Denver Summit FC Overview
Denver Summit FC is an American professional women’s soccer team based in the Denver metropolitan area that competes in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The club was founded on January 30, 2025, and began play in the 2026 season as the league’s sixteenth team. Denver Summit FC is owned by finance executive Robert L. Cohen, alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin, and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. The team plays its home matches at Centennial Stadium in Centennial, Colorado, with additional venues planned as part of a multi-stage stadium strategy.
Denver Summit FC is the first professional women’s sports team in Colorado since the Colorado Xplosion of the American Basketball League folded in 1998, marking a return of top-flight women’s professional sports to the state after nearly three decades. The club represents Denver’s growing identity as a major-market destination for women’s soccer and broader sports ambitions. Its leadership combines finance, Olympic athletics, and professional football, bringing a high-profile ownership profile to the NWSL’s expanding footprint.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The roots of Denver Summit FC stretch back to 2022, when a grassroots group called For Denver FC was created to advocate for a women’s professional soccer franchise in Colorado. In July 2023, the group formalized its ambitions when an investment team led by former soccer player Jordan Angeli, sports executive Tom Dunmore, and insurance executive Ben Hubbard publicly announced a bid for a future NWSL or USL Super League franchise. The group organized community outreach events, including watch parties for the United States women’s national team during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, to build local support.
As the bid took shape, the For Denver FC investment group expanded to include IMA Financial Group Chief Executive Officer Robert L. Cohen, venture capitalist Nicole Glaros, and other members such as Mellody Hobson and Jason Wright of Ariel Investments. The combined ownership blended finance, technology, and community leadership to strengthen the franchise proposal. In November 2024, the NWSL identified Denver as one of three finalists, alongside Cincinnati and Cleveland, to become the league’s sixteenth team scheduled to begin play in 2026.
On January 30, 2025, the NWSL officially awarded the expansion franchise to Denver. Media reports indicated that the ownership group led by Rob Cohen paid a league-record expansion fee of $110 million, signaling a major financial commitment to women’s professional soccer in the Rocky Mountain region. With the franchise secured, the ownership group began assembling the front office, coaching staff, and long-term stadium plans that would shape the new club.
Growth Into NWSL Competition
Following the awarding of the franchise, the ownership moved quickly to build the operational and competitive structure required for top-flight women’s soccer. Head coach Nick Cushing was appointed to lead the technical program, bringing experience from top international and domestic competitions. President Jen Millett joined the front office to oversee business operations, marketing, and community engagement during the club’s formative years.
On February 19, 2025, the ownership announced that fans would vote on the team’s name from a list of six options: Denver Peak FC, Colorado 14ers FC, Colorado Summit FC, Denver Elevate FC, Denver FC, and Denver Gold FC. The selection process engaged supporters directly in shaping the club’s identity. On July 22, 2025, the ownership group revealed the chosen name, Denver Summit FC, alongside the team’s crest and secondary logos designed by Matthew Wolff.
Two prominent athletes joined the ownership group in 2025, reinforcing the club’s connection to Colorado’s sports culture. On May 6, 2025, Vail native and Olympic alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin became an owner, lending her global profile to the franchise. On June 3, 2025, former Denver Broncos quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Peyton Manning also joined the ownership group, completing a high-profile leadership trio alongside Robert L. Cohen.
Denver Summit FC Competitive Journey
Denver Summit FC’s competitive journey began in 2026 as the NWSL’s sixteenth member and Colorado’s first professional women’s sports team since 1998. The club prepared for its inaugural campaign by building a roster, hiring a coaching staff, and organizing a venue plan that would transition the team through temporary and permanent facilities.
Inaugural Season (2026)
Denver Summit FC played its first official match on March 14, 2026, an away game at Bay FC that ended in a 2–1 defeat. The result provided an early competitive test for a new club finding its footing in the NWSL. Two weeks later, on March 28, 2026, the club hosted its home opener against the Washington Spirit at Empower Field at Mile High, drawing an announced attendance of 63,004 and setting a new league attendance record. The match demonstrated the strong local demand for women’s professional soccer in the Denver market.
Following the home opener, the club shifted its home matches to a temporary stadium in Centennial as it continued preparations for a future soccer-specific venue. Ownership and front-office staff emphasized a measured approach to long-term roster building, stadium development, and community engagement during the early phase of the team’s competitive life.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2026–Present)
Under head coach Nick Cushing and President Jen Millett, Denver Summit FC’s modern program is built around long-term competitive growth and infrastructure investment. The ownership trio of Robert L. Cohen, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Peyton Manning has provided financial stability and visibility, while the front office has prioritized scouting, player development, and a sustained presence in the NWSL. The club’s operations reflect a deliberate plan to grow step by step rather than rely on short-term spending.
The team’s stadium strategy is central to its long-term direction. Denver Summit FC plans a 14,500-seat soccer-specific stadium at Santa Fe Yards in Denver’s Baker neighborhood, targeted for completion in 2028. In the meantime, a 12,000-seat temporary venue at Potomac Street and Fremont Avenue in Centennial will host matches for the team’s first two seasons before being downsized into a 4,000-seat facility for school sports. The temporary stadium is paired with a permanent training complex planned on forty-three acres adjacent to the Denver Broncos’ headquarters, including eight soccer fields and supported by $25 million in financing led by the Cherry Creek School District.
After delays in public funding and zoning approval prompted consideration of sites outside Denver in November 2025, those hurdles were resolved in December 2025. The club has since committed to a “three-stadium journey” that moves play between venues while the permanent stadium is under construction. This phased approach allows the team to build matchday traditions and grow its fan base ahead of its long-term home in the Baker neighborhood.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Denver Summit FC’s identity draws on Colorado’s landscape and altitude, with a crest featuring a red sky, yellow sun, and green mountains angled at 26° to mark the inaugural 2026 season. The secondary logos incorporate the number 5280, representing Denver’s elevation in feet above sea level, and the letter “D.” The club’s broader philosophy emphasizes community connection, athlete development, and the integration of elite sport with local identity.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Key milestones for Denver Summit FC include the January 30, 2025 award of the NWSL’s sixteenth franchise, a reported $110 million league-record expansion fee, the July 22, 2025 unveiling of the club’s name and crest, the additions of Mikaela Shiffrin and Peyton Manning to the ownership group in 2025, the March 14, 2026 inaugural match at Bay FC, and the March 28, 2026 home opener that set an NWSL attendance record of 63,004 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Denver Summit FC Achievements and Results
As a newly formed club that began play in 2026, Denver Summit FC’s early achievements center on its successful entry into the NWSL, its record-setting home opener, and the scale of its expansion investment. Detailed seasonal results, conference standings, and divisional finishes are still being established during the inaugural campaign.
NWSL Achievements
Denver Summit FC joined the NWSL in 2026 as the league’s sixteenth team, the first professional women’s sports franchise in Colorado since 1998. The club’s home opener at Empower Field at Mile High set a new NWSL single-match attendance record of 63,004, surpassing the previous league benchmark and signaling strong fan interest in the new franchise. The reported $110 million expansion fee also set a league record, reflecting the franchise’s financial scale.
