Denver Summit begin inaugural NWSL season with strong presence

As an expansion team, Denver Summit is entering its inaugural season in 2026, meaning they have no “last season” performance to look back on. Instead, they are building a brand-new legacy from scratch as the NWSL’s 16th franchise.

The club hired Nick Cushing, formerly the manager of Manchester City and NYCFC. Known for an attacking style, Cushing was brought in to establish a winning culture immediately. The biggest splash is USWNT captain and Colorado native, Lindsey Heaps, who will join the squad in June 2026 after completing her season with Lyon in France. The club bypassed traditional expansion drafts to build through free agency, signing veterans like defender Kaleigh Kurtz, goalkeeper Abby Smith and forward Ally Brazier. They also signed top young talent, including MAC Hermann Trophy winner Jasmine Aikey.

Cushing has explicitly stated the goal is to win a championship and be competitive from day one, rather than just “making up the numbers”. The team expects to set an NWSL all-time single-game attendance record at their home opener on 28 March at Empower Field at Mile High, with over 50,000 tickets already sold. The ‘14ers’ (official supporters’ group) and the front office are focused on creating a deep community connection by leaning into local Colorado talent

Lindsey Heaps:

The USWNT captain and Colorado native is the team’s “splash” signing; her elite vision and leadership are critical for establishing the club’s identity, though she won’t arrive until June 2026 after finishing her season with Lyon in France.

Pauline Peyraud-Magnin:

A veteran of the French National Team and Juventus, she provides world-class experience in goal. Her ability to organize a brand-new black line is vital for an expansion side.

Kaleigh Kurtz:

Known as the league’s “Ironwoman” for playing every minute of past seasons, she brings unmatched durability and championship experience from her time with the North Carolina Courage.

Melissa Kössler:

A German international who has already made history by scoring the first-ever goal in franchise history during their 14 March opener. Her finishing ability is central to the team’s offensive threat.

Strengths: 

For an expansion team, Denver Summit has built a roster that is balanced. Their strengths on local identity, veteran stability and a clear tactical philosophy.

The club prioritised experience in the most critical positions. With Pauline Peyraud-Magnin in goal and Kaleigh Kurtz anchoring the defence, they have a professional foundation that usually takes expansion teams years to build. This makes them much harder to break down than a typical newcomer.

The team has leaned heavily into its Colorado roots, which has created instant chemistry and fan buy-in. Lindsey Horan and Janine Beckie provide world-class talent and a deep personal investment in the club’s success. The local connection has translated to massive ticket sales, giving them a home-field advantage at Empower Field.

Head Coach Nick Cushing brought a specific, possession-based “Man City” style of play to Denver. Unlike many expansion sides that play defensively to survive, the Summit look to control the ball and dictate the tempo. Having players like Janine Beckie, who already played under Cushing in England, allows the team to implement his complex system much faster.

In their very first match, the team showed they don’t need much space to score. Melissa Kössler and rookie Jasmine Aikey provide a “vertical” threat, meaning they can sprint behind defenses and turn a game on its head in seconds.

With an ownership group including Mikaela Shiffrin and Peyton Manning, the club has the resources to sign top-tier talent. Their ability to pay a record transfer fee for Ayo Oke proves they are willing to outspend rivals to secure the best young player in the world.     

Weaknesses:

Denver Summit faces some early-season weaknesses. While the club has shown high ambition through tickets sales and high-profile ownership, on-field and structural challenges have emerged. 

The central midfield is considered the largest hole in the roster. While the club has strong veteran presence on the wings and in defence, the midfield lacks tenured players, especially with marquee signing Lindsey Heaps not arriving until the summer.

In their inaugural match against Bay FC on 14 March 2026, the offense struggled to generate pressure, managing only two shots on goal and controlling just 36.8% of possession. The team’s debut did not go as planned as in the 26th minute red card to captain Janine Sonia’s, which forced the team to play at a disadvantage for over an hour and ultimately led to a 2-1 loss.

The club had less than 14 months from being awarded the franchise to its first match, meaning many administrative and operational systems were built “out of thin mountain air.” This is currently in a dispute with the Denver City Council over $50 million in infrastructure funding for its planned permanent stadium at Santa Fe Yards. This has led to threats that the team might relocate to a different city if a deal is not reached by the end of 2026. Compared to other expansion sides like Boston Legacy, Denver has prioritised young college signings over established veterans, which may lead to early-season inexperience.

The 2026 season outlook for Denver Summit is defined by high expectations off the pitch. Following their inaugural 2-1 loss to Bay FC, analysts remain split on whether they can secure a playoff spot in their debut season.

Expert predictions vary widely. ESPN’s collective preview, places them at 12th place through some local analysts as Burgundy Wave, are more optimistic, predicting a 7th place finish and a lower-seed playoff berth. Much of the season's success hinges on USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps, who joined in July from OL Lyonnaise. Predictions suggest until her arrival provides much-needed midfield stability. Striker Melissa Kössler and rookie Yuna McCormack are expected to be primary offensive engines while the team waits for Heaps to debut.

The club is expected to set a new NWSL single-game attendance record in their home opener against Washington Spirit on 28 March 2026, with over 50,000 tickets already sold. There will be a mandated league pause from 1-28 June 2026 for the FIFA Men’s World Cup, which may allow the squad to regroup before their summer reinforcements arrive. The final matchday is 1 November 2026, which will determine if they qualify for the Championship quarterfinals held between 6-8th November.