Portland Thorns’ new kit came with visceral reactions. But players love the tattoo rose look

“You’ve never seen a jersey like this before. It’s really out of the box.”

Portland Thorns FC defender Kelli Hubly, who had just hopped off the field from training and onto a phone call with The Athletic , described the team’s new secondary kits for 2023. 

The uniforms, designed by Nike, are certainly unlike others we’ve seen in the NWSL. The tattoo design-inspired look has roses on the shoulders, the Thorns crest placed centrally on the cream-colored jersey and is surrounded by what Hubly jokingly called “a chest piece” design featuring the team’s three stars for their three NWSL championships (2013, 2017, 2022). 

“It’s crazy and it’s wild and it’s unexpected,” Thorns forward, and 2022 MVP, Sophia Smith said. “But it’s sick and it’s different, and I think that kind of describes us.”

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The front of the jersey features more roses, plenty of thorns and banners with the familiar mottos, “Rose City till I die” and “by any other name,” hovering over the crest. The kit is complete with dark green shorts, embroidered with more of the rose tattoo design, and light socks with a black band and roses on the back.

When just the jersey leaked on Twitter, the reaction was divisive, to say the least. Jokes were flying; Ed Hardy references were everywhere. And Thorns players were reading many of the tweets.

“I wasn’t surprised by people’s reaction because people love to hate Portland,” said Smith, echoing her comments after her game-winning goal at last year’s NWSL Championship. 

“And honestly,” she added, “we love that.”

When players first saw the new kit, the initial reaction was simply, “What?”, Hubly said. But they came around pretty quickly, and now she said she’s obsessed with the look. 

“Once we actually