Alex Morgan effortlessly lists the various colors of headbands worn by her United States teammates. Morgan herself prefers pink, just like Rose Lavelle. Sophia Smith opts for black, while Julie Ertz leans towards a shade closer to Tiffany blue. Lindsey Horan, on the other hand, wears red mainly because Morgan doesn’t. However, Horan reveals that the first time she wore pink, someone accused her of copying Morgan. Surprised, Morgan admits she was unaware of this.
Interestingly, the most beloved “headband” in soccer is not actually a headband at all. It is a sheer colored strip made of a thin, stretchy medical gauze called pre-wrap. Originally designed to be wrapped around injured knees or ankles before taping to protect the skin, both male and female athletes have adopted pre-wrap as a fashionable hair accessory. For women’s soccer players like Morgan, it has become a symbol of women’s sports, enabling them to showcase their individuality on the field.
According to Rachel Allison, a sociology professor at Mississippi State University who extensively researched sports marketing, pre-wrap has a unique and almost strategic use in women’s soccer. While it serves a functional purpose of keeping players’ hair in place during the game, it has evolved into so much more. Morgan, for instance, initially started wearing pink pre-wrap so her parents could easily spot her among the sea of ponytails on the soccer field. Eventually, she chose pink to honor her mother-in-law, a breast cancer survivor. Notably, Mueller Sports Medicine now sponsors Morgan, as they are one of the primary manufacturers of pre-wrap.
Allison emphasizes that pre-wrap has become a form of individual self-expression and an essential element in marketing women’s sports. It contributes to the storytelling surrounding the players, showcasing not only their athletic prowess but also their personal lives, creating a stronger connection with the audience. The players’ branding heavily features pre-wrap, both in their portrayal and various merchandise. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, for example, shared a picture of a figurine with a pink strip across its forehead, representing Becky Sauerbrunn, a defender and former captain of the U.S. team who unfortunately couldn’t participate in the World Cup due to a foot injury.
Brett Mueller, CEO of Mueller Sports Medicine, reveals that pre-wrap was initially produced for use in the NFL and NBA during the 1970s. However, it gained popularity as a hair accessory for women and girls after plastic barrettes and clips were prohibited by referees due to potential injuries. As a result, Mueller’s company expanded its color offerings to include popular school colors and eventually brighter hues like pink.
Mueller expresses excitement at the athletes, particularly the exceptional U.S. team, using their product. However, he acknowledges that the product wasn’t originally designed for that purpose.
Allison reflects on her college soccer days at Grinnell College in Iowa, mentioning that a couple of her teammates wore pre-wrap headbands back then. Nowadays, it has become increasingly common for girls and young women to wear pre-wrap in the stands as a way to symbolize their fandom.
In terms of styling, there are two camps of pre-wrap headbands: those who roll it into thin, tubular strands that create a slight elevation on their heads, like Morgan and Horan, and those who spread it flat on top of their hair, like Smith and Ertz. This distinction matters, as midfielder Rose Lavelle, who wears pink pre-wrap, is considered part of the “Flat Team” and is thus exempt from comparisons to Morgan.
While pre-wrap is most noticeable in the players’ hair, Morgan reveals that the team also uses it for its original purpose: beneath shin guards and as a protective layer or support for taped ankles. Morgan concludes by pointing out the abundance of pre-wrap, jokingly remarking that when you look in the bins, there seems to be an endless supply.
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