Forty years after their unlikely start, the U.S. women’s national team’s early grit is being celebrated with a new chapter in their story. On August 18, 1985, a makeshift squad of 17 college players faced the Mundalito tournament in Jesolo, Italy with little preparation and no real precedent for what was to come. They were so under-equipped that the night before departure they stitched “USA” onto oversized, hand-me-down men’s jerseys, a symbol of their resourcefulness and determination. As Michelle Akers, a pioneer of the era, recalls, there were no expectations because there was no history to measure against. They received a modest per diem and a fresh pair of cleats, and they did what they had always done—make do with patches and perseverance.
Now, four decades later, that original group is reclaiming control of its legacy. The 85ers, as they are known, are rolling out a new jersey of their own, co-designed by all 17 players to reflect the arc of their journey from improvised beginnings to enduring impact. They have formed The 85ers LLC, an athlete-owned enterprise powered by Storied Sport, the venture led by Jaymee Messler. In parallel, the group is launching a memorabilia capsule, marking their first official merchandise line, including the new jersey, in collaboration with The Realest, an authentication platform for sports collectibles.
The Realest founder and CEO Scott Keeney explains that the design honors that first game while giving it a modern feel, staying true to the colors and style of that 1985 encounter. Keeney’s team expanded the collection beyond the jersey to include trading cards, shirts, and hats—allowing fans to connect to the history in varied ways. “It’s about taking something that was overlooked at the time and flipping it into a moment of pride,” Keeney said. The Realest does not disclose licensing terms, but Keeney notes that the 85ers will be able to monetize their story for the first time, with the collection available on the 85ers’ website.
Recognition for the 85ers has been building in recent years. The 1985 squad’s legacy gained traction with a 2023 reunion in Asheville, North Carolina, followed by a 2024 celebration in Kansas City. Akers emphasizes that having jerseys bearing their names, created by and for them, is profoundly meaningful. It underscores a continuing journey that began with a sense of possibility and now extends into ownership, branding, and connection with fans and future generations.
This milestone is more than a nostalgic revival. It reflects the broader evolution of women’s soccer—from underdog beginnings to a platform for athlete-led storytelling, entrepreneurship, and direct fan engagement. By turning their history into a tangible product and business venture, the 85ers not only honor the past but also illuminate a path for others to monetize their stories and shape their own legacies.
In the end, the 85ers’ new jersey stands as a symbol of resilience and progress: a modern homage to a humble start that helped launch a global movement, and a blueprint for how athletes can own and share their history with pride and purpose. The journey from improvised patches to a thoughtfully designed capsule collection highlights how far the sport has come—and how bright its future can be when the pioneers who started it are at the helm.