Lindsey Heaps is back in Colorado. The USWNT captain received her No. 10 NWSL Denver Summit jersey last week and is now training with the expansion club ahead of her mid-July debut.
Inside the Lindsey Heaps Denver Summit FC Transfer
Heaps, a Golden, Colorado native, signed a long-term deal through the 2029 season after leaving OL Lyonnes.
"I'm so happy," Heaps said of the move. "I get to drive here to an incredible performance center and facility where it's like, you cannot be mad about coming to work. Getting on the field and being with the staff and this group, it's been amazing."
Still, per the Denver Summit schedule, she won't be eligible to play until the July 18th home opener at Centennial Stadium. That match against Portland Thorns FC, and fellow Colorado native Sophia Wilson, is already shaping up as one of the biggest in state soccer history.
Denver Summit FC's NWSL Schedule and Ranking
Until then, Denver Summit FC will lean on the core that earned a 2-2 draw against the Houston Dash on July 12, with Janine Sonis and Yazmeen Ryan finding the net. The expansion side sits in 11th place with 16 points, so head coach Nick Cushing could use Heaps's veteran presence sooner rather than later.
Heaps brings a 2019 World Cup title and 2024 Olympic gold medal to Colorado. Her arrival gives the club a proven winner and a real shot at the playoff race.
The NWSL calendar is staying put, as the league announced it will not shift to the previously proposed fall-to-spring schedule anytime soon.
The Board of Governors declined to vote on any significant changes this week, committing to the current spring-to-fall schedule until at least 2030.
"The National Women's Soccer League will continue to operate under its current spring-to-fall schedule through 2028, 2029, and 2030," an NWSL spokesperson told ESPN.
"This decision reflects our confidence in the strong momentum and growth the league has achieved under its current structure, and our commitment to providing stability for everyone invested in the NWSL's success."
While US men’s league MLS is shifting next season’s framework to mirror Europe’s transfer market, benefits for the NWSL’s flip appear slim — and faced significant pushback.
The players union publicly opposed the idea after ESPN reported the impending vote, saying necessary league-wide infrastructure to winterize facilities doesn’t yet exist.
"NWSL has made the right decision to provide stability and certainty over the calendar footprint for the next several years," said NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke.
"Throughout this process, Players made clear that any discussion about the calendar must prioritize Player health and safety, infrastructure, and professional standards necessary to compete at the highest level."
"The NWSLPA remains committed to working with NWSL to foster the conditions necessary for its continued growth," she added.
The 2026 NWSL schedule arrived on Thursday, with the now-16-team expanded league gearing up for its 14th campaign complete with 248 regular-season matches, seven playoff games, and a standalone Challenge Cup.
The season officially kicks off on Friday, March 13th, with a midseason break slated for June 1st through 28th.
The 2026 NWSL schedule also sees the return of Rivalry Week in July, as well as a simultaneous kick-off Decision Day to cap the season on Sunday, November 1st.
Each team will play a total of 30 regular-season matches, with games broadcast across ESPN, Prime, ION, CBS, NWSL+, and new free streamer Victory+.
In the only major departure from the previously released framework, the league is shifting the 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup from the beginning of the season to a neutral site in June.
This year's Challenge Cup will see reigning NWSL champions Gotham FC facing the Shield-winning Kansas City Current, with the pair's 2025 quarterfinals rematch set for Friday, June 26th.
The clash will take place in Ohio at the home stadium of MLS's Columbus Crew in order to give local fans "the opportunity to experience elite women's soccer in person at this celebratory showcase event," according to Thursday's NWSL press release.
As for the 2026 NWSL Playoffs, the league's three-round postseason will begin on November 6th, with eight clubs competing for a ticket to the Championship match on Saturday, November 21st.
NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy FC has found a home, with the franchise announcing Friday that it plans to play the majority of the club's 2026 inaugural season at Foxborough's Gillette Stadium while moving some matches to Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Home to the NFL's New England Patriots, Gillette will also serve as a host site for the men's 2026 World Cup, pushing the Boston Legacy to relocate some conflicting summer clashes to Centreville Bank Stadium.
Located approximately 22 miles by car from Foxborough, Pawtucket's soccer-specific venue is home to second-flight USL Championship side Rhode Island FC.
"As we expand across two exceptional venues, we see this as an opportunity to connect with even more soccer fans across the region," said Boston Legacy president Jennifer van Dijk in Friday's club statement.
Meanwhile, the Legacy is still moving forward on a public-private partnership with Boston's White Stadium for the 2027 season and beyond, with the Franklin Park venue still undergoing renovations through the 2026 season.
How to attend the first-ever Boston Legacy FC match
With the club aiming to move into its state-of-the-art performance center prior to making its NWSL debut, Boston Legacy FC is also gearing up for its first-ever home opener, which will kick off inside Gillette Stadium at 12:30 PM ET on Saturday, March 14th.
Though the expansion side's opening opponent — as well as the rest of the league's 2026 schedule — is still unknown, fans can be a part of NWSL history by snagging tickets to the club's first-ever match at BostonLegacyFC.com.