It’s NCAA gymnastics season, and the leotards are as sparkly as ever. With new designs come your favorite series: Leotard Rankings! Each week we’re analyzing leotard debuts to find our weekly faves. There will be up to three points for design, up to one point each for fabric and sparkle, school spirit and uniqueness, and up to three points for overall appearance. This week Christina, Claire, Mary Emma and Talitha are joining editor in chief Elizabeth to help judge. Don’t agree with our ranking? Let us know your thoughts on this week’s leos in the comments or on social media!
And don’t forget to vote in the poll at the end of the article each week. We’ll be tabulating all the votes to find the overall fan favorite design soon!
Florida (Final): 8.840
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 9.200
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.9/3
YES, FLORIDA. When I saw this in person, it was love at first sight. I don’t even care about the weird chest holes because it’s AMAZING otherwise. The white is gorgeous, the blue and orange sparkles great and the back fantastic. Finally an outstanding Florida leo! Wear this for every meet until the end of time.
Christina: 8.400
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
Now that’s a Florida leo I can get behind. It’s gorgeous. I love the use of white but most importantly the use of a ton of orange sparkles. I love the back as well, although I would have gone even ballsiers and dropped the white mesh for a full “open back” look. But maybe that’s too synchronized swimming for gymnastics. Either way, probably my favorite Florida look of the season.
Claire: 8.700
Design 2.7/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I can’t believe what I’m about to say, but I think I really like these chest holes? I definitely like that it echos the back straps. The only thing I’d change is that out of place mesh panel in back. The white with blue and orange crystals is stellar; we’ll be talking about this look for a long time!
Mary Emma: 8.500
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
Really like this one! I thought the other one from this weekend was different, but this is nothing like anything Florida has ever done. I don’t usually love white leos, and I’m not a huge fan of the chest holes, but overall it’s a great design.
Talitha: 9.400
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
I love this! In terms of fabric and use of crystals, this is exactly how a white leotard should look. The weird chest holes are not my favorite thing but, as Claire said, I appreciate that they match the ones on the back. More of this style of leotards in the future, Florida!
Oklahoma: 7.980
View images of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 8.100
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I love it. It’s so classic Oklahoma and a design that says “national championship-winning leotard.” I was telling Emily M at the meet how KJ doesn’t take big risks for the team final and instead goes classic OU. This fits that mold perfectly. I love the white ribbing on the mesh chest, the chevron pattern on the white mesh sleeves and the body sparkle design. A leo fit for champions.
Christina: 8.400
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
Instant classic that’s perfect for Oklahoma. I love, love the front. I wish the back was a bit riskier, maybe with less white mesh or something a bit more open, but it doesn’t bother me so much because it fits the entire look. I love the red straps on the back, which gave the leo a very athletic look. And of course, I love all the sparkles.
Claire: 7.800
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This is downright subtle and sedate by Oklahoma standards, but the attention to detail is classic KJ Kindler. I love how the chevron pattern carries throughout, and particularly in the parallel neck piping and crystal belt.
Mary Emma: 7.900
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This is so classic Oklahoma that I wouldn’t have realized this was new if it wasn’t pointed out to me. I really like the patterns on the front and the sleeves, and overall it’s a great design.
Talitha: 7.700
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
As others have said, this is a classic Oklahoma design. The paradigm may feel a bit repetitive, but you don’t change a winning formula and KJ Kindler has certainly found it!
Auburn: 7.780
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.500
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I don’t like this as much in pictures, but in person it was stunning. It so very Auburn, yet is also unique. I love the navy and white combo, especially when paired with orange and blue sparkles, which separates it from looking too much like a Penn State leo, for example.
Christina: 6.700
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
Love the back, dislike the front. The chest hole is a big no, and the sparkled mandala-ish pattern on the front is random. The back is stunning with the soft straps and the Auburn across the back, and I have to say the ombré sleeves are a nice addition.
Claire: 8.200
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
From the back, this is a 10/10 for me. I love everything about it from the big, bold AUBURN outlined in crystals to the ruched white panels across the otherwise open back. The front is pretty but generic, especially in comparison.
Mary Emma: 8.600
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I love everything about this except for the collar around the neck. It looks so uncomfortable and out of place. The back is really pretty, as are the ombre sleeves.
Talitha: 7.900
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
I think there’s a bit too much going on in this leotard, and as a result, the various parts look a bit disjointed. However, I appreciate the use of the school colors in the crystals, and I love the ombre sleeves and the back straps.
Alabama: 7.060
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.000
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
This is good but not amazing. The sleeves were SO sparkly in person, and that underlying print gave the fabric a ruched effect without it actually being ruched, which I thought was cool. The shade of crimson is lovely, too.
Christina: 7.100
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
This one grew on me, but it’s a bit disjointed. I like parts separately but not together. The solid red bodice is simple yet elegant, and I love the sparkle pattern on the front. The sleeves are crazy sparkly, and I am here for it. Similarly, I love the ombré straps on the back. But, there is no real connection between the two. I wish maybe the bodice or the sleeves had a similar ombré as the straps, or that the straps matched the red a bit more?
Claire: 6.200
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
The rich reds of the bodice and sleeves are beautiful, and the sparkle design on the chest is nice albeit simple. The side of the sleeves are so comparatively chaotic while the white fabric on back looks like bandages; both elements are out of place.
Mary Emma: 7.000
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
This is nice, but I wish there was a bit more to it. I do love the back straps.
Talitha: 8.000
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
This looks better in motion than it does in photos. The design on the front is quite pretty, and the back is beautiful. While the white in the straps comes out of nowhere, the ombre is stunning. The only detail I really don’t like is the thin neck.
Florida (Semifinal): 6.980
View images of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.000
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I’m not a big fan of the black and blue combination in general, but I liked this leo. I know, me liking a Florida leo? The world must be ending. But it looks good with the subtle ombre, the way the sparkle pattern spreads out and the open back.
Christina: 6.400
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
This is basically a sparkly powerade bottle. I am a bit over the black and blue combination from Florida overall. Although, I have to admit the ombre here is quite nice. Big fan of the open back too.
Claire: 7.600
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This leo is right up my alley: simple, sporty and sparkly. The vivid blue on black is a really nice departure for the Gators, and the ombre in unexpected places really helps the blue pop.
Mary Emma: 7.500
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
Kudos to Florida for doing something that doesn’t look exactly like all its other leos, but someone pointed out that it looks like a Powerade bottle, and I can’t unsee it. Still, it’s a good design that is growing on me more and more.
Talitha: 6.400
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I really like the use of crystals here, but the design is not my cup of tea. It’s asymmetric in a way I don’t like, and there seem to be too many colors and too many different fabrics.
Stanford: 6.120
Elizabeth: 6.600
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I really like this as a whole. When I stare at it for too long, the bottom makes it look like she’s wearing a back brace, but I can get over that because I love the gunmetal grey on top, the back and the red accents. A great leo for Bryant to close out her career wearing.
Christina: 5.200
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.4/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 1.7/3
There is a bit too much going on at once here, particularly in the back. I’ve also never been a fan of metallic grey on any leo, and this one is no exception.
Claire: 5.000
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
Everything about this design is just fine. I can’t point to any single element that I either like or dislike, and out of context (and without seeing the name on the back) I certainly couldn’t tell you which team it belongs to.
Mary Emma: 7.100
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
Really like this one! The back is gorgeous, and I always love when teams incorporate the gunmetal gray color in their leos. It just doesn’t scream Stanford to me.
Talitha: 6.700
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.1/3
Like Christina, I’m not a fan of metallic grey. At first, I didn’t like the chest design either, but then I realized it probably represents Stanford’s Tree and I re-evaluated it a bit. The back band is lovely.
LSU: 6.020
View an image of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 6.900
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I actually like this! The mostly black look with purple and yellow accents and enormous amount of sparkles looks great. I can’t comment on how it looked in person because Johnson competed for about 2.5 seconds then disappeared—and I missed those 2.5 second—but Emily M said it was like a sparkle bomb. This is one I’m bummed the whole team couldn’t wear, but I’m assuming it will in due time.
Christina: 6.300
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.6/3
All I see is the peace sign without the circle around it. Not a fan of this one, especially of the lighter purple mesh and the golden bands. I’m also not not keen on the double vertical straps on the back; I would have loved a simple open back. I did love how incredibly, ridiculously sparkly it was on TV, particularly the back.
Claire: 6.000
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
I could see this being pretty spectacular in person, just a veritable sparkle bomb. In photos, all I’m getting is a bedazzled peace sign. I’m also not particularly keen on the color palette: The lighter purple and yellow are weirdly pastel, and the darker purple shade is too close to the black.
Mary Emma: 4.900
Design 1.0/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.0/3
There’s just too much going on here for me to like it. I generally don’t love mostly black leos anyway, and the sparkles are a bit much for my taste.
Talitha: 6.000
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
Mmm, I’m not a fan… There’s too much of everything—too many crystals, too much black and too much similarity with previous leotards. The one thing I like is the chest design that creates a sort of arrow. It seems to say, “The only way is up,” which may be a good motto for LSU next year.
Utah: 5.320
View a video of this leotard here and images here.
Elizabeth: 6.400
Design 1.6/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
I love most of this, but the neckline is so bad. It looks like those sweaters with the big collars and the single button. You know the ones I’m talking about? The white and red together are GREAT, though. Also, why are there clearly sparkles under the overlapping fabrics on the chest? Why waste sparkles on an area that’s covered?
Christina: 4.500
Design 1.0/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.2/3
I saw on Twitter someone say it looked like a straightjacket and that’s all I can see now. This leo overall wasn’t a great fit and could have been much better if the boob sling wasn’t so high up. I’m also a bit annoyed that the shades of red are not the same.
Claire: 4.900
Design 1.2/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.2/3
Forget aesthetics, this leo just looks uncomfortable to wear. There is so much fabric around the neck and the underboob panel (?) looks unnecessarily restrictive and prone to shift out of place. The back redeems the design somewhat.
Mary Emma: 4.300
Design 0.8/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 0.8/3
This one is a no from me. I really hate all the fabric around the neck, and the leo doesn’t seem very cohesive. The back is kind of cool though. Really disappointing after Utah debuted one of my favorite leos of all time at last year’s national final.
Talitha: 6.500
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.2/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.1/3
I think this design has potential, but it would have looked much better on a matte fabric instead of a shiny one—and with a semi-transparent red belt.
Fan Poll
Congrats to Centenary for winning the USAG fan poll! Vote for your favorite from NCAA nationals here.
READ THIS NEXT: Leotard Rankings: USAG Teams
Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Christina Marmet, Claire Billman, Mary Emma Burton and Talitha Ilacqua
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