Women’s soccer team removes white shorts from their kit to put players at ease during period
The Orlando Pride, a team in the National Women's Soccer League, will compete this year with players donning black shorts as opposed to white. The team explained that they want the players to feel "more comfortable and confident" while they're on their period during a game. "The reasons behind not wanting to wear white shorts are clear, but it is, unfortunately, something that hasn't been addressed until recently," Orlando Pride midfielder Erika Tymrak said in a statement shared by the team. "I think it's a big step for us as a Club to make players feel comfortable and allow us to focus solely on competing," she added.
The team said it's the first in the NWSL to alter its uniform in response to player complaints about feeling uncomfortable while donning white on their period. In their opening match of the 2023 season against the Portland Thorns on March 26, the club will make its new look debut, Good Morning America reported.
This week, The Pride posted a notice on social media about changing its uniform. The announcement on Instagram was captioned, "In addition to new numbers, we will become the first NWSL team to update to dark shorts due to period concerns, continuing our investments in providing first-class player experience and care."
“We must remove the stigma involved in discussing the health issues impacting women and menstruating non-binary and trans athletes if we want to maximize performance and increase accessibility to the sport. I am proud to be part of a Club that is making a small but extremely impactful change when it comes to both our professional and youth players,” Orlando Pride VP of Soccer Operations and General Manager Haley Carter said in the statement.
“The experience that players have and the safety and comfort they feel when wearing an Orlando Pride crest is a critical area of focus for us. We will continue to not only listen to player feedback but keep taking steps to make Orlando a world-class destination for athletes,” Carter added.
The NWSL was established in 2012 and currently has 12 clubs, including the Orlando Pride. The Pride's modification of its uniforms is the most recent step in a rising trend to reduce the stigma associated with menstruation and improve access to menstrual care. "This is a commendable move by the Orlando Pride and one that will surely improve the level of comfort amongst its players,” said Team Choice OBGYN Dr. Christine Greves of Orlando Health Medical Group.
“As a society, we need to continue to work to normalize talking about the health and well-being pertaining to the female body and the period is a huge part of that. The more we do that, the more we’ll be setting up our athletes for success both on and off the field,” the OBGYN added.