USWNT Captain Lindsey Heaps Joins Denver Summit as NWSL Expands into New Market
Denver, CO - US Women's National Team (USWNT) captain Lindsey Heaps is set to join the newly formed Denver Summit team in the NWSL this summer, capping off a move that promises to bring excitement and talent back to Colorado. Heaps will be signing with the club for three years through 2029 after her contract with French club OL Lyon expires.
A native of Golden, Colorado, Heaps was one of the first team members to express interest in playing for Denver Summit when the league announced its expansion in January 2025. With a storied career that includes winning league titles in both the US and France, a Champions League title, a World Cup, and an Olympic gold medal, Heaps is expected to bring significant depth and leadership to the team.
When asked about joining the Denver Summit, Heaps emphasized her enthusiasm for the club's mission and values. "I think they align with all of my beliefs in how they see the team, how they see it becoming successful, and the investment that they're putting in," she said. The 31-year-old also cited coach Nick Cushing, who previously coached Manchester City women and MLS's NYC FC, as a major draw for her to join the club.
Heaps' decision to return to the US comes at a time when several other US national team stars have departed for Europe in the past year. Her signing is seen as an effort by NWSL to compete with international leagues for top talent. In response to this trend, the league introduced a new "High Impact Player Rule" that allows teams to exceed their salary cap by up to $1 million.
A highly decorated player, Heaps has spent time playing overseas and in the USWNT's top division. She won an NWSL title with Portland Thorns in 2017 and was named MVP of the league in 2018. After a stint at Paris Saint-Germain, Heaps joined Lyon where she scored 22 goals in 95 appearances.
Heaps' addition to Denver Summit is expected to bring an exciting mix of talent, chemistry, and values to the club. As captain of the USWNT since 2023, Heaps has made 170 appearances for her country and has a reputation as an aggressive facilitator on the field, using her height to give her an advantage in aerial duels.
With Heaps on board, Denver Summit is poised to make its mark in the NWSL this season.
Denver, CO - US Women's National Team (USWNT) captain Lindsey Heaps is set to join the newly formed Denver Summit team in the NWSL this summer, capping off a move that promises to bring excitement and talent back to Colorado. Heaps will be signing with the club for three years through 2029 after her contract with French club OL Lyon expires.
A native of Golden, Colorado, Heaps was one of the first team members to express interest in playing for Denver Summit when the league announced its expansion in January 2025. With a storied career that includes winning league titles in both the US and France, a Champions League title, a World Cup, and an Olympic gold medal, Heaps is expected to bring significant depth and leadership to the team.
When asked about joining the Denver Summit, Heaps emphasized her enthusiasm for the club's mission and values. "I think they align with all of my beliefs in how they see the team, how they see it becoming successful, and the investment that they're putting in," she said. The 31-year-old also cited coach Nick Cushing, who previously coached Manchester City women and MLS's NYC FC, as a major draw for her to join the club.
Heaps' decision to return to the US comes at a time when several other US national team stars have departed for Europe in the past year. Her signing is seen as an effort by NWSL to compete with international leagues for top talent. In response to this trend, the league introduced a new "High Impact Player Rule" that allows teams to exceed their salary cap by up to $1 million.
A highly decorated player, Heaps has spent time playing overseas and in the USWNT's top division. She won an NWSL title with Portland Thorns in 2017 and was named MVP of the league in 2018. After a stint at Paris Saint-Germain, Heaps joined Lyon where she scored 22 goals in 95 appearances.
Heaps' addition to Denver Summit is expected to bring an exciting mix of talent, chemistry, and values to the club. As captain of the USWNT since 2023, Heaps has made 170 appearances for her country and has a reputation as an aggressive facilitator on the field, using her height to give her an advantage in aerial duels.
With Heaps on board, Denver Summit is poised to make its mark in the NWSL this season.
. She's got some serious skills and experience under her belt, having won all sorts of titles with the USWNT and OL Lyon. The fact that she was one of the first players to express interest in playing for Denver Summit shows how excited she is about joining the team! 
It's clear that Heaps values his coaching style and I'm sure she'll bring some top-notch tactics to Denver Summit.
. The "High Impact Player Rule" is also a good idea - it'll be interesting to see how teams balance their salaries while still trying to attract A-list players like Heaps.
, but seriously, it's about time they got someone with her level of experience, can't wait to see how she'll mesh with the rest of the squad 
This move is gonna bring so much energy and talent to Colorado. I mean, can you imagine having a World Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist on your team? 
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. The addition of a high-impact player like Heaps will definitely shake things up in the NWSL 
. I'm loving the High Impact Player Rule too - it's about time teams could invest in their talent 
. Denver Summit is gonna be a force to be reckoned with this season, and I'm excited to see how Heaps fits into their lineup 
! #NWSL #DenverSummit #LindseyHeaps #USWNT #WomenInSports 
! As a fan of the USWNT, it's awesome to see one of our own bring her talents back to the States 
, and I'm stoked to see her bring that leadership and chemistry to the team 
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how NWSL is trying to attract top talent by introducing that "High Impact Player Rule". It's gonna be awesome to see her play for Denver Summit this summer 
, imo she's been doing some crazy stuff on the field and i love how passionate she is about her team's mission 
She's literally a legend on and off the field! I mean, who wouldn't want to play for a team with such amazing values and mission? 
And can we talk about how talented she is?! 
22 goals in 95 appearances at OL Lyon? 
I'm literally counting down the days until the season starts, can't wait to see her in action! 
. Can't they just compete on an equal footing instead of making up silly rules? And what's with all these sponsor logos popping up everywhere on the forum, it's like a digital billboard nightmare 
. Anyway, Lindsey Heaps is gonna be great for Denver Summit, I hope she can bring some decent competition to that league 
Interesting how the league introduced that new "High Impact Player Rule" to try and compete with international leagues 
She's like a superhero 
Can't wait to see her play 
!