Watt’s Move to Denver Summit FC
Forward Ally Watt has officially made a move from the Orlando Pride to the newly established NWSL expansion team, Denver Summit FC, making her the franchise’s inaugural player, as confirmed by sources to ESPN. This trade is significant for Watt, a Colorado native, who has been immediately loaned back to the Pride for the remainder of the 2025 season. With this agreement, she continues to support the team that led her to victory in the 2024 NWSL Shield and clinched the NWSL Championship.
Trade Details
In exchange for Watt, the Orlando Pride received $75,000 in expansion allocation money and an additional $37,500 in transfer fees, along with salary cap relief tied to the loan, as reported by ESPN. As for her recent performance, Watt has participated in all of Orlando’s first 13 games this season but was sidelined during the latest match due to an ankle injury. At 28 years old, she has notched one goal and one assist within the season.
Looking Ahead
Next year will mark the beginning of Denver Summit FC’s inaugural season in the NWSL. Sources have indicated that the team is nearing an agreement to appoint Nick Cushing, former head coach of Manchester City and New York City FC, to lead the club.
General Manager’s Vision
Denver’s general manager, Curt Johnson, previously expressed confidence in leveraging Colorado’s significant pool of soccer talent, emphasizing the state’s rich sports heritage.
“What sets us apart is our unique talent reservoir of Colorado athletes. Historically, Colorado has been a nurturing ground for soccer talent, and our mission is to tap into this legacy as we build our team,”
Johnson stated in an interview back in May.
New League Developments
Notably, intra-league loans like Watt’s are a new addition to the NWSL, approved to aid expansion teams such as Denver Summit FC and Boston Legacy FC in their roster development. These teams are permitted up to $1.065 million in allocation money—usable beyond standard salary cap regulations—reflecting the league’s strategic expansion, culminating in a potential spending window extending to the end of 2027.
