In July 2023, an investment group called For Denver FC, led by former soccer player
Jordan Angeli, sports executive Tom Dunmore, and insurance executive Ben Hubbard, announced their plans to bid for a franchise in the NWSL or
USL Super League. They were joined by IMA Financial Group CEO
Robert L. Cohen and venture capitalist Nicole Glaros. Other members of the ownership group included
Mellody Hobson and
Jason Wright of
Ariel Investments. For Denver FC had been founded in 2022 as a
grassroots group and organized outreach events, including watch parties for the
United States women's national team during the
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. In November 2024, the NWSL announced that Denver was one of three finalists, alongside
Cincinnati and
Cleveland, to become the league's 16th team which would begin play in 2026. Denver was officially awarded the expansion bid by NWSL on January 30, 2025, and joined as the league's 16th team in the 2026 season. The ownership group, led by finance executive Rob Cohen, was reported by media outlets to have paid a league-record expansion fee of $110million. The team is the first professional women's sports team in Colorado since the
Colorado Xplosion of the
American Basketball League folded in 1998. On July 22, the team's ownership announced Denver Summit FC as the team's name. On May 6, 2025, alpine skier and
Vail native
Mikaela Shiffrin joined the team's ownership group. On June 3, 2025, Pro Football Hall of Fame and former
Denver Broncos quarterback
Peyton Manning also joined the ownership group.
Inaugural season (2026) Denver Summit played its first game on March 14, 2026, away at
Bay FC losing 2–1. The Summit's home opener was played at
Empower Field at Mile High on March 28, 2026, against
Washington Spirit, setting a league attendance record of 63,004. ==Club identity==