A trip to Denver and another Jess Fishlock moment – Equalizer Soccer

Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Week 15 saw Gotham move to the top of the table, the Pride tumble out of playoff position, a Royals goal barrage and another Jess Fishlock moment.

Here are 11 thoughts from the weekend. We’ll do this every Monday following National Women’s Soccer League match weeks. Some points will be factual, some will be opinion based. And some will just be random statements or observations.

Let’s dig in

I – Centennial Stadium, up close and personal

I journeyed to Denver for the Summit’s weekend match at Centennial Stadium. The club’s temporary venue, which is now likely to house the club through 2028, is short of bells and whistles, but its very existence is emblematic of NWSL’s growth over the last decade.

Perhaps my perspective is skewed because I cut my NWSL teeth at Yurcak Field, a college venue that was just not meant for a professional team. The locker rooms barely fit the teams. Sky Blue head coach Jim Gabarra’s only option was the public men’s room.

Centennial Stadium is none of that. There are seats all around with the front rows both set intimately close to the field but high enough that benches, photographers, workers and all other potential distractions are not in the lines of site. There is a video board, strong sound system and pristine pitch. Outside, there is no question you are at the home of the Denver Summit. Player banners hang from the outside of the stands. Temporary boards also adorned with player’s likenesses sit outside at least one of the entrances. Everything is Summit green — including pregame fireworks — and team signage is everywhere.

From a media perspective, a small but usable space for post-game press conferences has been carved out.

If the permanent home is handled with as much thought, it should be something to behold.

I will add that stadium staff was incredibly friendly.

One more note — riding the train at the airport and being welcomed to Denver by Janine Sonis was pretty cool.