The NWSL kits you need to know

Last week we broke down the cream of the crop when it comes to MLS kits. Hot on the heels of America's premier men's league, the best of U.S. women's club soccer have also launched their new shirts for 2024.

NWSL jerseys have steadily grown in terms of popularity, and the latest crop is arguably the best yet for the league. Here are the particular designs I'd like to highlight for this week's Collectors Club.

Chicago Red Stars home jersey

First up are the Chicago Red Stars, whose new home jersey makes great use of the colours of the flag of Chicago. The majority of Red Stars kits in the past have majored on the flag and its elements for aspects of the design, but I particularly like this latest approach which has a sort of dazzle camo feel. The different striped sections, which emanate from the crest in a sunray configuration, are striking in the trademark light blue and white, and speaking of the crest a new simplified look lands well for me.

Orlando Pride away shirt

Orlando Pride are bringing something quite different but no less effective to the table with their peach away shirt. I say peach, the shirt is actually adorned with a fantastic orange pattern. Still, the soft peach base colour is a great complement to the orange pattern, and the particular shades employed here give off something of a retro vibe.

Racing Louisville FC home shirt

Racing Louisville FC have been one of the better teams historically when it comes to kits, and their new home maintains the tradition. The argyle pattern across the shirt is beautiful, especially when viewed up close where the mint green dotted lines can be fully appreciated. We've seen argyle patterns on football kits before, notably with Belgium in the 1980s, but it's an aesthetic which has a lot of legs given its relatively sparse usage. Coincidentally MLS side Sporting Kansas City have also released an argyle shirt this year, referencing designs from their own history, but the Kansas kit doesn't hold a candle to Louisville.

It's not only the pattern itself which I'm enjoying but the fact that the diamonds run across the full front and back of the kit. Yes, in an era where fully patterned backs are a frustrating rarity, Racing Louisville FC are a beacon of light in a dark world.

San Diego Wave FC home shirt

Wrapping up my highlights list are San Diego Wave FC. The team's home shirt is as eye-catching as they come, with a sunset pattern consisting of turquoise, orange and pink tones. The pattern is essentially drawn from the club crest, and though crest-based patterns are nothing new I'm happy that San Diego leant heavily into what is a strength of the team aesthetic. It can be easy for teams to get a bit too 'cute', throwing all sorts of ideas to the table with no real cohesion, but sometimes the best approaches are staring you right in the face.