The Mystics and all WNBA teams are expected to have “City” Edition alternate jerseys in the 2021 season, according to report

If there’s one complaint I have about the WNBA, it’s that jerseys are quite plain throughout the league. Sure, white jerseys are gone. But every team wears a similar jersey design, whether it’s their “Icon” or “Statement” Edition jerseys, which were initially released before the 2018 season. There have been some minor changes since then, like replacing numbers on the front with team logos. But let’s be honest. The WNBA’s jerseys are boilerplate.

Anyway, according to Percy Allen of The Seattle Times, via an interview with Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird, every WNBA team will have a “City Edition” jersey this season. The jerseys are expected to be unveiled in April. Here’s the quote from the article:

Against her better judgment, Bird said the WNBA plans to unveil three new jerseys — a traditional home and away uniform as well as an alternative “city-inspired” jersey — for all 12 teams sometime next month.

“So stay tuned,” she said. “There’s your tease that I probably wasn’t supposed to say.”

Allen’s article focused primarily on Bird signing a one-year contract extension worth the supermax with Seattle. As the WNBA’s longest tenured player, career assists leader and one of the best shooters and scorers in league history, that contract is well-deserved. I’ve always admired Bird’s play. But at the same time, we’re supporting the Washington Mystics, not the Washington State professional basketball team. (Puns are intentional!)

Currently teams have three jerseys: An “Icon”, “Statement” and a breast cancer awareness jersey which is outlined in pink as you can see in the picture of Bird above while facing Ariel Atkins. The breast cancer jersey is not for sale and worn only once during a season, so teams really only have two different jerseys they wear regularly. So if there is a “City” alternate, we can expect to see teams have four total jerseys including the breast cancer awareness one.

Regarding this topic specifically from a local lens, the Mystics’ “Icon” jersey is their red one while their “Statement” jersey is their navy blue one. A “City” Jersey could be red, blue, white, black or gray. I have no idea how a design would look like. And it could be a Jordan Brand jersey. Or a Converse one. I mean ... who knows?

Since the Mystics share the same ownership group as the Washington Wizards, perhaps they will wear a “Stars and Stripes” jersey that the NBA team wears right now. Or perhaps they could wear a jersey that matches their original color scheme back from 1998-2010. I personally think their jerseys from 2003-06 were their best looking ones before advertising sponsorships got in the way.

Anyway, that’s all I have on this topic without needlessly speculating. In the meantime, how do you wish a Mystics “City” Edition to look like this season? Let us know in the comments below. We will update on this topic if and when there’s anything more.