Ranking the New NWSL 2025 Secondary Kits
All kit photos are courtesy of the nwslshop.com
Welcome to my annual kit rankings, which is my favorite post to write each year. I love kits and I love saying mean things about the other cities in the league (and their sponsors if I think they deserve it).
This year I asked my staff photographer (who also happens to be my beautiful wife) Elizabeth, to help with the rankings.
This year’s batch of jerseys/kits are much better than what the league was putting out a few years ago. Some of those jerseys were atrocities that deserve to be lost to time. Each club is starting to have more of a kit culture and that is a good thing. A couple seem to be having an identity crisis when it comes to their kits (Houston, Racing), but most are starting to be pleasantly predicable from a basic color perspective.
San Diego
Ranking: 14
Michael’s comments:
There is definitely a nursing scrubs theme to some of the jerseys this year. The absolute worst offender is the Wave’s kit. It looks like water, which is on brand, but it is such a downgrade from my favorite kit from last year, the Wave Primary. The swoosh is pink which is sort of cool. Maybe when these jerseys don’t sell, Kaiser can hand them out to their nursing staff. Then again, that may be enough to make them strike again.
Elizabeth’s comments:
Not a fan of this one. I hope the club uses the money they saved by not hiring a creative designer for their jerseys to buy cool giveaways for their games. I'd fly to San Diego for a Savannah McCaskill bobblehead with her cute, signature bun on top. Let’s make this happen, people!
(Ed. I believe the Wave also have a bunch of baseball jerseys they still need to distribute because their field was so poor at the end of the season.)
Chicago
Ranking: 13
Michael’s comments:
Is there a more parochial city in America than Chicago? People from there never actually mentally move away from there even if they relocate to New Zealand. Chicago is like if they took the worst parts of LA and the worst parts of NYC and combined them to make a city. The new badge/crest is a significant step backwards, and the only thing keeping this jersey out of last place is the red accents. Bring back the white kits! It just seems wrong that Chicago won’t have a white option this season. And Wintrust sounds like an evil bank that William Zabka would have interned at in a bad 80s movie.
Elizabeth’s comments:
While I like the red accents ("don't they just pop!", says my inner fashion designer), I'm really getting some patriotic vibes that could make the very sleek US Women's team jersey a little jelly (says my inner teenager from 2019).
North Carolina
Ranking: 12
Michael’s comments:
Personally, I didn’t think the Authentic version of this kit was half bad, but take a look at the replica:
That is an atrocity. It is super lazy. I do enjoy the irony of having “Aesthetics” written on such a boring and dull jersey, so kudos, I guess? I would say that the fans deserve better, but have you ever been to Cary, NC? Don’t bother if not. It sucks. Cary definitely doesn’t deserve nice things, so I am done complaining about them not having them.
Elizabeth’s comments:
Are there tiny white pinstripes in certain lights that could earn this jersey a higher ranking? Yes. Am I in a mood to look at this jersey from several different angles and risk an inner debate a la blue dress/gold dress? Nope. The solid-ish red is too bland for me.
Orlando
Ranking: 11
Michael’s comments:
I have been to Orlando way too many times in my life. I hope I never step foot in Orlando again, unless it is to attend the Pop Tarts Bowl. I don’t think I would even care if my team won! (Not caring if my team wins bodes well for me enjoying this year’s Racing matches.) I like several things about this jersey: the primary color, the badge placement, the gold star. What is off putting for me is the blue/teal accent. The Pride couldn’t commit to adding enough blue/teal to this kit so they half-assed it.
Elizabeth’s comments:
When I attended my high school prom a decade or three ago, I thought that was the last time I'd see the brilliant combination of bright purple and teal, but here it is Orlando. For their jerseys, fan gear, and everything else, they should let Carson Pickett choose her favorite color and really lean into that. Save the other for practice jerseys or leg warmers.
Houston
Ranking: 10
Michael’s comments:
Elizabeth definitely likes this jersey more than I do. It is very “scrubs-y” but the color isn’t bad. It just doesn’t have anything to do with any of Houston’s previous kits. As a 3rd kit, I might be inclined to rank it higher, and I do like the pink socks. I initially thought is read as purple which seemed confusing, but I am sure that it will read as pink on the pitch. Enough nice things…Houston is an armpit of a city. It’s humid, hot and sweaty. I have only been there once. It is never on my list of potential away games.
Elizabeth’s comments:
The fuchsia! The magenta! The "purple!" (per my color-minimalist husband.) The number of names that I could give to this pink is almost as amazing as the splatter design that will make each player stand out on the field the same way Yuki Nagasato stands out in everything she does. (We have an original Yuki canvas that I commissioned in 2021, whatever, stop asking about it already!)
Portland
Ranking: 9
Michael’s comments:
We’ve moved into the middle of the pack territory with this kit. This looks like a Portland kit and I don’t have to think to much about it. I like my Ring doorbell. I hope to make it to Portland someday. I heard that the rest of Oregon sucks and is just west Idaho. I think I quoted that in last year’s piece. I am too lazy to look it up.
Elizabeth’s comments:
There's a reason why Dwight painted Michael's office black when he thought he was taking over the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin: it's Intimidating. Like Reilyn Turner. The subtle red keeps this jersey from looking like a cute "LBJ" (little black jersey) that slims the hips. I think this jersey is a sleeper.
Utah
Ranking: 8
Michael’s comments:
I am so freaking mad at this jersey! On first glance I loved it. Then I hated the stupid background. I say this every year, but the yellow/blue jersey combo is my favorite in all of sports. The badge on this jersey is awesome. Why did they have to screw it up with whatever that stupid background is supposed to be. With either shade of blue used as a solid base, I would probably have ranked this kit first. Please get a new jersey sponsor. Still, I wouldn’t mind a Salt Lake City away day.
Elizabeth’s comments:
The most soccer-jerseyist of soccer jerseys, from the generic pattern to the wide sleeves and side stripes. But I have no doubt that Paige Monaghan will give this look an upgrade with her pink scrunchy and high pony.
Racing
Ranking: 7
Michael’s comments:
Elizabeth and I ranked the jerseys without input from each other. I had Racing at 7 and so did she. It’s OK if you like green, I guess. The green is called “a variant of Racing’s mint” in the press release. That’s kind of like saying royal blue is a variant of periwinkle. I hate green kits. If you have red-green colorblindness, this is what a soccer match looks like when it's red vs. green.
I am not colorblind, but I do find the green kits harder to see, especially on smaller screens. There just isn’t a really good reason in my mind to have a jersey that is so off-brand from a color perspective. Racing can explain away all the reasons they chose it, but jerseys shouldn’t need deep explanations. And Roots are brown the last time I looked.
Also, the GE Appliances logo is too prominent. I have a GE washer and dryer. I hate them with a passion. My GE microwave stopped working out of the blue six months after we moved into our new house. If Racing survives much longer, I hope they get a higher quality sponsor.
Elizabeth’s comments:
I had to do a double take on this one. When did we become the Racing Shamrocks? Seriously look at the badge on that 1990s-hunter-green jersey and tell me you don't see a four-leaf clover? If it's the good luck charm that we need to make the playoffs, then I’ll take 11, please! Until then, I just hope our players can see each other on the green field. Not that anyone can keep their eyes on the speedy Lauren Milliet anyway. But you can't miss Savannah DeMelo's curly pony whipping around as she shreds defenders on the way to the goal, so maybe we'll be okay after all.
Gotham
Ranking: 6
Michael’s comments:
I hate this jersey, but Elizabeth ranked it high. At least it is on brand and all of Gotham’s jerseys should probably be two-toned moving forward because the club seems committed to it, which is good thing. Gotham just happened to choose my least favorite way of being two-toned on a jersey. It looks like a warmup to me. By the way, when are we going to stop letting Gotham get away with having NY in their name. They scream New Jersey. This team has never and probably will never be located in NYC. I like Carmax and their easy way of doing business, but doesn’t used car lot scream Jersey? Did you know that Carmax started out as an offshoot of Circuit City? Circuit City was always second fiddle to Best Buy. I demand to end any NY references to Gotham going forward!
Elizabeth’s comments:
The subtle vneck, the black neck and shoulder accents give this jersey so much attitude. Like they have players who could swap put this jersey for a goalie kit in 90 seconds flat if called upon. I’m looking at you, Nealy Martin. And if they look like they have a chip on their shoulder(s), then that’s apropos. Jaelin Howell can and she should. The team will rock this jersey this year.
Washington
Ranking: 5
Michael’s comments:
Although Elizabeth may disagree on this one, I think we have moved firmly into “nice” section of the rankings. I have hated every other Washington jersey that I have ranked, but I love this one. It was my top choice, but that’s democracy for you. Many people despise yellow and yellow jerseys. I love them. I like the mix of greens and yellow. I hope Washington sticks with yellow on future kit releases. I wonder if anybody will still be living in Washington DC in four years.
Elizabeth’s comments:
Can I just quickly highlight some of the bright spots of this jersey, with the perfect Trinity of bright yellow, blue, and green? Let me find my sunglasses first. Like it matters. Ms. Rodman could dominate the field in Hammer pants if she needed to.
Seattle
Ranking: 4
Michael’s comments:
I think Seattle always does well on their kits. It’s a shame to see the Black Future Co-op Fund go, but a clean, sponsor-less kit from time to time is refreshing. The reborn Reign badge will always do the heavy lifting on the Seattle kits, but I like the pattern, and the shorts really set off the shirt. It’s a fine addition to the Reign kit history.
Elizabeth’s comments:
The no-logo look should Reign supreme, but I was a little distracted by what I assumed was AI-generated lightning bolts. I cheated on this one and had a peek at the shorts and then fell in love. I'd say they've now (Fish)locked-in a good look for Jessica and team this season.
Bay FC
Ranking: 3
Michael’s comments:
I typically don’t like black kits, but black kits with the right accents can be real winners. This jersey wins my “Street Wear” award for being the best kit to be worn by supporters when they are out and about. It reps, without screaming “look at me”. I love the prominent “B” in the middle of the shirt and the logo seems slightly oversized to just the right degree. The background works without being a distraction. It’s classy.
Elizabeth’s comments:
I like the clean look of this dark jersey: the stacking of the B badge, the Nike swoop, the sponsor logo...like a vertical billboard. Not very interesting but not trying too hard either. Quite the opposite of Asisat Oshoala, who will elevate the look with her hairstyles and moves.
Kansas City
Ranking: 2
Michael’s comments:
Proof that you don’t need to overthink to have a good kit, this year’s Current jersey is effortlessly on brand. You always get bonus points repping a charity, even if the United Way doesn’t have the greatest reputation. Kansas City does get full of itself from time to time, so it was nice to see them get embarrassed in the Super Bowl. Still, I would love to attend a Current home match one day.
Elizabeth’s comments:
Sleek, on brand, with that perfect balance of light teal and the only red “KC” on the internet not associated with the loss of the three-peat right now. And if I could hand-pick a sponsor, here's one I'd be honored to have.
Angel City
Ranking: 1
Michael’s comments:
Neither Elizabeth nor I had this at 1. In fact, we both had it at 3. However, we disagreed on some of the other kits so Angel City ends up as the top choice. I can live with that. It’s a fine kit and while it is busy in the background, I feel like it is busy in a meaningful and useful way. The pink accents are always nice on these kits. When I ranked this kit I downgraded it to 3 from 2 because DoorDash always seems to screw up my orders and now, I am an Uber Eats guy. That’s pretty petty, so I guess that it’s justice that it ultimately didn’t matter.
Elizabeth’s comments:
Long-time, swooning fan of the ballet pink, but the chinoiserie-style background elevated this jersey to a full-on fashion piece! Girls' night out? Yep! Bachelor party? Heck yeah! Cleaning the gutters? Maybe find something else. And there's that little vneck again, winking at you, contributing to the overall innocent look of veteran players like Sydney Leroux and Christen Press who are plenty guilty of plowing down their share of defenders. If I only bought one jersey this year, this just might be it.
