Few things are as American in professional sports as the pure aura and vibes conveyed through a pregame tunnel fit. Blending the lines between sports, fashion and culture, these fits are regularly showcased in runway-like photoshoots and videos that immediately grab attention on social media.
Through sleek, fresh clothing, high-profile athletes have the chance to present another side to the public, one not defined by what they do during games. And in recent years, women’s soccer has also fully bought in and embraced this trend.
While most European leagues typically have matching tracksuits and outfits ahead of matches, the U.S.-based NWSL is unique in the women’s soccer scene for the number of teams that allow their players to experiment with individual pregame clothing. Before making statements on the pitch, NWSL players are able to do the same ahead of the opening whistle.
“Whether you want to feel confident, whether you want to feel badass,” said Angel City FC‘s Sarah Gorden.
‘They let us just express ourselves in a way that we obviously can’t on the field’
In order to be fearless for 90-plus minutes, it helps to have an outfit that inspires those emotions. Gotham FC‘s Mandy Freeman, who describes her fashion style as “bold, eclectic, and playful,” highlighted that a vibrant tunnel fit can push her to step “out of comfort zones” before games.
“I experiment a lot with different silhouettes, colors. I love print. I love bold colors,” Freeman said.
Seeking to mix sports and fashion, Freeman noted that NBA legend Allen Iverson is one of her sources of inspiration for pregame fits. As for the Washington Spirit‘s Gabrielle Carle, the Canada international brought up actress Dakota Johnson when discussing celebrity influences.
“I will actively look at her looks and be like, OK, how can I recreate this,” Carle said. When asked to describe her own style — “clean, sophisticated, and fun” — the player briefly rushed over to teammate Paige Metayer during the interview to help answer the question.
“We bounce ideas off each other when we get dressed for tunnel fits, and I really like her style too,” Carle added.
Clearly, these fits can help teammates connect. NWSL rookie Carolyn Calzada quickly recognized that these pregame outfits can be used as a vehicle to boost squad morale.
“They let us just express ourselves in a way that we obviously can’t on the field. You see a little bit of everybody’s personality through their outfits,” said the Portland Thorns FC player, whose style is “Southern, girly, and confident.”
“[We] see each other’s outfits and hype each other up.”
Since she arrived in NWSL in 2025 from Europe, France international Kenza Dali hasn’t taken any of this for granted. Having played for numerous teams abroad, she said she was dismayed to always have to wear matching outfits.
“The same tracksuits when you go to a game and the same jumper,” the San Diego Wave FC player said.
“It really impacts my mood. I need to feel good in my clothes, like truly… I’m so happy that I don’t have to wear the same shoes and the same pants and the same T-shirt.”
That said, she hasn’t forgotten her roots. With a style that’s described as “comfortable, proportion[al], and aesthetic,” Dali had this to say about what message she wants to send about her eye-catching outfits.
“She’s definitely French,” Dali said with a laugh.
Personal branding and business opportunities
It’s no secret that mainstream interest in women’s sports is skyrocketing. Women’s soccer, in particular, is expected to be a top-five global sport by 2030. In the NWSL, club valuations continue to soar to record highs. It makes sense, then, that when a player gets attention for their off-the-field personality, off-the-field ventures can also come through.
“So many brands have already reached out to collab with me based on the fits that I’ve posted,” Seattle Reign FC‘s Mia Fishel said.
In fact, her own style (“color-coordinated, flare and smooth”) is literally being displayed on a trading card. As part of Panini’s “Tunnel Vision” set, one of Fishel’s pregame outfits was featured.
“As an athlete, we get kind of boxed in with we’ve got to be a certain way, we have to look a certain way, and I think the tunnel fits is a way to express myself and express fashion, which I love,” the Seattle player added.
That expression also means wider opportunities for not just players, but also the teams themselves. Some of the latest examples include brands such as Nuuly, Aligne and Anthropologie partnering with NWSL clubs.
“Recently, it’s starting to get more visible in the women’s game and the connection between branding, personal styling, not just with individuals as players, but with teams as well. So you see more teams doing collaborations,” Gotham’s Freeman stated.
“It’s a great opportunity for brands to kind of connect with a different audience.”
In one noteworthy instance, one of these brands can emerge from a player’s own project in the fashion world. Though Angel City’s Gorden highlighted that this is still a work in progress and that she has been focusing on her on-the-field profession, the player is currently working on starting her own clothing line.
“The brand is very much my style. That sporty, feminine, it’s vintage archival meets sporty, and I feel like it really represents me,” Gorden said.
‘I love beautiful football, I love aesthetics’
Can off-the-field style indicate what a player’s own style might be like during the game? Is it vice versa?
That depends on who you ask. For Washington’s Carle, there are contrasts when considering similarities between the two.
“I think they’re so different,” Carle said. “[My style is] very free-ish, and I feel like when I play, it’s very structured.”
Seattle’s Fishel had a separate take on the relationship between playing style and clothing style.
“A lot of my fits have usually one major piece, and I feel as an athlete, you have to stand out, but also you have to also be with the team and blend in with everyone,” the forward said.
“In those moments where you need some flair, you need something to pop. I have that pop in one of my pieces of clothing. Whether that’s my shoes, my shorts, my shirt or hat, and then usually the rest of my fit is calm…we can slow it down, but in those moments in the box, you have to pop.”
Looking at Freeman, there’s a slight crossover when you consider how “in your face” both her clothing and playing style can be, but she also remarked that because she at times feels introverted, there can feel like a separation of sorts.
As for Dali, who was inspired at an early age by her mom’s passion for clothing, there’s a clear line of connection. On the field, off the field, she noted that impressions are being made. “I love beautiful football, I love aesthetics, I love what looks good,” the San Diego midfielder said.
“I want to play football that is entertaining for fans, and football that when you see it, it’s like ‘wow, they play super beautiful football.’ It’s kind of the same way I live my life; I like aesthetics, I like beautiful things.”
