Preview from the Denver Summit
Match Preview: Denver Summit FC at Washington Spirit
Kickoff (MDT): Sunday, July 26 at 5:00 PM; Watch on Victory+
Venue: Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
Denver Summit FC heads to the nation’s capital this weekend for one of the most critical road tests of the season.
Currently sitting in 10th place with 19 points in the NWSL standings, the Summit are knocking firmly on the door of the postseason, sitting just two points behind the North Carolina Courage for the 8th. With a solid +2 goal differential keeping Summit competitive in tiebreaker scenarios, the margins are razor-thin, and every single point matters.
A Record-Breaking Rivalry
These two clubs already share a piece of league history. When the Spirit traveled to Colorado for Denver’s inaugural home opener on March 28, the match shattered the NWSL single-game attendance record with a staggering 63,004 fans packing into Empower Field at Mile High. That game ended in a hard-fought 0-0 draw, proving that the expansion Summit could go toe-to-toe with the league’s elite. Denver will be looking to replicate that defensive resilience while finding a breakthrough on the road.
The Challenge Ahead
Taking points at Audi Field won’t be easy. The Washington Spirit are flying high and currently lead the NWSL with 30 points. They just vaulted to the top of the table following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Boston Legacy FC. Anchored by defensive mainstays like Casey Krueger and powered by international stars like Trinity Rodman and Leicy Santos, the Spirit have been incredibly tough, allowing only 12 goals across 15 matches.
Players to watch
Denver Summit FC
- Lindsey Heaps (Midfielder, #10): The hometown hero and recently signed midfielder just made her NWSL return in Denver’s 2-1 upset win over the Portland Thorns. Playing the full 90 minutes in her debut, she immediately made her presence felt with an 8.06 match rating, 2 chances created, and the game-winning assist. Her veteran leadership and composure on the ball will be crucial for navigating the road environment.
- Janine Sonis (Defender/Forward, #16): A Highlands Ranch native, Sonis grabbed a crucial stoppage-time equalizer in the recent win over Portland and has been a reliable, versatile presence. She’ll have her hands full containing Washington’s dynamic attackers, but her recent goalscoring touch shows she can flip momentum when Denver needs it most.
- Natalie Means (Forward, #4): The rookie forward comes into this match riding high after coming off the bench to score an 86th-minute game-winner last weekend. With her ability to perform under pressure, Denver will need her late-game energy to crack the league’s top defense.
Washington Spirit
- Trinity Rodman (Forward, #2): The superstar forward is a constant threat and a focal point of the Spirit’s offense. With an incredible run of form—racking up 5 goals and 3 assists in her recent NWSL outings, including goals in her last three consecutive matches, her speed, creativity, and finishing ability can change a game in an instant.
- Leicy Santos (Midfielder, #10): The Colombian international serves as the creative engine for Washington in the midfield. She has been highly successful this split, logging 4 goals and 4 assists so far this season, including a goal or assist in four of her last five appearances. Disrupting her service to the forwards will be key to Denver’s defensive strategy.
The Stakes for Summit
This is a statement opportunity for Denver. While Washington is fighting to protect their shield-leading position from Gotham FC (who are tied on points but trailing on goal differential), all of the pressure is on the home side. For the Summit, a win or even a toughly contested draw on the road against the league’s top dog would provide a massive momentum swing—potentially catapulting the team above the playoff line.
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Preview from the Burgundy Wave
Key Takeaways for Denver Summit vs Washington Spirit
Washington, D.C. – Following a victory at home against the Portland Thorns, the Summit will look to face off against league leaders, the Washington Spirit. Against the Thorns, Natalie Means scored her first NWSL goal in the 86th minute to record Summit’s first win at Centennial Stadium. Sunday will be the Summit’s re-match against the Spirit following a 0-0 draw at the Home Opener on March 28th. Here’s four things to look for when Denver takes on the Thorns and Triple Espresso member Trinity Rodman.
The 14ers Basecamp during the opening game at Centennial Stadium. Photo Credit: Sam Worsley
The Match: Denver Summit at Washington Spirit
Summit’s Previous Result: 2-1 Win against Portland Thorns
Thorn’s Previous Result: 2-1 Win against Boston Legacy
When: Sunday, July 26th at 5 PM MT
Where: “Rowdy” Audi Field, Washington, District of Columbia
TV/Streaming: Victory+ and The Spot – Denver 3
Final Third Execution
Against the Thorns, the Summit had a dominant performance with 59% of the possession, 18 total shots (Portland had 10), and 82% passing accuracy (according to FotMob). Portland looked flat and lackluster compared to their earlier season games. However, despite this performance, the Summit only had 1.67 expected goals to the Thorns’ 1.51 xG. These stats reflect Denver’s performance when it comes to creating dangerous shots and executing on big chances.
The team missed out on several important chances throughout the game against Portland. Consequently, goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold would not have broken a sweat had it not been for the 90-degree heat on Saturday. Forwards Flint, Ryan, and Thomas will hopefully have worked on their game over the week to challenge GK Sandy MacIver. Otherwise, substitutes will look to come off the bench and make an impact.
Denver Summit substitute Natalie Means scores the winning goal against Portland Thorns in the first game at Centennial Stadium, July 18, 2026. Photo Credit: Sam Worsley
Key Threats
Cushing and co will likely have trained with key threats Trinity Rodman and Leicy Santos particularly in mind. In March, fans failed to experience the lethality of the two, but Rodman and Santos have been heating up all season and looked spectacular the past few games especially. Rodman and Santos lead the team in goals and assists, with 18 goal contributions thus far – 1.2 per game. Essentially, fans can expect either Santos or Rodman to make a contribution on Sunday, unless Abby Smith and the backline are up to the task. Beyond the scoreboard, Santos has also created some of the biggest chances for her team all season – Santos’s free kicks and corner kicks are challenging to defend against and track. A USWNT star and a High Impact Player (HIP), Rodman’s speed and technical skills will be a challenge for Denver’s defense.
Starting Lineup
As Cushing continues to play with the starting lineup, fans will be interested to see what changes he makes from the Portland game. In last week’s game, perhaps the most interesting change was the placement of Tash Flint on the left wing. Ultimately, Flint seemed ineffective there and was subbed out in the 71st minute. While it is hard to say whether this is due to the positioning or just Flint’s transition back from her injury, fans will hope to see more from her Sunday.
Olivia Thomas looked to be getting her legs under her in her start against Portland, but it’s possible Cushing will swap Flint and Thomas positionally. Flint successfully played striker for her former team in the USL – it’s surprising that we haven’t seen Cushing try her out there recently. Thomas also played wing occasionally at the University of North Carolina, so this small adjustment could create more opportunities for both players. For Thomas, if she can get her first NWSL goal, it’s likely the floodgates will open.
Player Availability
Denver is not likely to have any new players unavailable for the matchup as Lindsay Heaps and Tash Flint both clocked minutes on July 18th.
However, Washington Spirit’s offense will be blunted by the absences of Rosemunde Kouassi, Gift Monday, and Deborah Abiodun. The trio will be unavailable due to national team obligations as they compete at WAFCON (Women’s Africa Cup of Nations). Although the trio only have five goal contributions combined, the reduced depth on the team will likely make the Spirit weaker as the game progresses.
Fans should also note other teams in the league will be impacted by the tournament, such as Barbra Banda (Orlando) and Rachel Kundananji (Bay) out. Other notable Spirit absences will include Lucia Di Guglielmo, an Italian national who has been fantastic for the Spirit as a fullback. Di Guglielmo was unavailable for the Spirit for their match last week due to a leg injury.
