When the college gymnastics season rolls around, some fans are excited for perfect 10s while others look forward to difficult skills and fun choreography. But we’re not going to lie. While those things are great, we love the leos most of all. And so, we’re back for another season of leotard rankings!
Each week we’re analyzing new designs to find our weekly faves. As always, leos can earn 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 Julianna, Talitha, Peri, and Aaron are joining editor-in-chief Elizabeth for judging. And, reminder that each season we save all the NCGA and USAG new team leos to judge together at the end of each division’s respective postseason, so be on the lookout for our thoughts on those then!
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 by voicing your thoughts on social media!
San Jose State: 9.320
View a video of this leotard here and details here.
Elizabeth: 9.800
Design 3.0/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 3.0/3
I LOVE this!!! San Jose State is such an underrated leotard team (as is Spektrum, the brand of this one and all of the Spartans’ recent designs). The shade of blue used paired with the yellow is perfect, the colored rhinestones are phenomenal and make the wave design pop, and I love the subtle striped fabric in between the solid parts. Plus, the ombre and open back! I can’t think of one thing I’d change.
Julianna: 9.300
Design 2.7/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 3/3
This leotard is beautiful! I love the shade of blue and how the use of yellow is accented and not overwhelming. The open back is *chefs kiss*. We never really see this much open in an open-back leotard, and I honestly really love it. I love the sequin spartan on the shoulder, and the high-but-not-choking high neck. This might be one of my favorite leos from San Jose State—it’s checking all the boxes!
Talitha: 8.400
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.9/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I’m not as enamored of this leotard as my fellow editors, but it’s certainly pretty and clever! The shades of blue work very well together, as well as with the shade of yellow. The ombre effect is perfect, and the subtle stripes create a fake ombre effect that is incredibly effective. I’m not a fan of the plainly open back, but that’s just personal taste.
Peri: 9.600
Design 2.9/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.8/3
Whoever designed this at Spektrum knew all of my weak points: multiple types of stones, a deliberate open back, and mesh arms blending into the torso. In the best way possible, it uses a 2010’s concept and delivers it with 2020’s technology.
Aaron: 9.500
Design 3.0/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.9/3
I love leotards that show school spirit, and this leotard screams San Jose State. Although it’s not particularly unique, in my opinion, the design in combination with the gold and white sparkles give an elegant look.
Talladega: 8.260
View a video of this leotard here and images here.
Elizabeth: 8.100
Design 2.4/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
Yes, Dega! Talladega has some great school colors to work with. I love the printed design here, as well as the blue to red ombre. The back is interesting without going overboard, and the overall look is very elegant.
Julianna: 8.100
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
I am in love with these colors! These two look so beautiful together, and I especially love the back chandelier sparkles. This is being really nit-picky, but I feel like the writing should have all been one font. I know that is a part of Talladega’s logo, but I feel like all cursive or all print would have added to the elegance of this leo! This fabric also looks super comfortable, which I’m sure all the athletes appreciate.
Talitha: 8.700
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
I love this! The colors are lovely and work very well together. I really like that the crystals enhance the design and look like a piece of jewelry. I will give an extra point for the beautiful ombre work.
Peri: 8.300
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.6/3
This leo is a breath of fresh air, with the balancing of ombre and crisp edges. I’m normally a faux-belt-hater, but seeing it paired with the stones incorporates it into the larger torso design really well. Finally, this leo looks so comfortable with the printed fabric and well-thought-out use of stones.
Aaron: 8.100
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.3/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
This leo has a great color scheme, and the sparkles on the leotard are very fitting to the design. I’m not a big fan of the fabric of this leotard, but I think it’s nicely designed and has a nice ombre effect that I appreciate.
Kentucky: 8.060
View images of this leotard here and a video here.
Elizabeth: 7.500
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
I really like this! It’s simple, but the rhinestones do a lot of the heavy lifting to make this a sort of wrap design. I also love the shade of blue used for the body, as well as the touches of school spirit here and there.
Julianna: 7.700
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This is such a Kentucky leo. I know that’s obvious because it’s for Kentucky, but anytime I think of this team, this is the kind of leo I picture. I love the sparkles on both sides and how they “firework” almost from the side in the front. I also love that the back is simple. I appreciate all of the school spirit aspects in these, like the rhinestone Wildcat and UK on the hip, and I feel like this was just enough for their first home meet of the season.
Talitha: 8.900
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.8/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
I love this! I find it really beautiful and clever. The crystals help create an elegant wrap effect that looks like something in between an haute couture dress and a flower. The shades of blue of both the fabrics and the rhinestones work perfectly together, and the result is very flattering. My minor criticism is that I would’ve loved to see the design continue on the back of the leo, but you can’t have everything!
Peri: 6.800
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 1.0/1, School Spirit 0.4/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
The stones are the main character, and I applaud the fact that they’re given their moment instead of competing with a print underneath. That being said, if I only saw the left side of this leo, I could argue that it’s so many different blue teams’, so the stones need to be a bit more purposeful.
Aaron: 9.400
Design 3.0/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 3.0/3
This is my favorite leotard so far. That shade of blue is so powerful, and the mesh sleeves and back look comfortable and flattering. This leotard is also filled with crystals, which I am a big fan of. Although I love the leotard, it looks like other Kentucky leotards that I’ve seen before, so I have to dock some points off uniqueness.
Missouri: 7.580
View a video of this leotard here, details here, and a front pic here.
Elizabeth: 7.300
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I like this, but I think it would have been better if the sleeves were solid black rather than mesh. The contrast between the two materials just doesn’t look right. I love the tiger stripes done in rhinestones, though—the gold paired with the silver make the details pop—and the strappy but not over-the-top back.
Julianna: 7.700
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.75/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
There is a lot going on in this leo, but I really do like it! I always like black leos because of how sleek they come off, especially on TV, but I feel like I would have liked this more with a little less. I love the front, but I feel the back should have been a little simpler. I would have kept everything and just removed “Tigers” from the back and let the back straps have their moment.
Talitha: 8.000
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.9/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.3/3
I think this is the type of leotard that looks better in motion than in pictures. When you watch gymnasts perform in it, especially on floor, it screams “strong Tiger.” Design-wise, I like the front better than the back. The back is a bit busy for my taste, and I’m not sure it matches the front.
Peri: 6.700
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
On my earlier tangent of “training leo with sleeves”, this would look more coherent if it were all the same fabric. I’m also a big fan of the black mystique, but since it can shimmer on its own, I’m happy with less happening on top of it. The back and the front are both decorated as if they’re the front, which is where this loses points for me relative to other teams known for blinging out full black leos (Hi, Iowa and Maryland).
Aaron: 8.200
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.2/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
Personally, I am a big fan of black leotards, and this one is great! I love that the tiger stripes that are showered in sparkles, and the sleeves have just a touch of sparkle that is not too overpowering. The big “Mizzou” in crystals over the chest embodies Missouri school spirit, and the gymnasts look proud to wear it!
Clemson: 7.400
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.200
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
The theme of Clemson’s leotards in its inaugural season is loud—some more successful than others. I like this for the most part. When you go full orange, it’s hard to be subtle, so I’m glad they didn’t try to do too much. I just maybe wish the paw print was a touch smaller?
Julianna: 6.700
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
Out of the three Clemson leotards so far, this is my favorite. I think this truly screams Clemson, but I almost wish there was more than just the paw print. I like it, and I like the school spirit, but I wish there was a little more pizazz somewhere other than the paw print.
Talitha: 7.500
Design 2.2/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
This is my favorite of the three leotards Clemson’s debuted so far. It’s quite simple but effective; the paw is the right size to shine from afar, and the school spirit is 100% there. My only criticism is that the back is a bit plain. Perhaps something more could’ve been done with it.
Peri: 7.600
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.6/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.6/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
For all of our talk about “give that training leo sleeves, and it’d look great for competition,” I’m really happy with how this turned out! If it were on a black, red, or navy base, I think we’d see it as a bit tired, but Clemson has the advantage of being able to use orange and count that as a design element. My favorite of the three (or four if you count the one in promo shots) so far.
Aaron: 8.000
Design 2/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I really like this leo, but it’s a little too orange. It perfectly embodies Clemson gymnastics, and I love the sparkles around the paw print. Some more background design on the leotard would have added some dimension that would tame the bright orange a bit. Overall, I really like this leotard.
Arkansas: 7.080
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 8.200
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.7/3
I really love the front, but the back feels disconnected. I think having white on the front somewhere (or no white on the back) would have gone a long way. The design feels super athletic, which I love, and I like the use of mesh in particular.
Julianna: 6.800
Design 2/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.5 /1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
I do like this leo; it just personally isn’t my favorite. I really love the front, but I wish that was translated to the back. I almost feel like the back came from a different leo. I do love the more simplistic use of these sparkles—it’s not too overwhelming. This design is really unique, but Arkansas always excels in that area.
Talitha: 6.400
Design 1.9/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I’m torn here. I really like the front and the sleeves, but I’m less positive about the back. As others have said, it doesn’t seem to match the front design, and the use of the white trim is especially puzzling. Bonus point for the clever use of mesh on the chest and sleeves, though!
Peri: 7.500
Design 2.6/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
Change the white trim to red and I’m completely sold. The mesh placement is strategic and pairs well with the stone pattern. It also looks way more comfortable than having stones right on the mesh.
Aaron: 6.500
Design 2/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
I love the classic Arkansas red, but I think the diamond shape crystal design could be a little more unique and meaningful. I agree with Peri. The white trim in the red should be changed to red; that would increase my score for overall appearance. It’s not a bad leotard by any means, but I feel like I have seen Arkansas wear this before.
California: 7.040
View a video of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 7.500
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2.4/3
I like this but I don’t love it. The thicker collar (but not a high one) is probably my favorite part. I like the back, too, and how it’s simple yet sparkly yet unique with the zipper. I’m normally not a fan of flowers/floral designs, but I think it works here with the various shades of blue working together.
Julianna: 6.700
Design 2/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 1/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 1/1, Overall Appearance 2.2/3
I have mixed feelings about this leo. I think it’s really beautiful and unique, but nothing about it says “Cal.” Not every leotard has to do this, but I would’ve loved the addition of something a little more Cal-esque. However, I do think it’s very flattering, and I love the intricate details in the rhinestoning. Plus, the use of the mesh in the back is pretty different.
Talitha: 8.200
Design 2.3/3, Fabric 0.9/1, Sparkle 0.9/1, School Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
This is a unique and sophisticated design, and I commend Cal for it. I appreciate schools who put thought and energy into producing interesting leotards. The pattern is lovely, and I like that the crystals emphasize it. However, given that Cal’s colors include gold, I would’ve liked to see the use of some shade of yellow integrated into it. Ideally, moreover, the design would’ve continued on the back of the leo.
Peri: 6.900
Design 1.8/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.8/1, School Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I’m not sure what to make of the back panels, but the front is quite lovely in motion. The florals are hard to pull off, but they work in this case. I wish it continued down the arms even more, though.
Aaron: 5.900
Design 1.0/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.7/1, School Spirit 0.2/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
This leotard has a similar design to leotards I’ve seen worn in the early 2010s but is modernized with the mesh fabric and abundance of sparkles. Although it’s not my favorite design, I think the overall appearance of this leotard is exceptional, and the back looks great.
New Hampshire: 6.200
View images of the front of this leotard here.
Elizabeth: 5.900
Design 1.7/3, Fabric 0.7/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, Theme Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
This is actually really nice, but the front is oddly plain. I could have used at least more sparkles on the chest if not a New hampshire or Wildcat logo or something. The back is nice without going overboard.
Julianna: 5.500
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, Theme Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.5/3
This design is really flattering—and I’m a big pink fan, so I always love a pink leo—but I wanted more from this. I feel like this leo had so much potential to add in something else that showed it was New Hampshire debuting it, but I wouldn’t be able to place this leo with a specific team. I do love the subtle details like the sparkles on the wrists and the high neck, but this was a little too plain for me.
Talitha: 6.400
Design 2.1/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.5/1, Theme Spirit 0.7/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.8/3
I like the design and the fabric, as well as the sparse but clever use of crystals on the front. It’s all very elegant. The shade of pink is not my favorite, though, and I would’ve liked the neck band to be thicker and higher.
Peri: 6.400
Design 2/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.6/1, Theme Spirit 0.6/1, Uniqueness 0.5/1, Overall Appearance 1.7/3
Lack of focal point aside, this leo is great! Big points from me for incorporating pink into the main body of the leo, tricking the eye into understanding this isn’t our run of the mill black leo with mesh sleeves. The double keyhole keeps the back fun and ties in nicely with the faux halter on the front.
Aaron: 6.800
Design 2.5/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.3/1, Theme Spirit 0.5/1, Uniqueness 0/1, Overall Appearance 2.5/3
I love the combination of pink and black, and the cutouts in the back are nicely placed and designed. But I feel like I’ve seen level 10s wear similar leos in their competitions since it’s such a basic design. The front is plain, and I would have loved to see more sparkles or some kind of design there.
BONUS! Texas Woman’s: 6.500
View a video of this leotard here.
Note: This leo is not new but rather a throwback to the 2008 season. However, it has never been judged by College Gym News, which is why it is a part of leotard rankings this week (but not with the other new USAG designs).
Elizabeth: 6.500
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.3/1, Throwback Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I love that Texas Woman’s does this for the alumni meet every year (although the throwback leos are getting a bit too close for comfort in years for me; the first one they wear that is a leo I’ve witnessed in person will be a traumatizing day). This is a classic 2000s athletic look, and it works for me. I just wish there was a bit more of a pop of maroon/crimson/red.
Julianna: 6.000
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.5/1, Sparkle 0.2/1, Throwback Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.8/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
I love that TWU brings these leos back out for a little extra love. I like this in the sense it was for the alumni meet, and again, I always think black leotards are super flattering, so it gets some points there. This leo really embodies the early 2000s, but for me it’s just lacking in the sparkle area. However, this was a great choice to bring back out for an alumni meet!
Talitha: 6.200
Design 1.5/3, Fabric 0.8/1, Sparkle 0.2/1, Throwback Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 0.7/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I love the simplicity of old leotards! This is a very athletic design that emphasizes the beauty of the gymnasts’ bodies. Plus, as Julianna said, black is indeed an elegant color. Like everyone else, I commend TWU for its use of throwback leotards—it’s a lovely tradition!
Peri: 6.600
Design 2/3, Fabric 1/1, Sparkle 0.2/1, Throwback Spirit 1/1, Uniqueness 0.4/1, Overall Appearance 2/3
Loving it, even though I know there’s a double-edged judging sword that comes with a throwback leo. The more on-theme it is, the less unique it can score for me. This leo is living proof that black can be accentuated with a contrasting color in the same fabric instead of relying on stoning and mesh, and I won’t be upset when it swings around to being in fashion again. The day TWU debuts a reverse retro leo is the day my rankings system breaks.
Aaron: 7.200
Design 2.0/3, Fabric 1.0/1, Sparkle 0.2/1, Throwback Spirit 1.0/1, Uniqueness 1.0/1, Overall Appearance 2.0/3
I love that TWU is going for a vintage look here, but the leotard is very basic. I wish it would have taken a more modern approach to the vintage look, but it is still unique and not usually done by other teams. There could definitely be some more sparkle on this leotard, as I think it would look great with the black fabric.
Fan Poll
Congrats to Ohio State for winning last week’s fan poll! Vote for your favorite design from this week here.
READ THIS NEXT: Leotard Rankings: Week 3
Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Julianna Roland, Talitha Ilacqua, Peri Goodman, and Aaron Doyle
