Lindsey Heaps is officially back in the National Women’s Soccer League.The longtime U.S. women’s national team captain on Saturday made her debut with Denver Summit FC, her hometown club that she signed with in January, against her former club, Portland Thorns, in the first-ever match played at Centennial Stadium. It was a historic moment for Denver and Heaps, who is a native of Golden, Colorado.“It’s a little surreal for me,” Heaps said in her introductory press conference earlier this month. “Every morning now that I’m driving in my home state to work, it’s just weird. I’ve never had that before. It’s such a grateful feeling. I’m just so happy to be here.”
A new addition to this week’s matchday squad 🤩 pic.twitter.com/AhRuGmn1lI
— Denver Summit FC (@denversummitfc) July 18, 2026Heaps wore the captain’s armband in Denver on Saturday. Seconds before that referee blew the whistle for the match to begin, she shared a moment with USWNT teammate and Portland Thorns midfielder Olivia Moultrie. Heaps started her tenure with the club strong, nearly scoring her first Summit goal in the 8th minute, after connecting with teammate Yazmeen Ryan in the box. Her and Denver’s attempts kept coming as the first half remained underway.Portland’s Sophia Wilson, a Windsor, Colorado native, opened scoring in the match, converting off a penalty awarded to the Thorns in the 25th minute. Denver Summit kept the pressure on, and finally equalized in the 45+8 minute, with a banger scored by none other than co-captain Janine Sonis, another Colorado native from Highlands Ranch.The match remained 1-1 heading into halftime.
