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Jeff Kassouf
The captain of the United States women’s national team, Lindsey Heaps, is set to return home in June to join the expansion team, Denver Summit FC, in the NWSL.
Heaps will transition to the Denver team after concluding her contract with French giants OL Lyonnes. She has signed with Summit FC through the 2029 NWSL season.
While some may have seen this move as expected for the Colorado native, Heaps admitted to ESPN that she was uncertain about the timing when rumors of the Denver expansion first arose years ago.
“I didn’t want to simply say, ‘I want to do it because it’s Denver,’” Heaps shared with ESPN. “I wanted to ensure it was the right fit for me and my career, so I tried to downplay the Denver aspect of it, but that proved to be quite challenging.”
She noted that “the more I contemplated it, the more it seemed real.”
The toughest part, she revealed, was keeping it a secret from her parents. Heaps, who turns 32 in May, grew up in Golden, Colorado, just outside Denver. At 18, she signed with Paris Saint-Germain in 2012, becoming the first U.S. woman to forgo college and turn professional right out of high school.
Four years later, following U.S. Soccer’s request, she returned to join the Portland Thorns FC, where she clinched two NWSL Shields and an NWSL Championship, along with the MVP title in 2018, before making another move to France to team up with Lyonnes.
Heaps was instrumental in Lyonnes securing a record eighth European title in 2022, alongside three consecutive league titles. Last season, she delivered 12 goals and eight assists in 15 starts.
With 170 appearances for the USWNT across multiple midfield positions, Heaps contributed to the team’s victory in the 2019 World Cup and captained the team that won gold at the 2024 Olympics. She finished fifth in that year’s Ballon d’Or voting.
Heaps’ arrival is significant for Summit FC, who will begin play in March and aim to be competitive right away. General manager Curt Johnson, who previously held a similar role with the North Carolina Courage during their successful years, emphasized the importance of signing top-tier players from Colorado.
He expressed that securing Heaps has been on his mind even prior to officially taking on the GM role.
“We felt Lindsey was the perfect fit as we build a strong team that embodies the spirit of Denver and Colorado,” Johnson mentioned, noting that Denver currently has about 20 players secured on their roster.
“This is a remarkable moment; it sends a strong message to our fans, current players, prospective players, and the soccer community globally that we are serious about creating a competitive team and are committed to attracting the best talent.”
Johnson recalled a chance encounter with Heaps during the U.S. team’s match against Ireland in Denver in June 2025, where they discussed the new team.
“Lindsey is the type of player who influences every game,” Johnson stated. “She commands the ball, dictates the pace of play, scores goals, and makes critical passes. Her defensive contributions and ability to cover the field make her the orchestrator in the midfield, and we believe she’ll have a similar impact with us.”
Heaps’ return is a positive development for the NWSL as the league faces challenges retaining top American talent.
Recently, the NWSL has seen the departure of several leading players, including U.S. midfielder Sam Coffey, who is moving from the Portland Thorns to Manchester City, according to ESPN insiders.
In response to this trend and the uncertainty surrounding U.S. forward Trinity Rodman, the NWSL introduced the High Impact Player rule, which allows teams to pay certain players up to $1 million above the salary cap.
Heaps qualifies to be a HIP player due to multiple criteria in her contract, although it remains uncertain how this will affect her status as a HIP player. The NWSL Players Association has contested this new rule, leaving ambiguity about its implications.
Johnson is collaborating with the NWSL to clarify how Heaps’ contract will influence Denver’s salary cap this summer. Summit FC also has special allocation money available as an expansion team until 2027, which can help manage salary cap implications.
Heaps expressed enthusiasm about returning to an NWSL that has “significantly more investment” compared to when she left four years ago.
She highlighted the hiring of Nick Cushing, “a top-tier coach,” as an example of this growth. As she joins Denver mid-season, she is expected to play a pivotal role in leading a new and youthful franchise navigating its early challenges.
The team’s future plans include a new stadium slated to open in 2028, which would be only the second venue built specifically for an NWSL team.
While not every player relishes the idea of joining an expansion team, Heaps feels uniquely equipped for the task after observing her husband, Tyler Heaps, navigate an expansion year as sporting director and GM of MLS‘ San Diego FC, which had a successful first season finishing atop the Western Conference in 2025.
“I understand their vision and project,” Heaps said about Denver Summit. “You want success, but the important takeaway from watching my husband is the need to establish standards and a culture for success beyond just performance on the field. That resonated with me, and it’s something I want to be a part of.”
The fact that this opportunity is in Denver is particularly exciting for her. Her parents have predominantly watched her play from a distance, “maybe seeing me a few times a year,” she explained.
Consequently, Heaps decided to keep the potential move to Summit FC under wraps, not wanting their enthusiasm to sway her decision.
She maintained this secrecy for months until around Christmas when she invited her parents to what she claimed was a U.S. Soccer photoshoot.
Upon entering, her parents were taken aback to learn that their daughter would soon be returning home. Heaps acknowledged that the reality of playing in front of a home crowd will likely hit her when she first drives to training in her home state.
“But I think the most emotional moment will be stepping onto the field, donning the jersey for the first time, and seeing the fans, who I know will be extremely enthusiastic,” she reflected. “It’s going to be interesting—I could be very emotional, more so because I’m a sensitive person. But I am genuinely excited for that moment.”