The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) introduced two new teams for the 2026 season. Last week, Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC started their inaugural seasons after a historic league expansion under the 2024-2030 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The addition of Boston and Denver is the seventh time the league has added teams since its founding in 2012. In the past, the NWSL has held expansion drafts where new teams can draft from existing players on other teams. In expansion drafts, existing teams can “protect” certain players from being drafted, but new teams have the right to draft any of the remaining “unprotected” players. New NWSL teams have also acquired assets from other teams that folded.
This year’s expansion is unlike any of the previous new team additions. The most recent CBA eliminated college and expansion drafts, so college players enter the league as free agents and expansion teams can utilize free agency. With the new CBA, NWSL players have the ability to sign with any team upon the end of their current contract, which allows new teams to sign any free agents.
Aside from the new free agency format, expansion teams will have access to $1,065,000 in allocation money. Half of the funds will be provided by the NWSL, while the remaining half will be funded by teams at their own discretion. Teams were allowed to spend the allocated funds on July 1, 2025, and have until Dec. 31, 2027, to spend all the funded allocation money. Allocation money can be used outside the salary cap to increase salaries or used in trades.
This process will remain as the league looks to expand again to Atlanta and potentially another city in 2028.
Denver Summit FC
Denver took an ambitious approach for their first year in the league. Their roster features experienced veterans alongside rising stars, with five of their players being Colorado natives. One of the Summit’s biggest signings is midfielder Lindsey Heaps, who made an improbable return to the NWSL. Heaps is best known as a captain for the USWNT, but has also played for the OL Lyonnes since 2022.
USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps returns to the NWSL after playing in France since 2022. (Justin Tafoya/Clarkson Creative/Denver Summit FC)The Summit also took an international approach in selecting someone to lead the franchise. In August 2025, they hired Nick Cushing to be the team’s first-ever head coach. Cushing has spent most of his career with Manchester City WFC, but also had a stint in Major League Soccer with New York City FC.
Boston Legacy FC
Boston’s first-year approach is outside the box. Similar to Denver, the Legacy has a mix of young players and experienced veterans. However, instead of looking at existing NWSL players, the Legacy signed experienced international talent and young players who have recently finished their collegiate careers.
To sit at the helm, the Legacy hired Filipa Patão to be the team’s first-ever head coach. Patão comes to Boston from Portugal, where she has been coaching for almost 20 years. Since 2020, she has served as the head coach of Benfica, a Portuguese football club, and has held different roles since joining the club in 2007.
Feature image via Denver Summit FC and Boston Legacy FC.
_
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS