NWSL 2026 New Soccer Uniforms for 16 Teams Show Bold Designs and Local City Themes

Nike made 16 new team kits for the 2026 NWSL season. This is more teams than before because Boston and Denver are joining the league for the first time.
By Newsroom | Sports, USA |

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has unveiled its new collection of uniforms for the 2026 season, drawing immediate attention and varied reactions from fans and analysts. These kits, a collaboration between the league and Nike, aim to connect with the identity of each club and its city. However, the distinctive and experimental nature of some designs has led to discussions about their aesthetic appeal and adherence to team traditions.

The most noteworthy NWSL kits of 2026: Disco, a Lady Liberty fever dream and more - 1

League-Wide Uniform Release

Nike and the NWSL collaborated to create new kits for all 16 teams ahead of the 2026 season. This release includes primary, secondary, and third kits, with expansion teams Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC debuting both primary and secondary designs for their inaugural campaigns. The overarching goal, as stated by Nike Senior Designer Yazmin Rosete, was to honor the league's growth and to infuse each kit with "incredible stories, colors and landscapes that make up the NWSL." Designs are said to center on club roots, local neighborhood elements, and historical moments.

Read More: Backyard Baseball 2026: New Game Coming to PC and Consoles in July

The most noteworthy NWSL kits of 2026: Disco, a Lady Liberty fever dream and more - 2

Designs Stirring Discussion

Several kits have stood out, both positively and negatively, sparking conversations about their impact.

The most noteworthy NWSL kits of 2026: Disco, a Lady Liberty fever dream and more - 3

Racing Louisville FC: The Disco Kit

  • Racing Louisville FC's third kit, named "The Disco Kit," has been noted for its homage to Louisville's disco heritage. This flashy design aims to capture a unique aspect of the city's identity.

Gotham FC: Lady Liberty and Club Colors

  • Gotham FC's third kit, the "Lady Liberty Kit," has drawn criticism for deviating from established club colors. One observer noted it appeared more like an FC Cincinnati kit than a Gotham one, raising questions about team branding and uniform coherence.

  • Conversely, the kit's bold design has also been described as a "cliché, revolutionized."

Utah Royals FC: The Swarm Kit

  • The Utah Royals FC "Swarm Kit" is designed to honor Utah's "Beehive State" identity. One review found the kit to be "doing too much," suggesting a potential overdesign. Another simply labeled the third kit as "simple yet cool."

Washington Spirit: Spirit in Bloom

  • The Washington Spirit's "Spirit in Bloom" kit is part of a collection that fans are waiting to see more of. However, their "Lady Liberty Kit" was explicitly called "awful" by one critic.

Portland Thorns: Electric Bloom

  • The Portland Thorns' primary kit, "Electric Bloom," has faced resistance from traditionalists who feel it does not align with the team's usual aesthetic.

Angel City FC: The Flare Kit

  • Angel City FC's "Flare Kit" celebrates the club's fifth season. It features a central crest and a "sol rosa sunburst pattern." Another kit, "The Volemos Outer Pride," incorporates a '5' for the season anniversary.

Bay FC: The Poppy Kit

  • Bay FC's "Poppy Kit" is noted for its bold primary color, a first for the club in that capacity. It is also identified as a third kit.

Denver Summit FC: Inaugural Designs

  • Denver Summit FC, an expansion team, has released its "Inaugural Evergreen Kit" (primary) and "Summit Snow Kit" (secondary). The primary kit has been ranked higher by some due to its classic appearance, leading to questions about why it was designated as a primary rather than a secondary option.

Analysis of Design Intent and Reception

The intent behind the 2026 NWSL uniforms appears to be a deliberate move towards more expressive and locally relevant designs. Nike's press release emphasizes that the kits are "rooted in local community, identity," and are "inspired by the places and players that make each club unique."

The most noteworthy NWSL kits of 2026: Disco, a Lady Liberty fever dream and more - 4

  • Some kits, like the Racing Louisville "Disco Kit" and Bay FC "Poppy Kit", are praised for their audacious embrace of unique city or regional themes.

  • Conversely, the Gotham FC "Lady Liberty Kit" and Portland Thorns "Electric Bloom" illustrate a tension between innovation and established team identity. Was the intent to challenge fan expectations, or did some designs miss the mark in their execution?

  • The placement of certain kits as third kits (e.g., Gotham, Utah, Seattle, Racing Louisville) suggests a strategy to allow for more experimental designs outside of the primary branding.

Expert Commentary

"Each kit reflects the incredible stories, colors and landscapes that make up the NWSL, with designs centering around club roots, ‘if you know, you know’ elements of the club’s neighborhood and fans, and a future-focused approach honoring a moment in the team’s history." – Nike, via nwslsoccer.com

"The growth of the NWSL — including its fandom, athletes and influence — only continues to bring renewed energy to the global game." – Yazmin Rosete, Nike Senior Designer, Global Football Apparel, via Nike.com

Conclusion and Next Steps

The 2026 NWSL kit releases showcase a clear effort by the league and Nike to create uniforms that are not only functional but also tell a story and resonate with local identities. The diverse reactions highlight a spectrum of fan preferences, from appreciation for bold, new concepts to a desire for continuity with traditional team colors and styles.

Further analysis could involve:

  • Tracking fan sentiment and sales data for specific kits.

  • Examining the long-term impact of these designs on team branding and fan engagement.

  • Investigating the specific design process and feedback loops between Nike, the NWSL, and individual clubs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which new teams are joining the NWSL for the 2026 season?
Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC are the two new teams starting in 2026. They both released new primary and secondary uniforms made by Nike for their first year.
Q: Why did fans criticize the Gotham FC Lady Liberty kit for 2026?
Some fans do not like the Gotham FC Lady Liberty kit because the colors look like a different team, FC Cincinnati. People think the design moves too far away from the team's normal look.
Q: What is the theme of the Racing Louisville FC 2026 third kit?
The Racing Louisville FC third kit is called The Disco Kit. It uses bright and flashy designs to celebrate the history of disco music in the city of Louisville.
Q: How many teams received new Nike uniforms for the 2026 NWSL season?
All 16 teams in the league received new kits for the 2026 season. This includes primary, secondary, and some special third kits designed to tell stories about each city.
Q: What does the Utah Royals FC Swarm Kit represent for the 2026 season?
The Swarm Kit honors Utah's identity as the Beehive State. While some people think the design has too many details, others think it looks cool and simple.