It’s NCAA gymnastics season and the leotards are as sparkly as ever. And with new designs comes 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, sparkle, school spirit and uniqueness, and up to three points for overall appearance. This week Peri, Tavia and Savanna are joining our editor-in-chief, Elizabeth, to help judge.
Don’t agree with our ranking? Make your opinion heard by voting in the fan poll at the end of the article each week or voicing your thoughts on social media. And, wondering where the new NCGA and USAG team leos are? Check out our ranking of those leotards the week after each respective national championship at the end of the season.
UC Davis: 8.725
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 9.300
Design 2.9/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.9/3
I LOVE this! The ombre is lovely, the gold is just the right amount, and the design is flattering. All-time favorite Aggie leo, hands down.
Peri: 8.700
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
This could pass for UC Davis’ answer to UCLA’s centennial leo, and I see nothing wrong with that. The royal blue is also a welcome departure from the Aggies’ arsenal of navy.
Tavia: 7.600
Design 2.1/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
I’m getting a little “Under the Sea” vibes from this one. I’m not entirely mad about it. Ombre is always a winner. Not super in love with the gold design, but there are worse things that UC Davis could do and has done.
Savanna: 9.300
Design 2.9/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
Oooooh, I’m obsessed with this! The ombre is a perfect balance between white and blue. The gold sparkles are the best part because it’s a perfect balance with the other colors. Love love love!
Nebraska: 8.700
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 8.900
Design 2.7/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
I love this! The geometric design on the front reminds me of lasers, and the ombre is just perfect. I also really like the back strap and of course the CORN. This is just active enough not to be overwhelming.
Peri: 8.100
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
Nebraska has been on a roll lately with torso designs that look like superhero armor, and I applaud it for sticking to that theme. However, the front detailing looks thin compared to the ‘Huskers” text on the back—and I wish that text was in its signature font to really sell the corn motif. This may be the Emma Spence effect, but if we add a leaf, this could be a GymCAN design soon.
Tavia: 8.500
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
The baby corn cob is SENDING me! This is a really good design for Nebraska. Typically, I’m not a fan of its leotard choices, but this design is a departure from the norm. The back is my hands-down favorite part, but the amount of sparkles and red to black ombre are also nice.
Savanna: 9.300
Design 2.8/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
It’s CORN! *Insert the corn-eating boy from TikTok here.* Anyway, the design overall is a win. I love the balance between the red, white, and black in the ombre, and I am always appreciative of a great geometric design. I wish they wouldn’t have thrown a red streak in on that pattern because you can barely see it, but overall, I am a fan.
Washington: 8.250
View images of this leotard here and a video here.
Elizabeth: 8.300
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I love an athletic look! This is an overall great leo. While the “Mighty are the Women” on the back is a bit cheesy–-I would have preferred a simple “Huskies” I think—it’s still a nice gesture toward women’s empowerment.
Peri: 8.300
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.4/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I’m a big fan of leos that look like jerseys! The gold piping also looks golder than most Washington leotard golds. For the art nerds, the medium doesn’t match the message on the back’s text—it either needs to be a bigger or a bolder font to look like it belongs completely.
Tavia: 8.000
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I love the sporty feel of this design. I’m also into the play on words with the Washington fight song in support of Title IX. This leo is simple, effective and looks really comfortable, so it’s a yes from me.
Savanna: 8.400
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I’m normally not a fan of the white, athletic look, but this works for Washington! It’s enough mix of white with other colors that it doesn’t look too cheesy, and the nod to Title IX with the fight song makes this a winner.
UCLA: 7.450
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 6.900
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
UCLA used this weird half-hearted tie dye fabric a couple seasons ago, and I didn’t like it again either. It just looks like either they have chalk on themselves or they dribbled water on their fronts while brushing their teeth before the meet. The sleeves are lovely, though, as well as the shade of blue of the body fabric.
Peri: 7.700
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
THIS is how you blend mesh arms into a torso. If I’m being picky, I just wish the back clasp was navy as well.
Tavia: 7.500
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
Love love LOVE the back. The keyhole and the jeweling details on the sleeves are everything. However, the front leaves a bit to be desired. I think I mostly wish the blotchy fading from dark to lighter blue occurred a touch lower on the bodice, plus maybe a few more sparkles.
Savanna: 7.700
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
I love the sparkle on the sleeves, and the open back is a win! My only big complaint about this is that it looks like they were trying to ombre the front and it just did not work in execution. It needs a little more of the dark blue at the top for me to like it more.
Illinois State: 6.700
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 6.900
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, Theme Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
This is a great pink leo. I love the subtle pink ombre on the sleeves, and the design itself on the body is classic. While this leo isn’t anything revolutionary, it’s miles better than Illinois State’s old pink leo and an upgrade for sure.
Peri: 6.600
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, Theme Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
Points from me on using navy instead of black for the torso. It makes this leo look less flat. I also applaud the color matching on the rhinestones, bridging the pink shoulders. It can’t score higher, though, because it looks like a training leo with sleeves.
Tavia: 6.700
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, Theme Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I like this. Simple, sweet, gets the job done. It’s nothing groundbreaking but fine enough. I did knock points because I can feel how uncomfortable that leo is through the screen.
Savanna: 6.600
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, Theme Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
It bothers me that the sparkle isn’t all the way to the edge of the pink, but it is nice. I am a sucker for a nice ombre, and having it on the sleeves is a big plus for me.
Towson: 6.375
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 6.800
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
I have mixed opinions on this one. I like the lean into the tiger theme, as well as the creativity behind the claw mark open-back holes. However, I don’t think it was executed perfectly. The holes are a bit too high up, making for a messy bra situation. And there’s also the fact that we couldn’t figure out if this was new because overall it sort of has an old feel.
Peri: 6.200
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
Cutouts aside, my only real gripe with this design is that the front and back look like they belong to different leotards. It’s also tricky to have stones contrast both black and gold, so some of them get lost in the lighter fabric.
Tavia: 6.200
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 1.7/3
I wanted to like this, but I simply cannot get into it. It reminds me of some tiger stripe-leos we’ve seen from LSU before but a duller version. I wish the gold was a bit more of a vibrant shade. The idea of the stripes on the back was nice in theory but strange in execution. I appreciate Towson trying to think outside the box, though.
Savanna: 6.300
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 1.7/3
I love the thought behind this, but it’s a little too dull color-wise for me. I appreciate the school spirit aspect behind it with the tiger claws, but I wish they would’ve focused solely on the front and not done it on the back because it just looks odd.
Oregon State: 5.975
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 5.900
Design 1.6/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.6/3
This is inoffensive but also unexciting. I’m not a fan of the straight neckline, but the sparkly Benny Beaver is super cute. I like the pointy oval shape of the back and the grey ombre arms, too.
Peri: 5.300
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 1.6/3
Why is there an open back with such little sparkle around it, after seeing the applique be the star of the show on the front? The geometric neckline also contrasts with the sparkles being super organic. Overall, it feels like a very 2018-ish sequel to the early 2010’s trend of large logos encompassing one rib.
Tavia: 5.700
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
This one falls rather flat to me. The keyhole is nice, but there’s literally nothing else on the back. Not in love with the neckline either. Honestly, I didn’t notice the beaver at first, just a collection of orange sparkles on a plain black leo.
Savanna: 7.000
Design 1.6/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.1/3
The beaver on the front is a choice, but it’s not super obvious so it works for me. The sparkles and the keyhole back are a plus, but the scoop neck is not my favorite.
William & Mary: 4.900
View an image of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 5.800
Design 0.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, Theme Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 0.5/3
Uhh… I really have no words. It’s bold. I’ll give it that.
Peri: 4.000
Design 0.6/3, Fabric 0.3/1, Sparkle 0.2/1, Theme Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 0.9/3
Straight out of the leaked 2023 Barbie movie production photos. The top pattern looks like an early ’90s wetsuit between the colorway, florals, and what I’m choosing to see as a faux zipper on said wetsuit. Take off the sleeves though, and the sublimation would make it such a fun training leo.
Tavia: 4.400
Design 1.0/3, Fabric 0.2/1, Sparkle 0.2/1, Theme Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 1.0/3
Oh my goodness, no. This is giving 2008 Hawaiian vacation attire.
Savanna: 5.400
Design 1.0/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, Theme Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
It definitely wins in the uniqueness category because I’ve never seen another one like it. I’m leaving it there.
Fan Poll
Congrats to Kent State for winning the Week 4 fan poll! Vote for your favorite from Week 5 here.
READ THIS NEXT: Leotard Rankings: Week 4
Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Peri Goodman, Tavia Smith and Savanna Whitten
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