Over the past several years, Denver has been at the center of the American sports universe. Consider: The reigning NBA MVP, NHL MVP, and Heisman Trophy winner play for Colorado teams. Since 2022, both the Nuggets and Avalanche have won championships. The Broncos, who have a title themselves in the past decade, are ascending the NFL with a well-rounded roster and a potential franchise quarterback. Deion Sanders has made University of Colorado football nationally relevant. This week, the University of Denver men’s ice hockey team will go for its third Frozen Four title in the past four years. And the Rockies…well, at least Coors Field is still a lovely place to spend a few hours.

Now, Colorado is getting a new team to cheer for—one that plays at the highest level of American soccer.

In late January, Denver was awarded an expansion franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), beating out competing bids from Cleveland and Cincinnati. It was the culmination of an intensive, multiyear effort and one that came with a hefty price tag in the form of a record $110 million expansion fee.

Other appealing aspects of the bid: Denver’s 30-year-long record of supporting professional soccer with the Colorado Rapids of the MLS. It’s also a top-20 market that’s not within eight hours of another franchise. And, for their part, Denver sports fans show out. The women’s soccer team has already sold more than 10,000 season ticket deposits—shattering the previous NWSL record.

And though it hasn’t hosted an NWSL franchise until now, Colorado is an important hub for women’s soccer. Mallory Swanson, Sophia Wilson, and Lindsey Heaps—all natives of the Centennial State—are pillars of the United States women’s national team, which won Olympic gold last year. Participation in the sport remains robust, with more than 8,064 girls playing high school soccer in Colorado during the 2023–’24 school year, the second-highest figure of any sport (behind only volleyball).

As is the case for any new venture, there are plenty of details that have to be ironed out. But here’s what we know.

When Will the Denver NWSL Team Start Playing?

The team is set to begin play in 2026. The NWSL season has started in March each of the past three seasons, so Denver’s NWSL debut will likely come in about 11 months.

What Is the Denver NWSL Team Named?

As of right now, the club doesn’t have a name. In February, the franchise unveiled six potential team names and put them up for a vote, along with an option for fans to write in alternatives. These were the choices (voting has closed):

  • Denver Peak FC (“FC” stands for “Football Club” and is common across multiple soccer leagues.)
  • Denver Elevate FC
  • Denver Gold FC
  • Denver FC
  • Colorado 14ers FC
  • Colorado Summit FC

Fans must consider if they think the club name should include “Denver” or “Colorado.” Three of the area’s five major professional men’s teams represent Colorado (Rockies, Avalanche, and Rapids), while the other two (Broncos and Nuggets) use Denver in their names.

It’s wise for the club to elicit feedback and get a general sense of what its nascent fanbase wants, if only to avoid some of the clumsiness and controversy other teams have experienced with their name rollouts. Boston Legacy FC, which will also begin playing in the NWSL in 2026, was previously named BOS Nation FC, but the club’s moniker, as well as its initial marketing campaign, was widely panned when it was revealed last October.

Where Will the Denver NWSL Team Play?

A rendering of the new soccer field for Denver NWSL
A rendering of the new soccer field at Santa Fe Yards. Photo courtesy of Denver NWSL and Populous

With the arrival of a new team comes a new venue.

Denver NWSL has unveiled plans for a 14,500-seat soccer-specific stadium at Santa Fe Yards, near the intersection of I-25 and Broadway (by the Broadway RTD light rail station). The stadium will have the potential to expand to accommodate more people as part of a larger project that also includes a 3.5-acre recreational park and future mixed-use development.

“This project at Santa Fe Yards will transform an underutilized eyesore into a recreational and economic hub where memories are made, culture is built, and championships are won,” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said in a statement.

The stadium proposal went before the Denver City Council’s South Platte River Committee on April 9 for an initial review. Johnston and company are asking for the city to invest $70 million (the ownership group would pay up to $200 million). It appeared to receive significant pushback, but if approved, the venue is expected to open in the spring of 2028. The proposal should be revisited at the end of April.

Where Will the Denver NWSL Team Play Until Then?

Denver NWSL will play its first two seasons in a temporary 12,000-seat stadium in Centennial while the Santa Fe Yards project is completed (if approved). In partnership with the City of Centennial and the Cherry Creek School District, the team is constructing a state-of-the-art training facility and “pop-up” venue in Centennial; in 2028, the stadium’s capacity will be reduced and it will be used by the Cherry Creek School District.

Who Owns the Denver NWSL Team?

Denver NWSL is owned by a group led by Rob Cohen, the chairman and CEO of IMA Financial Group, which is headquartered in Denver. Cohen has been active in the local sports scene for decades. In 2001, he founded the Denver Sports Commission, which works to bring major sporting events to the city. Before the NWSL venture was announced, he was linked to a group trying to lure a WNBA franchise to Denver.

Other members of the ownership group include Mellody Hobson (co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments), the Borgen and Moritz families, Neelima Joshi, Dhiren Jhaveri, and Molly Coors.

Who Will Play on the Denver NWSL Team?

Unlike other franchises that have joined the NWSL in recent years, Denver won’t fill its first roster through an expansion draft. The league’s most recent collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified last August, eliminated all forms of drafts. Rather, players coming into the league from the college ranks or elsewhere enter into an open market where they can directly negotiate with teams.

Previously, Denver would have been able to select from a pool of active NWSL players. In an expansion draft, teams already in the league were able to protect nine players while all others were eligible to be selected by the new franchises. With that model now passé, Denver will look to recruit players to be a part of its first-ever roster via what amounts to free agency.

Anyone hoping that one or more of the three Colorado-born national team stars will come back home may end up disappointed. Heaps is signed with French club Lyon, where she has played since 2022, through June 2026. Wilson’s contract with the NWSL’s Portland Thorns ends after this season, though there’s a club option for 2026. Swanson is signed with the NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars through 2028, and her husband, star shortstop Dansby Swanson, has a $177 million deal with the Chicago Cubs that runs through 2029 and includes a no-trade clause.

Read More: Mallory Pugh Is a World Cup Away from Stardom

Who Is the Denver NWSL Team’s Rival?

Rivalries sometimes arise organically, whether it’s from a feud between players and coaches or a series of hard-fought, memorable matchups. How else would basketball teams in cities 3,000 miles apart like Los Angeles and Boston become famed foes?

While Denver NWSL may have to wait until it begins play to get a sense of who it might share some bad blood with, there are some intriguing possibilities. The most likely candidate is the Utah Royals, which is the closest team geographically and is an NWSL newcomer itself, having debuted in the league in 2024. There’s already some soccer animosity between the states, as the Rapids and Real Salt Lake compete for the Rocky Mountain Cup, a regular-season competition between the clubs based on their head-to-head results.

Another option could be the Kansas City Current because of proximity and something that likely won’t be lost on local NFL fans: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, are among the team’s owners.

How Can You Get Tickets for Denver NWSL?

Fans hoping to land season tickets (prices TBD) for Denver NWSL can place a deposit with the club. Each deposit is for one seat, not one person. A general deposit is $30.30 while a premium deposit is $100. According to the club, the timeline for converting deposits into actual seat purchases is “yet to be finalized.”

Craig Meyer
Craig Meyer
Craig Meyer is a Denver-based freelance writer. Before moving to Colorado in June 2022, he spent the previous 10 years as a sports writer with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, primarily covering college basketball and football.