Denver Summit FC is ready to elevate the NWSL

LOS ANGELES - When the National Women’s Soccer League played its inaugural season in 2013, there were only eight teams- six of which remained active. Fast forward 13-years and the league has doubled to 16 clubs. Two will make their debuts this season: Denver Summit FC and Boston Legacy FC (formerly BOS Nation FC).   

The league revealed Denver’s side last July. As a brand-new franchise, the Summit’s growth potential has attracted top veterans, including Ally Brazier, Kaleigh Kurtz, and USWNT star Lindsey Heaps, who will join the club in July.  

“You get to build a culture because there’s not an established one there…We’re able to be ourselves, and it's up to us to be able to dictate that culture. Starting from scratch, it’s a blank canvas, you get to see what you want to create,” said Kurtz during the NWSL’s 2026 Media Day.  

John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune

Denver Summit FC defender Kayleigh Hurtz, poses for a portrait during NWSL Media Day at Westin Bonaventure on January 28th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Kurtz will act as a keystone in Denver’s backline, bringing along two NWSL Championships, two Challenge Cups, and two Shields from her eight seasons with the North Carolina Courage. The veteran center-back holds one of the longest ironwoman streaks in league history, spanning four consecutive seasons.  

Her vision for the team is clear. “I think we’re going to compete for a championship, to be honest. With an expansion side and the NWSL, we all know it's chaos, and we need to be able to ride those waves. I think we have what it takes to win a championship right off the bat, so we’re going to go for it,” said Kurtz.  

As decorated players, Brazier and Kurtz will help develop Denver's young roster and create a team identity. “ I’m a veteran now, and I have wisdom to share and also trauma, but just so much more to share to help build this franchise,” Brazier told The Sporting Tribune.  

“What we build will be the foundation for how many years this franchise is going to exist. We’re really taking care of it and making sure we’re doing this properly because, if you don’t have a solid foundation, things could crumble,” said Brazier.   

A native of Colorado Springs, Brazier inked her contract as the Summit’s first signed player in August after spending three seasons with the Orlando Pride and winning the 2024 NWSL Shield and Championship.  

“It’s a full circle moment for me in my career. Just to go back to the state that gave me soccer and made me fall in love with soccer, so I just want to give everything back to that community and help grow women’s soccer in a state that is such a soccer state,” said Brazier, “I think this is going to be really, really special.”   

According to NWSL’s Chief Operating Officer Sarah Jones Simmer, when the league began exploring bids for expansion teams, the Denver market and the franchise’s controlling owner, Rob Cohen, stood out. Former NFL Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and Olympic alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin were also announced as club investors. 

Part of Denver’s campaign focused heavily on community-driven projects. “When we went to visit the market, at one of the visits, they handed us crates of postcards from girls who lived in Denver that were saying, ‘Please bring a club to Denver.’ They addressed them to the commissioner. They addressed them to the mayor of Denver. We want to see that appetite and grassroots engagement,” Simmer told reporters during NWSL Media Day.

On Tuesday, the club announced it has sold more than 40,000 tickets for its home opener against the Washington Spirit on March 28, putting it on track to break the attendance record of 40, 091 set by Bay FC. 

The Summit will play its first home game at Empower Field and at least two at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park while its temporary stadium in Centennial is being built for the 2026 season. As part of Denver’s bid for the franchise, the team is committed to building a permanent stadium by the 2028 season, which means NWSL could impose fines if construction is not completed according to the Colorado Sun. The new stadium will be the second fully dedicated to women’s soccer. 

“It's a quick turnaround, but they’ve done everything to make sure they’re the ones driving league standards. They’re building new facilities for us. I think as more teams come in, it's super important that we just continue to drive the league in a higher and more elevated position,” Kurtz told The Sporting Tribune.

Denver Summit FC kicks off its season on March 14 at PayPal Stadium against Bay FC.