By OkayGoal 
Ahead of the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season, the league and Nike released one new jersey for each of its 16 active clubs. New this year, a select nine clubs are introducing third kits to expand their respective visual identities beyond traditional home and away designs. All the new jerseys are inspired by the cities and communities they call home, and are available for purchase at NWSLShop.com.
We broke down all the new jerseys and the stories behind them, analyzing which are great new additions and which missed the mark.
Photos courtesy of Angel City FC
Angel City’s new primary kit, the ‘Flare’ kit, celebrating the expansion team’s fifth season in the NWSL, stays with the club’s traditional black and Sol Rosa colorway. It features a special center chest crest with an Art Deco sunburst pattern emanating from it, reflecting the team’s recurring sunshine brand theme. Additionally, the Volemos outer pride patch has been updated to feature a 5 as the s for the fifth season. It is both visually busy and simple because of the limited color scheme. Add the unique crest placement, and it makes for one of the better jerseys in this release.
Photos courtesy of NWSL by Johnnie Izquierdo and Eakin Howard via Getty Images, and Bay FC
For the first time, Bay FC is leaning into its secondary color with its new third kit, the ‘Poppy’ kit. The poppy color accented with black symbolizes “the region’s beauty and resilience,” and the poppy-colored base incorporates abstract bridge shapes inspired by the bridges uniting the Bay Area. The outer pride poppy “stands for growth and connectivity.” Outside of the very nice color, there isn’t much that makes this jersey stand out. The supposed abstract bridge shapes are not identifiable as such, and the unusual crest looks awkward and out of place, almost an afterthought. Overall, it is boring, and the unique color is a saving grace.
Photos courtesy of NWSL/Maya Dehlin Spach/Getty Images
It is difficult to judge Boston’s inaugural second jersey because the team released such a limited collection of photos of players in the full kit, but as expansion teams’ first secondary jerseys go, this is one of the best and most interesting we have ever seen. The ‘Common Ground’ kit is made up of a multi-colored collage of overlapping shapes inspired by the distinct neighborhoods that make up Boston over a black base in which larger neighborhoods emerge in the negative space, while the brick pattern represents the roads of Boston. To further ground the kit in the city it represents, the kit was photographed on local Bostonians in neighborhoods across the city. The outer pride features bears with a soccer ball and the number 26 for the club’s inaugural year. A good story and colorful, abstract execution leave Boston fans with two solid jerseys for their inaugural season.
Photos courtesy of Chicago Stars and NWSL, by Maya Dehlin Spach and Johnnie Izquierdo via Getty Images
As the Chicago Stars begin a new era with a home in Evanston, Illinois, the ‘Chicago DNA’ kit draws inspiration from the city’s history of architectural innovation as the birthplace of the modern skyscraper. It carries forward the Stars’ traditional palette of the blue, white and red of the Chicago flag, with a central stripe flanked by four supporting stripes of diminishing width. The ‘Chicago DNA’ kit replaces the Stars’ primary kit released in 2024, before they rebranded from the Red Stars to just the Stars. This new jersey is not particularly innovative or interesting, but it is simple, classic, and clean, executed well.
Photos courtesy of Denver Summit FC and NWSL, by Justin Edmonds via Getty Images
Denver’s secondary kit, the ‘Summit Snow’ kit, is nearly identical to its primary, the inaugural ‘Evergreen’ kit, just with a white body instead of green. The evergreen and azure blue accents carry forward while adding sand-stone colored side panels as a nod to Colorado’s red clay and rugged terrain. Though the team says it is a tribute to the quiet power and beauty of Colorado winter, it is simply white. It is boring but gets the job done, following the pattern of many expansion teams’ inaugural season jerseys before it.
Photos courtesy of Houston Dash
The ‘Houston Chronicles’ kit is a “tapestry of what makes ‘Houston’ Houston,” through the highlighting of five key elements. The original Houston Chronicle building represents iconic Houston architecture, magnolia flowers represent “Magnolia City,” a paisley cowboy motif is inspired by classic bandanas, geometric textiles symbolize the city’s diversity, and the outer pride globe represents the connection to NASA as “Space City.” This new third kit also leans into the Houston Dash’s secondary blue color, which looks gorgeous. Like many kits, the details are too complicated to discern from a distance. But they are clear up close and executed with a limited color palette in a way that doesn’t make it look too busy or confusing from further away. Color and concept make this a top-tier jersey.
Photos courtesy of Kansas City Current and NWSL/Maya Dehlin Spach/Getty Images
The Kansas City Current’s first-ever third kit, the ‘Storm’ kit, primarily features the team’s established ‘Storm’ hue with vibrating streaks of its iconic teal throughout. It is supposed to represent the “strength, determination and unstoppable persistence to always reach for more” of a rising current, but it just feels like just another iteration of what we have already seen from Kansas City. The color combination is superb, and the visual is pleasant; only the lack of a new concept is disappointing.
Photos courtesy of NJ/NY Gotham FC and Adam Hunger/NWSL via Getty Images
In an homage to the iconic Statue of Liberty, NJ/NY Gotham FC released its bold ‘Lady Liberty’ third jersey. The club’s first third kit draws its colors from the blue, orange and white of the New York City flag, but the combination’s execution results in a design that looks like trying to look at something that is supposed to be 3D without 3D glasses. It is a bold and interesting design, with a very clear depiction of the infamous statue, and the return of orange is a welcome change to the club’s simple blue and black colorway, but I can’t look at it for too long without getting a headache.
Photos courtesy of North Carolina Courage
The North Carolina Courage ‘Become’ kit introduces a new color palette to the Courage wardrobe and features one of North Carolina’s most iconic and unique native species: the Venus flytrap. This carnivorous plant inspired the kit’s main design, palette pink edges. The ‘Blue Void’ base with traditional floral patterns represent the plant’s signature lure while the angular elements in pink and ‘vapor green’ accents are pulled from the plant’s aggressive silhouette. It is that contrast between beauty and bite that the Courage hope to carry into the new season. The kit completes the trifecta of the club’s three defining words from its Place to Be manifesto: Believe (‘Triangle’ kit), Belong (‘Very Berry’ kit) and Become (‘Venus flytrap’). Continuing that theme, the outer pride that reads “Esse Quam Videri” means “to be rather than to seem.” The new ‘Become’ kit will be the third kit in the club’s rotation, but it will be the primary home jersey for 2026 matches. Though simple and perhaps underwhelming, there is a flowing gracefulness to the overall pattern. It is broken up by the angular, vibrant accents that could’ve potentially been increased.
Photos courtesy of Orlando Pride and Megan Briggs/NWSL via Getty Images
The Orlando Pride continue to have some of the most beautiful jerseys and color combinations in the NWSL with the release of the ‘Unity’ kit. The Pride’s new secondary jersey, replacing the ‘Citrus’ kit, features a pattern of interlocking ribbons that “honors the strength, togetherness and unbreakable spirit that defined the Orlando community in the aftermath of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy ten years ago.” Orlando has consistently worked to ensure the tragedy is not forgotten and supported its victims, continuing that tradition by donating $20,000 from jersey sales to The Center Orlando, whose Orlando United Resiliency Services (OURS) program provides education, advocacy and support for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. The jersey also features a jock tag depicting a universal symbol of peace and love, a dove carrying an olive branch. The pastel ribbon design, pastel purple shorts and socks, and accents of classic Pride purple, even without the meaningful purpose behind it, make this a top NWSL jersey.
Photos courtesy of Portland Thorns, and Maya Dehlin Spach/Getty Images and Steph Chambers/Getty Images via NWSL
The Portland Thorns’ new kit, ‘Electric Bloom,’ is a baffling color choice for the primary kit of a team whose primary color has always been a deeper red. Atomic pink and voltage yellow form the bold pattern of roses meant to strike a harmonious balance of grit and grace, but you have to look very hard to actually see roses. The electric red of the shorts and mossy green accents are supposed to nod to the club’s core brand colors, but the question remains why one would only nod to the core colors in a primary kit. The outer pride detail features the Oregon state motto, “Alis Volat Propriis,” meaning “she flies with her own wings,” arched over a rose rooted under the arches of the club’s historic 100-year-old home stadium. This would be fine as a third kit — though the main pattern not clearly being roses remains an issue — but particularly as a primary kit, this is a miss similar to the ‘Forever Thorn‘ kit it replaces.
Photos courtesy of Racing Louisville FC
Racing Louisville definitely wins the award for most fun jersey promotion photos, with its players posing in the ‘Disco’ kit in a retro roller rink. The design of Racing’s new third kit imitates the visual pattern created by a disco ball to reflect a unique piece of Louisville history: Louisville-based Omega Mirror Products, the leading manufacturer of disco balls worldwide since the 1970s. It also stays within the team’s color theme as the electric purple, fuchsia and glowing green on black showcase the more vibrant hues of the team’s traditional lavender and mint. The outer pride badge continues the homage, reading “Made in Looavul” — utilizing a phonetic spelling of how many natives pronounce the city’s name. The stylized roller rink photos make me like this jersey significantly more than the plain look on a white background, so it’ll be interesting to see how this kit looks on the field, but overall, this concept and execution is a win.
Photos courtesy of San Diego Wave
The Wave’s new secondary kit moves away from the club’s usual use of the city’s famous beaches as inspiration and instead celebrates the “cultural heart” of San Diego, Balboa Park. To achieve this, the kit was designed in collaboration with a San Diego native employee from Nike. The vibrant pink, orange, and blue sleeve cuffs and collar design are inspired by the tile work of the park’s Plaza de Panama water fountain. The club further intends this kit to signal the “beginning of a partnership between the club and Balboa Park that will extend beyond the jersey and into future matchday experiences.” The Balboa Park kit joins the Altamar kit as part of San Diego’s full 2026 jersey collection, replacing the club’s first-ever custom jersey, the Del Sol kit. Though the tan kit is very simple, the story and execution of the accents are nice and could make for good lifestyle looks.
Photos courtesy of Seattle Reign FC
Seattle Reign’s new ‘Surge’ kit is arguably the most visually interesting of its three jerseys for 2026, but it is still very simple. The color combination of “deep concord blue” and “royal pulse” with “volt” accents is pleasing, particularly knowing the history of the accent color that goes back to the Reign’s 2015-2017 jerseys, representing the convergence of past and future. However, the primary graphic elements across the body of the jersey don’t very successfully evoke the supposed “force and flow of water: steady and calculated, yet powerful and explosive.” The connection to the club’s heritage, while recognizing its resurgence, is a nice concept, but underwhelming in its execution.
Photos courtesy of Utah Royals FC and Johnnie Izquierdo/NWSL via Getty Images
Utah should be happy that this is their third kit and thus won’t be worn quite as often because it is one of the most confounding in this release. The ‘Swarm’ kit is supposed to honor Utah’s identity as the Beehive state and celebrate the “unity, industry and shared purpose that define both the state and the Royals community.” The concept of the swarm, where no single bee defines the hive, fits well within a team sport like soccer, but it mostly looks like a stylized version of the lioness crest, brashly interrupted by the yellow front-of-jersey sponsor. The red “Queen Bee” mark on the back is nice, following the traditional beekeeper practice of marking the queen and representing the players’ leadership of the swarm, but too small to impact the overall jersey. Plain black and gray, combined with an unclear execution of the concept, make this one of the most disappointing of the new jerseys.
Photos courtesy of Washington Spirit and NWSL
Finally, the Washington Spirit has delivered on what fans have been requesting for ages: a cherry blossom kit. Washington’s new primary kit, the ‘Spirit in Bloom’ kit, features D.C.’s iconic cherry blossoms against a dark green Potomac River to honor the natural beauty of the nation’s capital. This year’s newest kit will join the Spirit’s yellow ‘Shockwave’ kit as the club’s two uniform options. The initial design concept is special as it originated from longtime Spirit staff member Ben Berczek, who served as the team’s Equipment Manager from 2018 through 2022 before being promoted to Director of Operations ahead of the 2023 season. The idea is that the two-tone green base color showcases the sukura tree’s summer and fall foliage and allows the blossoms to pop, but it looks busy and unclear from a distance. The vibrant pink numbers are a nice touch, and it’s great to finally get a cherry blossom kit. But given how long fans have wanted this, it leaves something to be desired, even though it is one of the more detailed and genuinely meaningful designs.
