The Denver Summit open their inaugural NWSL season with a challenging first half of the schedule. In this episode of The 5280 Pitch, we break down every match in the opening stretch — key opponents, player matchups to watch, and how home games at altitude differ from life on the road for an expansion team.

The last few weeks around Denver Summit FC have been a lot. Signings came fast, the NWSL schedule dropped, and then the stadium news hit. This episode is me stepping back to talk through where the Summit actually are right now — what this expansion roster is telling us, why the Lindsey Heaps signing matters, and how Denver is preparing for its first NWSL season.

Lindsey Heaps is coming home — not as a symbol, but as a foundation piece. In this episode of The 5280 Pitch, we break down why the Golden, Colorado native and U.S. Women’s National Team captain is such a rare signing for an expansion club.

From her development with Colorado Rush to Olympic gold, 150+ international caps, and a career built on reliability and control, this isn’t a story about hype — it’s about structure. What does Lindsey Heaps actually bring on the field? Why does midfield control matter so much for a new team? And why does this signing change how Denver Summit FC gets built from day one?

Carson Pickett is more than a left back — she’s a foundational signing for Denver Summit FC.

In this episode, we break down where Pickett ranks among NWSL defenders, why she’s one of the league’s elite attacking fullbacks, and how her game fits perfectly at altitude. We also explore her historic USWNT debut and the impact of her advocacy off the field.

Denver Summit FC took a major step toward permanence — and it didn’t come quietly.

In this episode of The 5280 Pitch — women’s soccer at altitude, we examine the approval of the club’s purpose-built stadium at Santa Fe Yards and what it represents beyond soccer. We break down the Denver City Council vote, the $70 million public funding package, and the legally binding community benefits agreement that promises long-term investment in surrounding neighborhoods.

This episode also wrestles with the harder questions: public accountability, equity, displacement concerns, and whether stadiums can truly serve communities when done right. We look at why this decision matters for women’s sports nationally, how infrastructure shapes club identity, and why expansion teams need permanence to succeed.

This isn’t a celebration or a takedown — it’s a clear-eyed look at a defining moment for Denver Summit FC.

When you’re building from scratch, certainty matters.

In this episode of The 5280 Pitch: Women’s Soccer at Altitude, we dive into why Denver Summit FC’s signing of Abby Smith is about more than goalkeeping — it’s about trust, experience, and setting a tone for an expansion team.

A two-time NWSL champion and one of the league’s most consistent keepers, Smith brings calm, professionalism, and championship perspective to Denver’s back line. This episode explores her journey, her mindset, and why steady leadership in goal could define Summit’s inaugural season.

Women’s soccer at altitude.

This is Part II of our Ally Watt player deep dive — where we move from story to substance.

In this episode of The 5280 Pitch — women’s soccer at altitude, we break down what the numbers reveal about Denver Summit FC’s first-ever signing. Ally Watt’s underlying data tells the story of a forward who doesn’t wait for chances — she creates them. From elite non-penalty xG production and high shot volume to progressive carries and defensive work rate, Watt’s profile points to a high-intensity, all-phase attacker built for an expansion side.

We explore how her metrics translate on the field, what they say about her consistency, and how her versatility allows Denver Summit to build multiple attacking looks around a single core player. We also dig into the risks and realities: offensive dependence, the need for the right supporting cast, workload management at altitude, and the pressure that comes with being “the first.”

This episode is about translating data into identity. Because Denver Summit FC didn’t just sign a fast forward — they signed a foundational piece whose profile could shape how this club plays, presses, and attacks from day one.

Denver finally has an NWSL team — and in our first episode, we’re breaking down how it happened. From the grassroots movement behind the bid, to the powerhouse ownership group featuring Rob Cohen, Mellody Hobson, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Peyton Manning, this is the full origin story of Denver Summit FC.

You’ll learn why the league chose Denver, what the “Summit” brand really stands for, where the team will play, and why this moment matters for women’s sports in Colorado.

If you’re ready to get plugged in before the first whistle blows, this is where your 5280 Summit journey starts.