Denver Summit FC Signs Ally Watt: First reinforcement for the NWSL 2026

Ally Watt, New Star Player for Denver Summit FC

In a strategic move that marks a milestone in the history of women’s soccer, Ally Watt has been transferred from Orlando Pride to Denver Summit FC, the NWSL expansion team that will debut in 2026. The news has generated great anticipation among fans and sports analysts. Watt, a Colorado native, becomes the first player in the history of Denver Summit FC. This transfer underscores the team’s commitment to local talent and its vision of building a competitive team from the start. As part of the agreement, Watt returns to Orlando Pride on loan for the remainder of the 2025 season. This operation will allow Watt to defend the colors of the team with which she won the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship in 2024. The Denver Summit FC will begin its first season in the NWSL next year, promising an exciting new chapter for the league and its fans. In exchange for the transfer, Orlando Pride received $75,000 in expansion allocation funds, usable until the end of 2027, and an additional $37,500 in transfer funds. In addition, the Pride obtained relief on its salary cap as part of the loan agreement. Watt participated in Orlando’s first 13 games this season, before missing Sunday’s match due to an ankle injury. So far this season, the 28-year-old player has scored one goal and one assist.

Denver Summit FC has signed Ally Watt ahead of the team’s inaugural season in the NWSL in 2026.The general manager of the Denver Summit FC, Curt Johnson, has expressed his intention to take advantage of local talent from Colorado, highlighting the rich pool of professional players coming from the state. Watt, who grew up in Colorado Springs, excelled in football and track and field, winning multiple state championships in track and field.

“One thing that makes us really unique is this group of talented Colorado players, players from the past, it’s special,” Johnson said.

Curt Johnson

Intra-league loans are new to the NWSL this year and were approved in conjunction with other roster-building mechanisms for the 2026 expansion teams, Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC. Boston and Denver have access to up to $1.065 million in allocation funds, allowing teams to spend outside the salary cap and transfer threshold. While the league had announced the phasing out of existing allocation funds by December 31, 2026, the allocation funds originating with Boston and Denver can be used until the end of 2027. In the case of Watt’s transfer, this means Orlando has an additional year to use the $75,000. Regarding the technical direction, Denver is about to hire Nick Cushing, former coach of Manchester City and New York City FC, as their head coach.