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Jeff Kassouf
Multiple Authors
United States women’s national team captain Lindsey Heaps made her debut with the Denver Summit FC, where she wore the captain’s armband and provided the assist for the winning goal.
Denver triumphed over the Portland Thorns with a score of 2-1 in front of a sellout crowd of 12,372 at Centennial Stadium, a temporary location created by the club until their permanent stadium is completed in 2028.
Heaps signed a pre-contract with Denver in January after four years with OL Lyonnes. Originally from Golden, Colorado, she is just a short distance from Denver.
Following the match, Heaps expressed her excitement: “It’s been amazing. From afar, it’s been really special to see all that the organization has accomplished – from the ownership down. I think we’ve approached everything in such a proper way.”
Heaps nearly scored during her debut, being denied twice from close range just before halftime. Her first effort was thwarted by a save, and although she followed up to collect the rebound, Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was positioned perfectly to prevent the ball from crossing the line.
In another instance, she had a potential goal blocked by a defender during the first half.
Heaps provided the critical assist for the winning goal in the 86th minute when Natalie Means managed to float a shot over Arnold into the net. Although it seemed like a cross, Janine Sonis, a Summit defender, clarified afterwards that Means intended for that to be a shot.
Sonis had earlier equalized for Denver in the 8th minute of first-half stoppage time with her own cross that went over everyone, with Heaps being the closest Summit player to it.
Forward Sophia Wilson initiated the scoring in the 25th minute, converting a penalty after a foul on Sonis.
Reflecting on the game, Heaps remarked, “I never felt like we were not going to come back.”
With this victory, Denver’s expansion team is now just one point away from the playoff cut-off as the season reaches its midpoint.
This match marked Heaps’ first appearance in the NWSL since 2021.
Having spent five years with Portland before moving to Lyonnes, Heaps was honored to win the 2018 NWSL MVP award and the 2017 NWSL Championship during her time with the Thorns.
Heaps began her journey with the Summit in early July, with head coach Nick Cushing publicly naming her captain despite her joining after the season had started.
Prior to her transfer, Heaps concluded her contract with Lyonnes, which made a strong run to the UEFA Women’s Champions League final but ultimately fell to Barcelona.
Heaps became eligible to play for Denver on Monday, coinciding with the opening of the NWSL’s transfer window.
“On Thursday, we asked Lindsey what she was capable of, and instead of answering, she simply turned and walked away,” Cushing shared. “I interpreted that as a sign of her readiness for the entire match and more.
“She’s a winner. The most inspiring aspect for us, the fans, and for me personally, is that she arrived here with genuine purpose. This was a significant occasion for her, and it meant a lot.”
Heaps’ return to her home state comes 14 years after leaving Colorado as an 18-year-old, making history as the first American woman to turn professional right out of high school.
In 2012, she signed with Paris Saint-Germain, where she played for four years before joining Portland.
Now back in Colorado as captain of the United States team, she prepares for the upcoming 2027 World Cup.
“I expressed that I didn’t want to come back just because it’s my home,” Heaps recently told ESPN. “I wanted to ensure it was the right fit for me, as I still have plenty of goals and aspirations in my career, especially with the World Cup approaching. That opportunity is never guaranteed, and I aim to be in an environment where I can compete for my position on the national team.”