NFL
By Keith Richards
We are now 61 days away from the start of the 2026 NWSL season. Most of the NWSL community will be looking to Gotham FC to defend the NWSL Championship. However, it’s a different feeling in the Mile High City. For Denver, it’s 61 days until the inaugural season of Denver Summit FC! Furthermore, it’s only 76 days until Summit FC makes its home debut at Empower Field at Mile High.
Since being awarded the franchise in January 2025, Denver Summit FC has been busy. Summit FC has its team president, general manager, coach, and several players. Today, we’re here to look at Denver Summit FC’s roster. We’ll take a closer look at some of the signings that stand out. One of them is a colossal one.
The Denver Summit FC Roster
As of today, Summit FC has 14 players on its roster. They are as follows:
- Forwards – Jasmine Aikey, Nahikari Garcia, Ally Watt
- Midfielders – Jordan Baggett, Lourdes Bosch, Lindsey Heaps, Yuna McCormack
- Defenders – Camryn Biegalski, Kaleigh Kurtz, Ayo Oke, Carson Pickett, Megan Reid, Janine Sonis
In case you’re wondering, your eyes do not deceive you. Leading the way on the Summit FC roster is none other than USWNT Captain, Lindsey Heaps. Denver announced their biggest signing yet on Monday morning. Many of the signings have been exemplary, but Heaps takes it to a whole new level. It’s the acquisition that many expected and have been waiting for.
However, Heaps isn’t the only quality signing of Denver Summit FC. Johnson and Milet have assembled a squad brimming with youthfulness and experience, especially in defense. So, let’s take a look at some of the key signings now.
Jasmine Aikey
At the forward position, I’m sure that Summit FC fans were looking for the splash signing here. Indeed, Colorado natives Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson would have been substantial additions to the team. However, Wilson is with the Portland Thorns through the 2026 season, and Mal Swanson is with the Chicago Red Stars through 2028. Additionally, the status of star USWNT forward Trinity Rodman is up in the air.
The Washington Spirit would like to keep her, but the NWSL is making it difficult for the forward to remain in the league. Consequently, I expect Rodman to be in Europe soon. So, where does that leave Denver Summit FC? Enter Jasmine Aikey. While there were many other young talents Denver could target at forward, Jasmine may be perfect for the team.
Aikey is fresh from Stanford University, where she excelled. Through over 90 appearances with the Cardinals, Jasmine Aikey had 53 goal contributions (25 goals and 28 assists) across all competitions. Her prowess would help Stanford win the 2023 NCAA Women’s College Cup championship and lead her to winning the 2025 MAC Hermann Trophy. Aikey has yet to break onto the USWNT senior team, but an excellent rookie campaign with Summit FC could go a long way towards breaking into the highly competitive USWNT forwards scene.
Lindsey Heaps
If there is a US Women’s soccer player who needs no introduction, it’s Lindsey Heaps. If Christian Pulisic is seen as Captain America for USMNT, then Heaps is USWNT’s Captain Carter. Lindsey Heaps comes to Denver Summit FC with over 170 caps with USWNT. During that time, Lindsey has been part of winning the FIFA World Cup, numerous CONCACAF titles, and Olympic gold and bronze medals. In addition, Heaps has been named to the CONCACAF W Gold Cup Best XI and the Best FIFA Women’s 11.
At the club level, Lindsey Heaps brings international experience and success in Europe and the NWSL. During four years with OL Lyonnes, Heaps helped the squad to four Division 1 Féminine titles, a UEFA Women’s Champions League crown, and the Coupe de France Féminine. Before heading across the pond, Lindsey spent six seasons with Portland Thorns FC.
With the Thorns, Heaps helped lead the team to an NWSL Championship, two NWSL Shields, a NWSL Community Shield, and a NWSL Challenge Cup. Lindsey Heaps brings extensive experience to the Denver Summit FC midfield. The hometown boost alone is worth the signing, but Heaps will bring much more than that.
Ayo Oke
Though young, Ayo Oke brings a wealth of experience. Throughout her collegiate career at UC Berkeley and UCLA, Oke earned multiple All-Conference honors, including a season at UC Berkeley in which she tied for the Pac-12 lead in assists as a defender. At UCLA, Ayo once again made the All-PAC-12 second team and contributed to 11 shoutouts that season.
At the club level, Ayo Oke played with Liga MX Femenil club Pachuca Femenil. With Pachuca Femenil, Ayo made 31 appearances across all competitions and helped the club secure its first league title as they were the 2025 Liga MX Femenil: Clausura champions. At the international level, Ayo Oke has been a part of the USWNT youth program at every level from U-15 to U-23, making a total of 21 caps.
If there was any doubt that Summit FC believes in Oke’s talent, they agreed to pay a reported $450,000 transfer fee to Pachuca Femenil. If true, it would be the most expensive known incoming transfer fee in NWSL. With veterans like Kaleigh Kurtz in defense as well, Oke will still have room to grow. The sky is the limit for this young woman!
Abby Smith
As of now, we’re aware of only one keeper signed with Denver Summit FC. However, the keeper they do have is chock-full of championship experience. Abby Smith has 10 years of experience, including playing for teams such as Kansas City Current, Portland Thorns, Gotham FC, and the Australian A-League’s Sydney Wanderers.
During her time with Portland and Gotham, Smith won the NWSL Championship in 2022 and 2023. Abby Smith also represented the USWNT youth teams at the U-17, U-20, and U-23 levels. Smith would also receive call-ups for the senior friendlies in May 2017 and March 2018.
With a strong mix of veterans and youth in the defense, Abby Smith’s experience will be vital in holding the back line together. She may be called upon once more to add to her clean sheet tally (44 across her professional and collegiate careers), but she is more than capable of it.
With players reporting to preseason camp on Saturday, we expect more news regarding signings for Denver Summit FC in the coming days. The one face you won’t see at camp is Lindsey Heaps. Heaps will fulfill her commitment to OL Lyonnes and join Summit FC in June. In the meantime, stay tuned to Team NBS for all other news as Denver prepares for their inaugural season!
