US Women’s World Cup Team Trades Sweatshirts For Nike x Martine Rose Suits

The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) recently made a bold statement when they stepped off the bus for their first match at this summer’s Women’s World Cup.

Instead of the usual sweats or warm-ups, the team was dressed in the Nike x Martine Rose player’s suit, jacket, shirt, and Shox Mule MR 4 shoes. This move, while seemingly just a fashion statement, actually marked a significant turning point in women’s sports and fashion.

Traditionally, men’s teams have had the privilege of wearing suits ahead of such tournaments, but the USWNT’s custom-crested Nike x Martine Rose suits broke new ground. Beyond just style, the suits symbolized camaraderie, equality, and positive change both on and off the pitch.

The Nike x Martine Rose Collection was designed to dissolve the boundaries between men’s and women’s football styling with gender-free tailored player suiting.

By thoughtfully connecting and merging the moments of “getting off the plane” to “arriving on the pitch,” the capsule elevates the look of the elite women’s game and bridges the gender gap in tailored sportswear for women's sport.

The introduction of this look heralds a new era for women’s football, meeting the moment of this summer’s premier sporting event with purpose and significance.

Interestingly, according to Nike, the outfits are meant to be worn in nuanced and meaningful ways by those involved in the sport as a way to empower athletes to embrace their unique style and identity.

The collection comprises a player’s suit jacket, trousers, trench, and shirt. Additionally, there are accessories, including stockings, gloves, and sunglasses.

More notably, the release doubles up with the launch of the latest iteration of the Nike x Martine Rose Shox Mule MR 4. The sneakers’ eye-catching blue and purple colorway pays homage to the vibrant goalkeeper jerseys of the 1990s, while the silhouette itself becomes a symbol of equity in football and the ever-expanding culture of the sport.

“Wearing this suit to walk out on the field feels like the culmination of my whole career—to elevate the women’s team look, to show something unexpected, and to continue to push boundaries in what it means to be an elite female athlete,” says four-time USWNT player Megan Rapinoe.

“It’s also just fun to be able to show up rocking something that’s unique and popping. And to have one of the best designers in the world create for the best team in the world is incredible.”

Fans can join in on the action by shopping the collection exclusively on Martine-Rose.com from July 25, 2023, and on SNKRS and at select specialty stores from July 27, 2023.

[via ABC News and Fox Sports, images via Nike]

This article was crafted with assistance from an AI engine, and has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked.