NWSL's 16th expansion team, which will officially begin play next year, reveals name and logo: Denver Summit FC

NWSL's 16th expansion team on Tuesday announced their club name: Denver Summit FC.

The name was picked out as the favorite among the ownership group, while fans also voted on it as one of six options in recent months, according to the team.

In January, Denver was awarded the expansion franchise, which will begin play in 2026 alongside fellow first-year team Boston Legacy FC.

“We are pleased to unveil Denver Summit FC as our name and to share our crest and colors with Colorado and the world,” said Summit FC President Jen Millet. “It was vital for us to name our club in collaboration with our community. Our crest, colors, and brand are representative of Denver and all of Colorado. It embraces our aspirational goals and pioneering spirit to build the best soccer club in the world.”

Denver Summit FC beat out five other finalists for the NWSL side's name: Denver Peak FC, Colorado 14ers FC, Denver Elevate FC, Denver FC and Denver Gold FC.

The Summit will play in 2026 and 2027 at a 12,000-seat temporary stadium in Centennial, Colorado, before opening a new soccer-specific stadium in the Santa Fe Yards area of Denver in 2028 that will house 14,500 people.

“We are excited to firmly place Denver Summit FC in Denver’s storied sports lexicon,” said club owner Rob Cohen. “Coloradans are passionate about the outdoors, so it was always our vision that the crest should depict our natural surroundings.

"Our elevation offers us a distinct home field advantage, and our goal is to build a club that is always pursuing excellence on and off the field. Much like the picturesque Rocky Mountains, our charge is to stand apart while always reaching for new heights.”

Denver Summit FC worked with the Colorado Summit, Colorado’s professional ultimate frisbee franchise, on the naming process. As a result, the ultimate team will be rebranding ahead of the 2026 season.

Denver Summit FC begins play in 2026, but will start shaping out its front office and roster in the coming months. The team is reportedly closing in on hiring Nick Cushing as their first manager.

Cushing, former manager of MLS side NYCFC, previously coached Manchester City women in the WSL as well.