The Denver Summit Might Not Be Good, But They Sure Are Enjoyable

There are some ways to measure the success of an enlargement group. Are they filling stadiums? Do native followers appear engaged? Do they’ve an identification on the sphere? And, after all: Are they any good? 

It’s usually smart to maintain expectations for brand spanking new sides comparatively low. Since 2021, solely two of the NWSL’s six enlargement groups have made the playoffs—San Diego Wave in 2022 and Bay FC in 2024—and the remaining have completed nearer to the desk’s basement. Evaluating an enlargement group by their outcomes, then, is a recipe for disappointment. But there’s a greater metric on the market, one which corresponds to the NWSL’s greatest trait: chaos. When I’m judging a brand new group, what I’m on the lookout for is enjoyable. If I tune right into a recreation they’re enjoying, am I going to have a very good time?

Ten video games into its existence, the Denver Summit already has me answering that query within the affirmative. They started the season with a bang—their inaugural match, a loss in opposition to Bay, included three whole objectives and a crimson card for the brand new squad. They went on to take factors from each of the league’s most up-to-date champions, tying the Orlando Pride 1-1 and beating Gotham 2-0. Then got here a few duds: scoreless attracts in opposition to Washington and Gotham. Those goose eggs appear to have steeled Denver’s dedication to make issues occur shifting ahead, and because the April worldwide window, every recreation they’ve performed in has been stuffed with objectives.

On April 25, in opposition to then-league leaders San Diego, the Summit went into halftime up 2-0, however let San Diego tie it up earlier than the sixtieth minute. Soon after, the usually very good defender Carson Pickett was the unfortunate recipient of a low Dudinha cross, which deflected off her into the web. The personal purpose accomplished San Diego’s comeback, making for a collapse that Denver will wish to neglect, however boy did I’ve a very good time watching it.

The identical 3-2 scoreline got here up once more the subsequent week, within the season’s first enlargement derby. Rockets from Yazmeen Ryan and Natasha Flint put the Summit up 2-1 over the Boston Legacy. Just when it appeared like that they had secured the win, Aissata Traoré disregarded stress from defender Eva Gaetino within the ninetieth minute and knocked in a ridiculous half-volley. Come stoppage time, as a result of Denver clearly likes to play the martyr, they left Bianca St-Georges by the highest of the field with the ball and miles of area. Boom, 3-2 Legacy. It was Boston’s first win of the season, and the second time in a row that Denver had squandered a lead. Bad for Denver? Sure. Good for me, whose solely agenda is leisure? Absolutely. 

Then got here the match in opposition to the Houston Dash, which had dramatic rigidity earlier than anybody stepped on the pitch. Ryan and Delanie Sheehan, two common starters for the Summit, had beforehand been teammates in Houston for all of 2025 and thru the primary recreation of 2026. It wasn’t till March 19, two days earlier than Houston’s dwelling opener, that the trade was introduced: They’d be delivery as much as Denver in trade for $1 million. If that wasn’t sufficient, two different key gamers on Denver’s roster have been as soon as on the Dash’s roster: goalkeeper Abby Smith and Denver captain Janine Sonis. It can be loopy if all of them performed particularly effectively throughout that recreation, proper? Right?

Well, as a part of Denver’s 4-1 whooping of Houston, Sonis scored twice, each instances assisted by Ryan. Between these objectives, Sheehan put her personal mark on the sport by heading in a chipped ball from Ayo Oke. Smith would have had a clear sheet had it not been for a penalty kick deftly taken by Maggie Graham. Turns out Denver doesn’t at all times let their opponents claw their approach again after racking up a lead—they’re unpredictable! 

Sonis scored a brace within the subsequent recreation too, a 3-1 win over Orlando through which the Pride went right down to 10 gamers. Denver’s most up-to-date recreation was in opposition to the league-leading Utah Royals (you learn that proper!), and regardless of taking a very good many photographs on the right track, they misplaced, 2-1.

Even as early-franchise incohesion and early-season blunders are a daily a part of Denver’s play, they’ve obtained a top quality roster that produces objectives: The Summit leads the league in objectives per 90 minutes, with 1.6. Denver’s principal power is out on the flanks, the place its fullbacks and wingers work. In Ryan, Sonis, Pickett, Oke, and Ally Brazier, they’ve obtained 5 elite broad gamers. At No. 9 sits Melissa Kössler, a German ahead who is basically service-dependent. She can end high quality balls, however give her extra to do and she or he struggles. Good factor she’s obtained a number of the greatest crossers within the league dishing up assists. Behind Kössler are Sheehan, rookie Devin Lynch, and Flint, a revelation from the USL Super League. Flint (who sadly will spend some time out after choosing up an damage), Sonis, and Kössler all have 4 objectives on the season. Center again Kaleigh Kurtz, who has now performed over 11,000 minutes in a row, has teamed up with the a lot youthful Gaetino to anchor the backline. 

Denver’s squad has a pleasant mixture of expertise and youth—a core of NWSL veterans who know the physicality the league requires, and worldwide recruits and youthful gamers who’re nonetheless studying the ropes. You can spot the seeds for long-term success there, at the same time as they wrestle in all of the predictable methods with being a brand-new group. Denver will hope that the approaching arrival of Lindsey Heaps, who will be part of up with the group on the conclusion of Lyon’s season, will assist foster a real successful mentality.

One factor the roster can bond over: being tall. When participant bulletins trickled in for the Summit, you may discover a transparent development. Everyone, it appeared, was a mile excessive. Gaetino is 5-foot-11. Kössler and rookie Olivia Thomas are 5-foot-10. Five area gamers, together with Heaps, are 5-foot-9, and at the least eight are 5-foot-8. Oke, at simply 5-foot-3, is pocket-sized in comparison with the remaining. The feeling that the membership assembled a roster of titans isn’t simply anecdotal. Per American Soccer Analysis, which calculated every group’s common top for gamers who’ve made at the least one look this season, Denver is the tallest group within the NWSL at 5-foot-7. (ASA’s database was lacking top knowledge for twenty-four % of gamers within the league.)

The group’s top comes by in the way in which they play. They’re robust, good within the air, and sometimes bumble about clumsily. Denver likes to have possession—they’re able to stringing collectively impressive passing sequences—and nonetheless they provide up foolish objectives and rely an excessive amount of on Smith’s classic kind to maintain them in video games.

The Summit’s inconsistency is exactly what makes them enjoyable to look at, at the least for neutrals. It has additionally prompted them to zip across the standings; the Rocky Mountain group’s trajectory by the desk is appropriately stuffed with peaks and valleys. It’s uncertain whether or not Denver can end above the playoff line, however there’s one factor you’ll be able to rely on: The Summit will ship objectives, each scored and allowed. As beautiful as low-scoring soccer may be, generally it’s simply good to have the ability to see some objectives. If an enlargement group is offering that, and never solely of the conceded selection, I’m completely satisfied.