Transforming the halls at Infinity Park, Denver Summit FC flexed their muscle as Colorado's first female professional sports franchise.
With all the bells and whistles found at Ball Arena for the Denver Nuggets, the Summit hosted their first-ever media day in preparation for their first ever season.
The flash, the glitz, the glamour — all to engage with the fans of this new franchise that are already showing major support.
"To be a part of this community and give back to the community that really poured into me as a young person, so much of who I am was built here, to be able to be back and to help build this — I know the Denver community is going to fall in love with this team and I'm so proud to be here," said Summit defender and Colorado native Janine Sonis.
Denver SUmmit Media Day
About 40,000 Coloradans have already committed their time and money to watching the Summit's first-ever home match in March.
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) attendance record is 40,091.
There's a chance, if they manage to sell out Empower Field at Mile High, that Denver Summit FC will nearly double that record in their first opportunity to delight the home crowd.
"I've thought about it since the day I signed," said Summit goalkeeper and Colorado native Jordan Nytes. "It's super exciting that's where we get to play. That's going to be such a special opportunity."
"I've thought about it a lot," said Summit forward and Colorado native Ally Brazier. "The amount of times I've driven on I-25 and seen that stadium, I'm like 'That's so big!' To think that — here I am — and I get to play in it is actually insane to think about. I cannot believe we're here."
Denver Summit FC media day
"The most special part of this team is [our impact] on the youth soccer in Colorado," Nytes said. "Being able to put a professional women's team here is super awesome for them to have people to look up to and games to attend."
After spending time in southern California at a sort of sleep-away training camp, the Summit are working to develop "team chemistry" from the ground up.
Luckily, as an expansion franchise, the team's personality is a clean slate. So, it's up to veterans like Kaleigh Kurtz to help mold their attitude like a ball of clay.
"I think this league is a little bit of chaos — we call it NWSL after dark," said Kurtz, who enters her eighth year in the NWSL. "How do you weather the storm, but also celebrate all the little things. When someone is successful, it's the team's success. We have a beautiful culture of sticking together, strong communication, and being ourselves — that way every single person [feels empowered to express] the positive attributes that they got recruited here to show."
The only thing kept secret at media day was the team's unannounced kit (or jersey, for the uninitiated). The players seemed thrilled by their new threads, but team management didn't want images leaked out quite yet.
"When I saw the kit, as a Colorado native, I was like 'That's so Colorado,'" Brazier said. "It's perfect. The color scheme, the coordination of it — it's so Colorado. I think people are going to love it."
SUMMIT SCHEDULE BAR.jpg
March 2026
Sat, Mar 14
Fri, Mar 20
@ Orlando Pride
The Spot Denver 3
Wed, Mar 25
@ Gotham FC
The Spot Denver 3
Sat, Mar 28
vs. Washington Spirit
April 2026
Sat, Apr 4
@ Seattle Reign
Sat, Apr 25
vs. San Diego Wave FC
May 2026
Sun, May 3
@ Boston Legacy FC
Sat, May 9
@ Houston Dash
Sat, May 16
vs. Orlando Pride
Sat, May 23
@ Utah Royals
Fri, May 29
@ Racing Louisville
July 2026
Fri, Jul 3
vs. Kansas City Current
Sun, Jul 12
vs. Houston Dash
Sat, Jul 18
vs. Portland Thorns FC
Sun, Jul 26
@ Washington Spirit
September 2026
Sun, Sep 6
vs. Gotham FC
Fri, Sep 11
@ Angel City FC
Wed, Sep 16
vs. Bay FC
Sat, Sep 19
vs. Seattle Reign
Sat, Sep 26
@ Kansas City Current
October 2026
Sun, Oct 4
@ Chicago Stars FC
Sat, Oct 17
vs. Angel City FC
Sat, Oct 24
vs. Racing Louisville
November 2026
Sun, Nov 1
@ North Carolina Courage