The Denver Summit are facing a critical weekend as they strive to extend their hopes of qualifying for the NWSL playoffs. Currently positioned 10th in the standings, the expansion team’s fate now hinges not only on their own performance but also on the outcomes of other matches around the league.
Last week, the Summit suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to fifth-place Angel City, a result that has left their postseason ambitions hanging by a thread. To keep their playoff dreams alive, Denver must secure a victory over the league’s bottom team, Louisville, and simultaneously hope that eighth-place Seattle Reign fall to sixth-place Utah. While the Summit’s task to defeat Louisville appears manageable given Louisville’s position at the bottom of the table, their fate will ultimately depend on Seattle’s result.
Reflecting on the team’s situation, Denver defender Janine Sonis expressed confidence in their capabilities. “I don’t think we lack anything, I think we have all the pieces here,” she said. “It’s just small details.”
This Weekend’s NWSL Playoffs Race Preview
Elsewhere in the league, several teams have clearer opportunities to secure their place in the postseason. Kansas City, Angel City, Utah, and Portland are all positioned to clinch playoff berths with a win this weekend.
As Denver roots for a Seattle loss, the Reign themselves are hoping for support from their longtime rivals, the Portland Thorns. Should Seattle and Portland both win their respective matchups—Seattle against Utah and Portland against ninth-place North Carolina—both would secure playoff spots.
Seattle remains focused on maintaining control over their playoff fate. “We have been thinking about every game as if it is a playoff game at this point because we want to stay in control of our fate,” the team emphasized ahead of their crucial encounter.