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.