Big news for American women's soccer fans. USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps is coming home after four years in France, and she's picked the expansion Denver Summit as her landing spot.
The 31-year-old midfielder just signed a four-year deal with the NWSL newcomers. She'll finish out the season with OL Lyonnes in May before making the move to Colorado, her home state.
"This club represents something special, not just for the league, but for this community and for the next generation of players growing up here," Heaps said. The Golden, Colorado native is clearly excited to play close to home again.
Why This Signing Matters
This is a huge win for the NWSL. The league has been bleeding talent to Europe lately, with stars like Naomi Girma, Emily Fox, and Crystal Dunn all heading overseas.
Heaps' return bucks that trend in a major way. She's not just any player – she's the national team captain with 170 caps and 38 goals. She's won a World Cup (2019) and an Olympic gold medal (2024).
The NWSL recently loosened salary cap rules to help teams compete financially with European clubs. That move is already paying dividends. For bettors watching the league, Denver Summit just became a much more interesting proposition with this kind of star power joining the expansion side.
Heaps has serious pedigree. She won an NWSL championship with Portland in 2017 and grabbed the league MVP award the next year. Over in France with Lyonnes, she collected four league titles and a Champions League trophy.
What's Next for Denver Summit
Summit is one of two expansion teams joining the NWSL this season, alongside Boston Legacy. That brings the league to 16 teams total.
The franchise has some serious backing too. Investors include Olympic skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin and NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. They're planning a 14,500-seat stadium near downtown Denver for 2028.
In the meantime, they'll debut at Empower Field at Mile High on March 28 before moving to a temporary home in Centennial. With Heaps leading the charge, Denver suddenly looks like a team that could compete right away rather than taking the typical expansion team lumps.
For NWSL betting markets, keep an eye on how oddsmakers adjust their futures once Heaps officially joins in the summer. An expansion team with a player of her caliber could surprise people.
