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Jeff Kassouf
Multiple Authors
DENVER — In its inaugural home game, the National Women’s Soccer League’s newest franchise, Denver Summit FC, shattered the league’s single-game attendance record on Saturday. An impressive 63,004 fans flocked to Empower Field at Mile High on an unusually warm March day to witness the expansion team go head-to-head with the Washington Spirit.
This attendance eclipsed the previous league record, set less than a year earlier, by over 20,000 and also established a new benchmark for a stand-alone women’s soccer match in the United States.
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Regrettably for the Summit and their supporters, the record-setting crowd witnessed a goalless draw, with the match ending 0-0.
“I had tears in my eyes,” said Summit winger Janine Sonis, a local who grew up south of Denver, after the match. “I never thought I would experience something like this during my career. I’m so thankful to be here. It was challenging to manage my emotions while performing.”
“Walking out of that tunnel and hearing the crowd cheering for us was unforgettable.”
Denver entered the league this year alongside Boston Legacy FC, expanding the NWSL to 16 teams. The Summit was officially announced as the league’s 16th franchise in January 2025.
Denver Summit controlling owner Rob Cohen commented before the match, “Our ownership group had lofty aspirations for this community, and the turnout and ticket sales for the game have surpassed our wildest expectations. This event validates that our city truly deserves this club and has long desired it.”
The match took place at Mile High, home to the NFL’s Denver Broncos, as a one-time event branded by the Summit as “The Kickoff.”
“This is monumental,” said forward Natasha Flint. “I think I’ve only been part of one other game of this magnitude; it’s a moment you’ll treasure forever.”
The Summit is awaiting the completion of a temporary stadium located south of the city, which will serve as the team’s home until a permanent venue is established in 2028.
The Washington Spirit, featuring star American forward Trinity Rodman, recently faced record-breaking crowds in both 2025 and Saturday’s match.
“I often reflect on my rookie year—COVID certainly hindered any large crowds—transitioning from just a few thousand fans to sellouts at Audi Field,” Rodman told ESPN.
“It’s incredibly gratifying to witness this growth over the past five years—and even more so over the past decade. It’s exciting to be part of this phenomenon where the league has expanded so significantly, creating countless opportunities. I hardly feel nervous anymore.”
The single-game attendance record for the NWSL has now been broken in four consecutive seasons, with each of the last three years witnessing this achievement at venues outside the teams’ regular home fields.
In 2024, the Chicago Stars set the record at the iconic Wrigley Field with 35,038 attendees. Last year, Bay FC surpassed that with an astonishing crowd of 40,091 at Oracle Park, home of the MLB’s San Francisco Giants.
Last season, average attendance across the NWSL dipped to 10,669 fans per game. There remains considerable variance in attendance figures across the 16-team league, with recent home openers in Chicago and Louisville drawing fewer than 6,000 fans.
“I think the largest crowd I’ve had cheering for me is between 7,000 to 10,000. This is a substantial leap,” stated Summit defender Kaleigh Kurtz as she reflected on the significance of her team’s inaugural home match.
Among those present at the game were stars from various backgrounds, including 1999 World Cup champions Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain, as well as Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Aly Raisman. Minority investors in the Summit include Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning and Olympic gold medal-winning skier Mikaela Shiffrin.