{"id":142569,"date":"2025-07-02T21:07:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T21:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/142569\/"},"modified":"2025-07-02T21:07:38","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T21:07:38","slug":"cherry-blossom-jersey-power-rankings-which-d-c-team-did-it-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/142569\/","title":{"rendered":"Cherry blossom jersey power rankings: Which D.C. team did it best?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a town often divided by politics, one thing that most can agree on in Washington is that cherry blossom jerseys<\/a> are a fantastic addition to any D.C. team\u2019s rotation.<\/p>\n

Few things get Washingtonian sports fans reaching for their wallets faster than a cherry blossom jersey makeover. Most of the professional sports teams in the nation\u2019s capital have now had a cherry blossom inspired jersey, so now, as the popular trees are in bloom, we ask: Who has worn it best?<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve ranked our favorites below.<\/p>\n

1. Washington Nationals<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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(Photo: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

The Nationals will debut a new City Connect jersey<\/a> this season but that won\u2019t stop the original (which debuted in 2022) from being the gold standard cherry blossom sports jersey in D.C. First of all, who knew \u201cWSH\u201d was a better abbreviation for Washington than \u201cWAS\u201d? Apparently the Nats did. The off-white letters with just a hint of pink in the background with a beautifully designed cherry blossom branch underneath the \u201cH\u201d served as the nucleus of a perfectly designed jersey.<\/p>\n

The color pink just might go with everything but the Nats choosing grey, which isn\u2019t a primary color in their normal red, white and blue uniform color scheme, may just be the executive decision that makes this jersey unbeatable amongst its Washington team peers. Combined with a pink D.C. flag on the sleeve and arguably one of the best City Connect hats of the initial wave in MLB, featuring an incredibly stitched cherry blossom tree and you\u2019ve got a classic case of the first time being the best time.<\/p>\n

2. Washington Capitals<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd85\ud83c\udf38 pic.twitter.com\/ewLDtkiDas<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 x \u2013 Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 4, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The Capitals couldn\u2019t have asked for a better 50th anniversary season. One of the best records in the NHL. Alex Ovechkin\u2019s iconic quest for NHL immortality as he chases Wayne Gretzky\u2019s all-time goals scored record and a cherry blossom jersey that looks great in its retro screaming eagle variation.<\/p>\n

The Caps took a nod from the Nats and decided that the cherry blossom pink would be an accessorizing color and not a dominant one. The pink in the stars of the eagle\u2019s wing is a nice touch, as is the blooming cherry blossom branch in the eagle\u2019s talon. White numbers on the back with cherry blossoms illustrated inside the number and a 50th anniversary shoulder patch with a couple of cherry blossoms round out a solid look. Making the old school blue the dominant color was a good choice here. The only negative is these jerseys weren\u2019t worn on the ice, only during pregame arrivals.<\/p>\n

3. D.C. United<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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(Photo: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

The first MLS dynasty joins the cherry blossom jersey parade in a strong way (the pink neck outline is great) with cherry blossom branches throughout the front of the jersey, although the pink is more faded on the branches than the bright neckline.<\/p>\n

The Nationals and Capitals proved with their grey and blue efforts that you can make a successful cherry blossom look without a pink overload as long as the primary color is a good companion to cherry blossom pink. The primary white of this jersey isn\u2019t as great a collaborator. And there\u2019s too much black here where there could be pink. The D.C. United crest, the Adidas logo, the shoulder strips, the sleeves, all could have used a splash more cherry blossom.<\/p>\n

4. Washington Wizards<\/a><\/p>\n

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(Photo: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

If your jersey is going to be this pink shouldn\u2019t Lionel Messi be wearing it in nice weather? The dotting of the \u201ci\u201d in Washington with a cherry blossom is a nice touch, but otherwise the \u201cBloom City\u201d editions are the least creative but also unarguably the brightest. The transparent looking cherry blossoms on the side of the jersey would have looked better on the front. There\u2019s also the unsettling reminder if you are a fan of Wizards basketball that the three initial models of this look when it debuted in 2022 (Rui Hachimura, Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma) are no longer with the team.<\/p>\n

Waiting to join the cherry blossom party:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Washington Commanders<\/p>\n

The Commanders don\u2019t have a cherry blossom look (yet), but their Hail Mary black jerseys would be a prime candidate for some experimenting. Notably the Commanders are the only team on this list that doesn\u2019t play in Washington (they\u2019re in Landover, Maryland for a few more years), but maybe the team\u2019s potential return to the District of Columbia could bring with it some cherry blossom swag on the field.<\/p>\n

Washington Spirit\u00a0<\/p>\n

While the Spirit offer plenty of cherry blossom merchandise for fans, they don\u2019t have an official jersey offering just yet. The cherry blossom hoodies, T-shirts and long-sleeve shirts offer a great template of what that on-field look could strive for.<\/p>\n

Washington Mystics<\/p>\n

The Mystics have an opportunity to get a cherry blossom styled basketball jersey right. They should take cues from the Wizards and think pink in moderation. Maybe one big blooming cherry blossom to represent their one WNBA title. The Mystics and Capitals used to share a similar color scheme with their road uniforms \u2014 like the Capitals, the Mystics could use a cherry blossom alternate look to go a little retro.<\/p>\n

The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.<\/p>\n

(Top photo: Kayla Bartkowski\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n