Tacoma Defiance reveal new kit

Tacoma Defiance has entered the new kit chat. The South Sound team has gotten in on the action on the heels of a couple of hot releases from NWSL clubs, as well as a full new collection for the entire WNBA. While the newest Defiance kit might be a slight letdown after the other recent kit drops, including the Jimi Hendrix Kit from the Sounders, this does mark an improvement over the simple black-and-white kits from 2019-20. The Commencement Gray jerseys were announced with a short video on social media. It is currently unclear if there will also be a new secondary kit for Tacoma this year.

The new home kits, replacing the previous black ones, are the latest in a line of grey kits worn by professional clubs in the Puget Sound. Most recently the Reign sported a grey, white and blue secondary kit in 2015, while the Sounders wore Cascade Shale — a fan favorite — for 2013 and 2014. The Commencement Gray — a fun nod to Commencement Bay, the portion of the Puget Sound on which Tacoma is built — is closest to the grey featured on those Reign jerseys.

The shirt features stripes of a bright blue that grow larger towards the bottom, with striations creating the effect of looking out over the churning tide. The influence of the region is clear, from the name to the feelings evoked by the colors and pattern chosen. It might not be the most beautiful kit to ever grace a soccer field, it feels like the often cloud-covered place so many of us call home.

While it would be cool to see more of the Defiance imagery incorporated into the jerseys, it is cool to see the team’s identity interwoven into the designs. If nothing else, this doesn’t look like a plain, off-the-rack option chosen in haste. When Tacoma’s attack rolls down the field like a storm engulfing their opponents, they’ll look the part. If you want to look the part as well, jerseys are available from the team store.