"The better I look and feel, the better I play"

LESS REALLY IS MORE

Maddy Elmore
Athletics, University of Oregon

"In the summer, I like wearing just a sports bra and tight-fitting clothes—as little clothing as possible. We warm up in this rain jacket that is huge on me, but when I take it off to race, there's a real transition in how I feel. With less on, I feel more free.

 My kit has changed as I've progressed. I always thought briefs would be super uncomfortable, but now I love them. When I put them on and I'm doing my strides before a race, I feel good. I used to have lucky socks and all those things, but now that I've got older I tell myself, this is just another day. If everything's not perfect right before a race, it's OK, because I do this every day in training.

I'm from Eugene, I was born and raised here, so the Oregon kit is very meaningful to me. When I was younger I would go to watch all the meets at Hayward Field. Now, I wear the same kit as athletes I always looked up to, and I take a lot of pride in that".

THE RITUALS MATTER

Jaiden Rodriguez
Football midfielder, USA National Team

"It's always an honour to step onto the pitch, but playing for the national team is something else. We always talk about 'borrowing the shirt'—it's not yours until you're on the senior team. On youth teams, you're borrowing the number. It is a privilege even to step in the dressing room.

 There are different personalities and different rituals for the team. It's all over the place until the end, when we come together before we head out onto the pitch. I don't know if it's a superstition, but I always hold my shinguards in my hand while I warm up. I like being light on my feet when I get my touches in. Then, when we go into contact, I put them on, pull my socks up and I'm ready to go".

THE BEST LOOK IS A REAL LOOK

Simone Jackson
Football forward, University of Southern California

"Shirts mean so much to me. I have the one from my U20 Women's World Cup team framed, and it's a constant reminder to dream big. I also feel like shirts play a big part when I'm supporting. I vividly remember going to the Women's World Cup final in Lyon—my family and I were fully decked out. When you're there and you get the shirt, you're almost one with the team. It's just 10 times better. So, if I go to a game, I get the shirt.

On game day, I am big on my hair. In Black hair culture, sometimes you feel like you have to add or straighten. I'm a natural-hair girl, because I think you don't necessarily have to do something to feel red-carpet ready. When I play, I wear my hair in its most natural, curly state. I want to let all the little girls that look like me know that your best look can be your most natural look, so my hair is super big, as poofy as possible. I don't really do make-up. I brush my teeth and smile big. Maybe I'll do my edges, if I'm feeling a little extra.

Football is obviously a team sport, and I've always been big on looking uniform with the team. At USC, we don't do last names on the back of the shirt, and I like the fact that it's team before self. We have our team mantra on the back, 'we over me'. But off the pitch, I want to be the most unique. Even if we have the same thing, I want to dress it up differently, turn a head or two. I like bright colours, clothes that are fun yet simple. I make every day a fit day; I'm not afraid to go to class looking fitted".

DRESS FOR THE ENERGY YOU WANT

Kiara Romero
Golf, University of Oregon

"I like to dress up when I play. I want to feel good out there. I'll curl my hair, wear ribbons and do a little bit of make-up. I like that tennis vibe some players have—kind of country club. I usually go with a skirt and a light top, a sweatshirt or a long sleeve. Most of the time I keep the colours subtle, then some days I'll feel it out. If it's a nice, easy day, I'll take it easy with the colour. If I feel like I need to play more aggressively, I'll go with a brighter colour to match that energy. I always match the colour of my top with the pen I use on my golf ball. Golf balls all look the same, and you don't want to accidentally hit someone else's, so everyone marks their ball. I have like, eight pens in my golf bag. Actually, there's a lot of stuff in there.

Golf gloves get a lot of attention. I do this thing where I don't close the glove completely, it just kind of hangs open. When I get nervous, my hands get a little sweaty. The gloves are looser that way, less restricted, and I like a bit of airflow in there".

FIND YOUR VISUAL REMINDER

Scottie Antonucci
Football midfielder, USA National Team

"I remember when I first put on the crest for the national team. I was at my first camp and I went to the equipment manager to pick up my stuff, and when I looked down at the crest in my hands, I was like, this is a little weird. This is what Alex Morgan wears. This is what Carli Lloyd wears. This kit is worn by all these players, and now it's in my hands. Knowing that I'm playing for something more than myself is extremely important to me. When I'm feeling down or I know I've got to keep pushing through, I'll look down at my crest. I'll even tap on it sometimes. It reminds you that you're playing for something that all these players before you did too—men and women that you've always looked up to. Now, you play a small part in that. That's what really motivates me on the pitch".

Learn more about Nike's 50 years of advancing women's sportswear and women's sport in the new book "Look Good, Feel Good, Play Good: Nike Apparel", which charts a visual history of the relationship between women and the garments they wear.