Around this same time last year, five WNBA teams replaced their original Rebel threads with new Rebel jerseys.
Those teams were the New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx, Indiana Fever, Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings.
This time – six more WNBA teams also did the same in advance of the 2024 season. Those teams are the Connecticut Sun, Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks, Las Vegas Aces, Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury.
What it means is the Atlanta Dream is the only team that still has the same Rebel, Explorer and Heroine jerseys since the WNBA and Nike overhauled the jersey combinations for our 12 teams since its 25thanniversary in 2021.
Now that we know what new drip six of our team will be balling out in this season – we give our reviews. What are some of yours?
Los Angeles Sparks
We begin our team-by-team review of the new Rebels with the team in the biggest market that announced a change.
There is something about that signature gold and purple that simply works for a uniform. When the Sparks mention the “new classic,” Tinseltown’s resident WNBA team delivered.
The Sparks’ new gold uniform goes perfectly with its Explorer jersey which puts more emphasis on the purple. These jerseys also pay homage to when the team played at The Forum as well as the old 1999 uniform the Sparks used to wear.
Solid. Gold.
Chicago Sky
If it is one thing the Sky have done well since the uniform revamp prior to 2021, it is deliver great uniforms.
The Sky’s Heroines and Explorers are already among the best in the WNBA and Chicago’s updated Rebels do so again.
These uniforms resembling the daytime…well…sky with the white blending in with the sky blue certainly give it a unique look. The wording and numbers outlined in gold and white also add to a distinguished style. Of course, there would be several appearances by Chicago’s signature symbol – the six-sided star.
Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese will have 100 watt grins on their faces seeing these uniforms.
Las Vegas Aces
This offseason, the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces did not just announce a new Rebel jersey, but new Heroines and Explorers that go hand in hand with its updated colors.
In classic Mark Davis fashion, the Aces have adopted the signature silver and black colors that have made its sister franchise – the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders – one of the more revered franchises throughout sports.
The Aces did vow to keep emphasizing red even if the color may no longer be in its primary logo. It did that with its new Rebel and resembles the previous Rebel that was black with gold wording and numerals.
We will miss those old Aces Heroines though….
Connecticut Sun
A regal look for a WNBA team consistently brings its regal style of play to the court in a game-by-game basis.
The jerseys once again pay homage to the Mohegan Tribe – the entity that owns the Connecticut Sun. It also includes a reference to the Orlando Miracle which is what the franchise initially was before 2003 when the Mohegan Tribe purchased the team and moved it to Connecticut.
The “Keesusk” wordmark also stays as was the case with the original blue Rebel jersey that the team debuted in 2021. The Sun’s new Rebel is forged by tradition.
Seattle Storm
The 2024 season will also be the 25th anniversary of the Seattle Storm. The team intends to celebrate that 25th anniversary with its new Rebels to go alongside the team itself having a new look with Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith joining Jewell Loyd.
We certainly understand what the Storm may have been going for with its previous Rebel jerseys but these certainly feel more in line with the more updated look Seattle has embraced over the last few years.
Perhaps the only thing missing are little volt green bolts of lightning to resemble a storm of rain droplets but we digress…
Phoenix Mercury
Mat Ishbia looked at all of the teams that were dropping new Rebel jerseys and said hold my Casamigos.
Because the Phoenix Mercury not only dropped a new Rebel – the team also announced a new alternative court.
The inspiration for the new Mercury threads come from The Valley City Edition jerseys Phoenix’s NBA sister team – the Suns – wear that have been a hit across Arizona. It also keeps the “PHX” with the “X” in orange as a reference to the Mercury’s famed X-Factor – one of the most passionate fanbases throughout the WNBA.
If this is indeed Diana Taurasi’s final season, the Mercury intend to send her out in style.
