Ally Watt, new player for Denver Summit FC
Forward Ally Watt has been transferred from Orlando Pride to Denver Summit FC, the NWSL expansion team for 2026. This move makes Colorado native Watt the first player in team history. Watt was immediately loaned back to Orlando Pride, the club with which she won the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship in 2024, for the remainder of the 2025 season. The Denver Summit FC will play its first season in the NWSL next year. In exchange, Orlando Pride received $75,000 in expansion allocation money, which can be spent until the end of 2027, and another $37,500 in transfer funds. The Pride also received salary relief as part of the loan agreement. Watt played in the first 13 games for Orlando this season before missing Sunday’s match due to an ankle injury. The 28-year-old player has one goal and one assist this season.
Loans between teams are new in the NWSL this year and were approved along with other roster construction mechanisms for the 2026 expansion teams, Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC. Boston and Denver have access to up to $1.065 billion in allocation money, allowing teams to spend outside the salary cap and the transfer threshold. The league had previously announced that it would gradually eliminate existing allocation money before December 31, 2026, but the allocation money originating with Boston and Denver can be spent until the end of 2027. In the case of Watt’s transfer, that means Orlando has an additional year to use the $75,000. Regarding the coach, it was previously reported that Denver was finalizing terms to hire former Manchester City and New York City FC coach Nick Cushing as their head coach.One thing that makes us really unique is this group of talented Colorado players, players from the past, it’s special.
Curt Johnson, General Manager of the Denver Summit FC
