this kit fits with the city. It’s a kit for Portlanders to enjoy, and the colors to go with the design match everything about the city’s vibes.
A lot is going on, and the Tik Tok sponsorship does take away from the actual design, but overall, I think we’ll find Thorns fans happy. It’s something different and unique, which fits what Portland is all about.
3. Angel City
Angel City releases their 2023 secondary kit, “Represent”!
The jersey features
• map pattern of the greater LA area & coastline
• each halftone pattern represents the diverse individuals, neighborhoods, and cultures that form LA & call it home#NWSL pic.twitter.com/nmNASJ8a7O— Women’s Sports Exchange (@wsportsxchange) March 16, 2023
Angel City has come out with some amazing-looking kits in its first two years. Their latest kit continues to be all about the community and the fan base. There’s a dark gray map pattern of Los Angeles and its coastline, plus the halftone pattern for how incredibly diverse a city LA is.
This kit is a great way to make the people of Los Angeles feel like they’re a part of something while still looking stylish. The pink collar and “Volemos” written on the back are nice touches. This kit fits with everything Angel City has been trying to create as a brand.
2. Racing Louisville
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Louisville dropped their houndstooth kit, and as always, they did not miss. The kit pays homage to Penny Chenery, the legendary horse owner who raised Secretariat, one of the greatest racehorses who ever lived. For Louisville to pay tribute to its horse racing history and tie it into a jersey release is innovative, to say the least.
The design is patterned, but in black, so it doesn’t feel like it’s too much, and it goes great with the lavender/purple. Racing Louisville and Nike absolutely crushed it.
1. Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars have unveiled their new “Foundation” kit!#NWSL pic.twitter.com/R1xaMx3Pgq
— Women’s Sports Exchange (@wsportsxchange) March 15, 2023
Time and time again, the Chicago Red Stars create some incredible jerseys that look great and pay homage to the city. This new kit has everything.
A cool darker star print to go with the bright red stars on the front looks fantastic. The CIBC sponsor in that font with the crest and Nike logo looks strong, regal, and fashionable. The Red Stars and Nike really didn’t miss with this one, and it takes the number one spot on our list of the best new NWSL kits.
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