Grading the 2026 NWSL Kits | OneFootball

As we do before every NWSL season, we grade every new kit release from across the league. 

The 2026 NWSL season is upon us, and while every new season is exciting, this one is particularly titillating, as the league will add a pair of expansion clubs to the mix: Boston Legacy and Denver Summit.

The two additions bring the total number of teams to 16, a testament to the league’s growth since its inauguration in 2012. And while we could go on about how much the NWSL has changed over the years, and the new High Impact Player rule, and blah blah blah, we’re here for the kits.

In its third season with Nike fully in charge of kit designs, the NWSL officially revealed the new 2026 kits last week, and now that we’ve had some time to review them all properly, it’s time for our annual grading of each new design.

Something new for this year: in the spirit of expansion, I’ve added a set of tiers to further organize the jerseys, because more kits means more opportunities for things to get lost in the fold.

Let’s start with the bottom tier and ascend to the top, shall we?

Tier 4: At Least You Tried

I will say, there are no kits among the bunch which lack effort or are overly plain, which was a big problem with the initial Nike rollout from 2024. But even so, not all of the designs were pleasing to look at.

Boston Legacy Away: F

There’s wanting to stand out, and then there’s this. A jagged, mish-mash pattern is complemented by bright splashes of color that resemble a toddler’s art project. This one isn’t getting hung up on the fridge, however.

Washington Spirit Primary: F

Holy loud. This one hurts to look at. The cherry blossom inspiration has been used by several teams in our nation’s capital to great success, which makes this miss all the more puzzling. The Spirit have also had some of the best jerseys in the league over the past few years, and this one sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the rest. Combined with the highlighter yellow secondary kit (which I love), Washington will certainly be the NWSL’s most visible team on the pitch this year.

Portland Thorns Secondary: D

I really don’t know what’s been going on in Portland over the last few seasons, but the club has missed on just about every single kit since the wonderful home and away shirts it released in 2020.

The introduction of volt yellow (green?) in 2024 was bewildering, and the Thorns seem insistent on keeping that trend alive with this new shirt. The floral pattern itself isn’t bad, and resembles the Oakland Soul’s away shirt from last year, but pink and volt do not go together in any way whatsoever. If we want to focus on the positives, this is a step up from the atrocious home kit it replaces from last season.

Gotham FC Third: C-

Since undergoing one of the best rebrands in recent soccer memory, Gotham FC has been one of the most aesthetically pleasing clubs in the sport, in addition to hoisting a pair of league titles. However, this new third kit doesn’t quite meet the high standards the club set for itself.

Blue and orange is a classic New York color scheme, with the Knicks, Mets, and Islanders all employing it throughout their uniforms and branding. Yet, this doesn’t feel like it’s for Gotham FC. Sure it’s a third kit, which opens the door for new color combinations and patterns, but it’s the antithesis to all of the great Gotham jersey designs from years past. Busy, dissonant, and harsh on the eyes. I applaud the big swing here, but this design is surely a whiff.

Houston Dash Third: C-

Another third kit that is a bit too busy for its own good, the Houston Dash wanted to pay tribute to their home with this design. And it’s all too on the nose. Want to honor the architecture of the city? Why not just slap a graphic of a building on the front of the shirt? A little subtlety would have gone a long way here.

The color scheme and accents on the collar and sleeve are pretty nice, but everything is so disjointed, and there’s simply too much to look at.

Tier 3: Just OK

The next tier up is a set of kits that look good in some lights, but bad in others. While they aren’t disasters, they leave me a bit disappointed, especially with the stellar kit histories that some of these clubs have.

Racing Louisville Third: C

While results have yet to manifest for Racing Louisville, who have only made the playoffs once in their five-year history, the club has consistently had some of the best jerseys in the NWSL year in and year out. Perhaps it’s on this steep curve in which I am grading Racing’s new third kit, but the disco-inspired design fell a bit flat.

The color scheme is pretty sweet, and one you don’t typically see on a soccer jersey. But the pattern doesn’t really make any sense, and while it’s a cool fact that it nods to 90% of the disco balls made in the disco era being from Louisville, I’m not sure that’s readily apparent without an infographic explainer.

Seattle Reign Third: C

It’s cool that NWSL teams are getting third kits this year, but it’d be a lot cooler if the designs were actually good. The Reign went with a water-inspired pattern for their third kit, but, like Louisville’s disco print, it doesn’t really come across in execution. A major win here is that it doesn’t replace either of the kits the club had last year, which were amongst the best in the league.

Bay FC Third: C

Bay FC’s new third kit is bright, bold, and boring at the same time. The color choice is solid, and fits in with the club’s color scheme. Tying it to the poppy, the California state flower, is a tidy choice as well. But I’m left wanting a little more with the pattern, which is described as a “bridge print.” I don’t know what that means, and I don’t really care to find out.

Denver Summit Primary and Secondary: C+

The Denver Summit went with a pretty safe name choice, and did the same with their kits. The color scheme is among the best in the league, and while I understand the practicality of going a safer route for a club’s inaugural kits, I’m hoping the team takes a few more risks in the coming years, because there’s a lot of potential for some beautiful kits here.

Tier 2: Pretty, Pretty Good

Enough of negative Nancy. It feels good to have something to praise. The next two tiers of jerseys are all hits, and while there are some flaws in Tier 2, they aren’t jarring enough to ruin the overall designs.

Boston Legacy Primary: B

While Boston’s secondary kit was a true eyesore, the home kit is a pretty solid offering. A bold shade of neon green certainly stands out (for the right reasons this time), and it’s clean without being boring, thanks to the pink and black accents on the sleeve and neck cuffs.

North Carolina Courage Third: B

I initially thought this would be the North Carolina Courage’s new home kit because of its color, and I was surprised to see that it was actually the third kit. Side by side with the home shirt, it looks pretty similar, but that doesn’t take away from this kit’s beauty.

Volt and pink accents complement the navy base well, and the Venus flytrap pattern is fun. My only note would be that it’s kind of weird that a club has the same colored home kit as a third kit, but that’s me being pedantic.

Orlando Pride Secondary: B

Another club with a history of fantastic kits, the Orlando Pride get another one with the “Unity” secondary shirt. It’s not as fun as the citrus-inspired shirt it replaces, but it’s nonetheless aesthetically pleasing while also staying true to the club and community’s ethos. A tribute to the 10-year anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting makes it all the more meaningful too.

Kansas City Current Third: B+

Now this is a third kit. A different shade than Kansas City’s home and away shirt, with a funky pattern that plays into the team’s name. There’s not much else to say here other than, how many wins can Kansas City truly get? They can’t keep getting away with this!

Tier 1: Works of Art

We’ve finally reached the top of the pyramid. These are the cream of the crop.

Chicago Stars Primary: A-

You don’t see stripes done like this on many soccer jerseys, but it works in this case, largely in part to some eye-pleasing colors. The first new home kit design for the Stars since rebranding, this is one of the better looks from a team that has a storied jersey history.

Utah Royals Third: A

A blackout third kit is never a bad idea, and the Utah Royals certainly executed this one pretty spot on. The club crest embedded front and center is reminiscent of Mexican club Pumas, and the bright yellow accents on the sponsor and Nike Swoosh make everything pop just a bit more.

Angel City FC Primary: A

After a truly wonderful debut home shirt, Angel City FC’s follow up was a bit disappointing. But the 2026 “Flare” offering is a return to form, with a dazzling pattern anchored by a centered crest.

I have a general predisposition for centered crests, but recognize they are polarizing and hard to execute correctly. Angel City certainly did it right here, and we’ll see if the return to a good home kit will equate to a return to the playoffs.

San Diego Wave Primary: A+

As an Angel City fan, this one hurts to admit. This is an absolutely wonderful shirt, from the color scheme to the details. San Diego has one of the best crests and color schemes in the league, but it hasn’t always equated to great jerseys. The club certainly turned the tides here, and produced in my eyes the best design from the bunch in 2026.