History of Denver Summit FC in Timeline

Updated: March 28, 2026

Denver Summit FC is a professional women's soccer team based in the Denver metropolitan area. The team was accepted into the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) as an expansion team on January 30, 2025, and started competing in the league in the 2026 season.

November 2024: Denver Named Finalist for NWSL Expansion Team

In November 2024, the NWSL announced that Denver was one of three finalists, along with Cincinnati and Cleveland, to potentially become the league's 16th team, set to begin playing in 2026.

January 30, 2025: Accepted as Expansion Team

On January 30, 2025, Denver Summit FC was accepted as an expansion team by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

February 19, 2025: Team Name Vote Announced

On February 19, 2025, the ownership of the then-unnamed team announced that fans would vote on the team's name from six options: Denver Peak FC, Colorado 14ers FC, Colorado Summit FC, Denver Elevate FC, Denver FC, and Denver Gold FC.

March 2025: Plans Announced to Build Temporary Stadium

In March 2025, the team announced its plans to build a temporary 12,000-seat stadium at Potomac Street and Fremont Avenue in Centennial, to be used for their first two seasons before being downsized to 4,000 seats for school sports.

May 6, 2025: Mikaela Shiffrin Joins Ownership Group

On May 6, 2025, alpine skier and Vail native Mikaela Shiffrin joined the ownership group of Denver Summit FC.

June 3, 2025: Peyton Manning Joins Ownership Group

On June 3, 2025, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and former Denver Broncos player Peyton Manning joined the ownership group of Denver Summit FC.

July 22, 2025: Team Name, Crest, and Logos Unveiled

On July 22, 2025, the team ownership unveiled Denver Summit FC's name, crest, and secondary logos, featuring elements representative of Colorado's landscapes and Denver's elevation.

November 2025: Considering Alternative Stadium Locations

In November 2025, the team announced they were considering alternative locations outside of Denver for the stadium, due to delays in public funding approval.

December 2025: Focus Shifts to Operational Logistics

Following the resolution of funding and zoning issues in December 2025, Denver Summit FC shifted its focus to the operational logistics needed for the inaugural 2026 season, announcing a "three-stadium journey" plan.