As the NWSL season nears its halfway point, we all have one question on our minds: Which team has the freshest fit? Just Women’s Sports breaks it down with our 2022 kit rankings.

Every club but one has introduced at least one new kit this season. Those new unis join the league’s already robust roster of on-field looks, including those of NJ/NY Gotham FC, who stood pat for 2022 with the home and away kits they introduced at the start of last season.

Orlando Pride launched the Luna kit into orbit, while Racing Louisville released a newly-minted away kit of their own.

Expansion team Angel City FC started strong with a double dose of football fashion, and you can get to know the club and its captain Ali Riley on the new season of Riley’s Off the Ball podcast, which premieres Tuesday.

Where did each team land? Check out the full rankings:

12. Washington Spirit

The reigning NWSL champions, the Washington Spirit unveiled their 10th anniversary kit ahead of the season, but the look left a lot to be desired.

While the classic blue jersey looks lovely on the pitch, the commemorative kit lacks the creativity other clubs have incorporated into their designs. The star above the crest, which designates Washington’s champion status, deserves to feature on a splashier uniform.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Washington Spirit (@washingtonspirit)

11. San Diego Wave FC

The Wave’s inaugural kit is relatively straightforward: a solid blue top with a thumbprint design on the sleeves. Pink numbers provide a pop of color on the otherwise subdued jersey.

The expansion club’s vibrant sunset crest shows potential, but the uniform falls short of the vivid wave graphic.

Navy inspired by our ocean and a special inaugural patch in the gold of our iconic sunsets.

Poderosa pink and swell blue make our name and number instantly recognizable. No one has ever repped colors like this.#WaveFC #NWSL pic.twitter.com/Nek0ilYRfE

— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) May 7, 2022

10. Portland Thorns FC

The Thorns employed a minimal look for their 2022 home kits, which feature a horizontal thorn design running across the jersey. While black as the primary color brings drama, the design combined with the sponsor placement feels disjointed.

The club committed to the minimalist look for their away kits as well, just as early aughts maximalism is coming back into style. The all-white uniform, while crisp, is a bit too bare. The subtle details — an embossed Thorns FC wordmark down the sides, red and black piping on the sleeves — are admirable but are hard to make out from a distance.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Portland Thorns FC (@thornsfc)

9. North Carolina Courage

A subtle gradient highlights the Courage’s colors on the tops of the club’s 2022 kits. While the execution of the red-to-blue fade is impressive, the shading is not the most cutting-edge choice.

"To be, rather than to seem."

Yours is waiting: https://t.co/Fl940aJEKq#CourageUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/ZexIKoog1q

— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) March 10, 2022

8. Orlando Pride

Orlando’s primary jersey, released last season, features an arresting purple and black celestial design.

The Pride’s Luna kit continues the space motif but doesn’t reach the same heights. The graphic element — a depiction of the moon’s surface — is compelling, and the commitment to the Ad Astra theme is commendable, but the primarily white jersey combined with the grey numbers leaves the back of the kit hard to read on the pitch.

Rocking it. 🏹 #LunaKit pic.twitter.com/cuqNjoa0V9

— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) April 21, 2022

7. Kansas City Current

Kansas City’s new Electric away kit isn’t as charged as the name would have you believe. While the teal accents on the primarily white jersey are an inspired choice, the top needs more color than the side paneling offers. The club also opted to pair the top with white shorts and teal socks when the uniform would benefit from red or teal shorts to really stand out.

The club’s red primary kits are emblazoned with teal piping for an eye-catching look. The red shorts, though, feature not teal but white piping down the sides, a baffling and mismatched choice.

Teal takes center stage.

⚡️ The Electric Kit ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/PN4iEXgMGu

— KC Current (@thekccurrent) April 26, 2022

6. NJ/NY Gotham FC

Gotham FC kept their designs from 2021, with a solid black look bisected by a light blue diagonal sash for their home matches. The pattern is unlike any other in the NWSL as the club elevates a classic soccer uniform configuration.

Gotham FC’s away kits employ the same motif on white jerseys, with the blue accent popping on the minimalist look.

Bonus points for the Statue of Liberty crest!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gotham FC (@gothamfc)

5. Houston Dash

The Dash get an A for creativity, opting for a daring interpretation of Houston’s flag for their City of Fútbol alternate kit. Stars adorn the front of the jersey, embellished with a wavefront pattern that evokes a retro feel. Perhaps the kits are a bit too busy, but they make a splash.

Houston opted to keep a classic orange kit for home matches, a look that has become undeniably associated with the Dash.

Happy Friday Houston 😁#HoldItDown x #CityofFútbol pic.twitter.com/draU0145as

— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) April 8, 2022

4. Chicago Red Stars

The Red Stars honor their city, the birthplace of the skyscraper, with their new kits. Adorned with a geometric blue pattern, the mostly-white jersey is inspired by the city’s skyline.

The four red stars on the jersey’s shoulders bring together the harmonious uniform, balancing out the contained front graphic.

Introducing “Skyscraper”, our official 2022 Kit. Chicago is the birthplace of the skyscraper, and this year's design captures the strength and essence of the Windy City’s powerful skyline. Pre-order yours today. The sky is not the limit, it’s just our view. #MKOT pic.twitter.com/fqm1M3JdGu

— Chicago Red Stars (@chicagoredstars) April 29, 2022

3. OL Reign

OL Reign’s 2022 Honor kit is a classic look with an intentional twist.

White with a blue and red vertical stripe, the kit features the names of Reign players who have represented the team since its debut in 2013. The sponsor logo and player names are meticulously placed, ensuring aesthetic balance, while the tribute adds a palpable weight to the uniform.

The 2022 OL Reign Honor Kit, a tribute to the past and a 🔥 look into the future -

🛍️💧https://t.co/cbBiWKJE9K#BoldTogether pic.twitter.com/BywnOFGt0Z

— OL Reign (@OLReign) April 13, 2022

2. Racing Louisville FC

Racing Louisville’s Mint kit is a breath of fresh air, providing the league with a welcome burst of color. While the kit could do with even more mint, the fleur de lis printed top is complemented well by the solid mint shorts. The club’s purple accents tie the pastel uniform together.

Louisville opted to keep their striking 2021 home kit, a black jersey emblazoned with purple flowers.

It’s in the details. 🤌 pic.twitter.com/A7Doh4kksD

— Racing Louisville FC (@RacingLouFC) April 29, 2022

1. Angel City FC

Sol rosa palm trees: Does any more need to be said? The large pink and black print across the away kit is a daring choice for an NWSL club, and it pays off.

In the same vein as the Mint jersey, the top could be elevated with even more color — but that could come in due time for the new club. The solid pink shorts are a welcome addition to the playful away uniform, pulling together the exuberant kit.

The club’s home jersey, while more understated, features an art deco pattern that solidifies ACFC as the fashion leaders of the league.

.@weareangelcity has unveiled their inaugural away kit dubbed “Daylight” - paying homage to the style of LA from the concrete to the coast. 🔥

The club will wear these kits in today’s match against San Diego Wave FC at 1pm PT/4pm ET on CBS. pic.twitter.com/X8rdhXjBPD

— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) April 2, 2022

For the first time in the NWSL's 12-year history, fans can now buy their own goalkeeper jerseys. And while replica goalkeeper jerseys representing all 14 NWSL teams hit the market on Wednesday, some didn't stick around for long. 

Fans across women's soccer have long vocalized their discontent over the position's lack of availability on social media, often comparing the shortcoming to the widespread availability of men’s goalkeeper jerseys. And as the NWSL has grown, so has demand — and not just from those in the stands. 

"To have goalkeeper kits available for fans in the women’s game as they have been for so long in the men’s game is not only a long-awaited move in the right direction, it’s just good business," said Washington Spirit goalie Aubrey Kingsbury in an team press release. "I can’t wait to see fans representing me, Barnie [Barnhart], and Lyza in the stands at Audi!"

just went looking at #nwsl goalkeeper kit stock out of curiosity — Alyssa Naeher's $145 kit already sold out S-XL (league announced GK jerseys on sale 3 hours ago)https://t.co/8bYA7tlwcx

— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) April 17, 2024

Business does, in fact, appear to be booming. Alyssa Naeher’s Chicago Red Stars kit sold out less than three hours after the league's announcement. Jerseys for other keepers like DiDi Haračić, Abby Smith, Michelle Betos, Katelyn Rowland, and Bella Bixby aren’t currently available via the Official NWSL Shop, though blank goalkeeper jerseys can be customized through some individual team sites. Jerseys start at $110 each.

"This should be the benchmark," said Spirit Chief Operations Officer Theresa McDonnell. "The expectation is that all players’ jerseys are available to fans. Keepers are inspiring leaders and mentors with their own unique fan base who want to represent them... I can’t wait to see them all over the city."

Decorated gymnast Simone Biles took to the popular Call Her Daddy podcast this week to open up about her experience at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, revealing she thought she was going to be "banned from America" for her performance.

After Biles botched her vault routine due to a bout of the "twisties," she withdrew from the team final as well as the all-around final in order to focus on her mental health. She later reentered the competition to win bronze in the individual balance beam final.

In her interview with podcast host Alex Cooper, Biles admitted to feeling like she let the entire country down by failing her vault attempt.

"As soon as I landed I was like 'Oh, America hates me. The world is going to hate me. I can only see what they’re saying on Twitter right now,'" she recalled thinking. "I was like, ‘Holy s---, what are they gonna say about me?'"

"I thought I was going to be banned from America," she continued. "That’s what they tell you: Don’t come back if not gold. Gold or bust. Don’t come back."

Widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, Biles has hinted at a desire to join her third Olympic team in Paris, though her participation won't be confirmed until after the gymnastics trials in late June. She holds over 30 medals from the Olympic Games and World Artistic Gymnastics Championships combined, and if qualified, would be a sure favorite heading into this summer’s games.

Caitlin Clark is reportedly close to cementing a hefty endorsement deal with Nike.

The Athletic was the first to break the news Wednesday evening, commenting that the deal would be worth "eight figures" and include her own signature shoe. On Thursday afternoon, the publication tweeted that the deal would top $20 million, according to lead NBA Insider Shams Charania. Both Under Armour and Adidas are said to have also made sizable offers to the college phenom and expected future WNBA star.

The new agreement comes after Clark's previous Nike partnership ended with the conclusion of the college basketball season. She was one of five NCAA athletes to sign an NIL deal with the brand back in October, 2022. 

Considering Clark's overwhelming popularity and Nike's deep pockets, the signing's purported value doesn't exactly come as a shock. New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu’s deal with the brand is reportedly worth $24 million, while NBA rookie and No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama’s deal is rumored to weigh in at $100 million. And in 2003, LeBron James famously earned $90 million off his own Nike deal. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

Clark’s star power continues to skyrocket, with the NCAA championship averaging 18.9 million viewers and the 2024 WNBA Draft more than doubling its previous viewership record. Following the draft, Fanatics stated that Clark's Indiana Fever jersey — which sold out within an hour — was the top seller for any draft night pick in the company’s history, with droves of unlucky fans now being forced to wait until August to get their hands on some official No. 22 gear.

In Wednesday's Indiana Fever introductory press conference, the unfailingly cool, calm, and collected Clark said that turning pro hasn’t made a huge impact on how she’s conducting her deals.

"If I’m being completely honest, I feel like it doesn’t change a ton from how I lived my life over the course of the last year," she said. "Sponsorships stay the same. The people around me, agents and whatnot, have been able to help me and guide me through the course of the last year. I don’t know if I would be in this moment if it wasn’t for a lot of them."

Former Oklahoma slugger Jocelyn Alo has signed on with Athletes Unlimited and will compete in the AU Pro Softball AUX this June.

The NCAA record holder in career home runs (122), total bases (761), and slugging percentage (.987), Alo was originally drafted by the league in 2022 but opted instead to join the newly debuted Women’s Professional Fastpitch. 

Alo currently plays for independent pro softball team Oklahoma City Spark, with team owner Tina Floyd reportedly on board with her recent AUX signing. AUX games are scheduled for June 10-25, while the Spark's season will kick off June 19th. Alo will play for both. 

Among those joining Alo on the AUX roster are former James Madison ace pitcher Odicci Alexander and former Wichita State standout middle infielder Sydney McKinney.

According to Alo, the decision to play in the Athletes Unlimited league was fueled by her desire to propel women's sports forward as well as provide more exposure to a sport that's given her "so many opportunities."

"Not only to challenge myself more, but just for the growth of the game," Alo said, explaining her reasoning to The Oklahoman. "I genuinely believe that professional softball can be a career for girls."

Joining AUX is also one more step in her plan toward representing Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"I’m constantly thinking about how can I do these little things right in these four years to prepare me for the biggest stage of softball," she told The Oklahoman. "I definitely want to play in the Olympics, for sure."

Alo further expressed enthusiasm in the hope that the rise of other women’s sports, like women’s basketball and the NWSL, will push softball’s professional viability even higher.

"We’re seeing the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) get their stuff going, I see the WNBA starting to get hot," she continued. "I feel like the softball community is like, 'All right, it’s our turn and it’s our turn to just demand more.'"