United States Women's National Team captain Lindsey Heaps has been cleared to make her highly anticipated first appearance for the Denver Summit when they take on the Portland Thorns this Saturday at Centennial Stadium — located less than 35 miles from her hometown, Golden, Colorado. The 32-year-old midfielder joined the newly established club on a pre-contract before the start of the NWSL season, following an impressive four-year spell with French powerhouse OL Lyonnes.

Heaps has now been officially included in the Denver Summit squad for this weekend’s fixture.

Should Heaps step on the field this weekend, it will be a particularly emotional occasion. This marks a homecoming for her after several years in Europe, and she will be facing the very club she last represented in the NWSL — the Portland Thorns.

During her six-season tenure with the Portland Thorns, Heaps made 105 appearances and clinched the NWSL MVP award in 2018. She played a pivotal role in leading the Thorns to two NWSL Shields in 2016 and 2021, as well as the 2017 NWSL Championship. In that 2017 final, she scored the decisive goal that sealed the title for Portland.

“We are delighted to officially welcome Lindsey back home to Colorado,” said Denver Summit FC Head Coach Nick Cushing in a statement released on Thursday.

“Lindsey’s return to the NWSL marks an exciting moment for our club, our supporters, and the entire Colorado football community. Her world-class ability and leadership will immediately strengthen us both on the pitch and in the dressing room. We can’t wait to see her don our crest and take the field for the very first time.”

Heaps’ return to the NWSL carries additional significance as she will now represent a team from her home state. Denver, Colorado secured the Denver Summit as one of the two expansion franchises that will join the NWSL in 2026.

This weekend’s fixture also marks Denver Summit’s inaugural game at Centennial Stadium — their temporary venue until their new $150 million stadium in Denver is completed in 2028. The stadium is directly connected to the team’s state-of-the-art training facility, which is already regarded as one of the finest in the league.

The Denver Summit are set to host the Portland Thorns in NWSL Week 12 action. The Summit currently sit in 11th place on the league table with an overall record of 4-5-4 as they look to gain momentum heading into the second half of the season.