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Jasmine Aikey Embraces Denver Summit’s ‘Rocky Mountain High’ Ambitions Ahead of NWSL Debut

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Hartnett | Last updated Feb 6, 2026 4:07 PM ET

Former Stanford University standout Jasmine Aikey is setting her goals as high as the Rocky Mountains as an inaugural member of the NWSL's expansion Denver Summit.

The versatile 20-year-old forward spoke one-on-one with Athlon Sports ahead of her debut season with the Summit, which will play its first league match away to Bay FC on March 14.

Aikey chose to sign with the Summit largely due to the club pushing for high standards despite being a newly-welcomed NWSL franchise. The Summit is led by a pair of serial winners in general manager Curt Johnson and head coach Nick Cushing.

Upon hearing of the Summit’s ambitious long-term project, Aikey put pen to paper on a two-year deal with a mutual option for a third-year extension. According to Aikey, Johnson and Cushing outlaid a plan for Denver to be competitive straight away.

“Having an experienced coach and GM was obviously a big draw,” Aikey told Athlon Sports. “I’m really excited about the project and the ideas that they have for the Summit. Once they outlined the project for me, it became very clear that I wanted to come here.”

Johnson’s impact as general manager of the Kansas City Wizards (now known as Sporting Kansas City) helped the MLS side complete a Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup double in 2000. Kansas City also lifted the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2004. He would later taste success as a two-time NWSL champion as president and general manager of the North Carolina Courage.

Cushing guided Manchester City to the Women's Super League title in 2016, victory in the 2017 Women's FA Cup final and a trio of Women's League Cup victories.

“We’re not just coming in here to a very competitive league just to be in the middle,” Aikey said. “We want to win right away. I think we’re setting ourselves up for our best chance to have a successful first year. Top to bottom, everyone is focussing on the same page, and I think that’s been really helpful as we’ve got started.”

Aikey has seen firsthand the quality of the squad that is being put together in Denver. The Summit brought in several experienced talents, including past NWSL champions Kaleigh Kurtz, Ally Brazier, Carson Pickett, Abby Smith, Janine Sonis and Camryn Biegalski.

“They’re being really smart about who they recruit,” she said. “The vets are super helpful. Obviously, they don’t have to baby us, but they go out of their way to make sure that us younger players are feeling involved and they’re holding a high standard for the group. It’s been really great to learn from them. Even in just these past three weeks, I’ve felt like I’ve grown so much by trying to reach their level. It’s been really exciting.

Aikey Thrilled by Summit’s Capture of USWNT Captain Heaps

Lindsey Heaps of the United States with the ball during the second half of a Women's International Friendly between the United States and Jamaica at Energizer Park on June 3, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

The most exciting capture will arrive in the summer in the form of United States women’s national team captain Lindsey Heaps, who will be joining the Summit after her contract with Première Ligue club Lyon expires in June.

“It’s honestly a little bit surreal,” Aikey said of Heaps. “You think about it, and oh, Lindsey Heaps – amazing player, she’s going to be my teammate. I think that’s honestly one of those I’ve made it moments. It’s really exciting for the city for her to make her return back to Denver.”

Aikey Desires to Emulate Fellow Stanford Scoring Ace Turned USWNT Star Macario

Stanford forward Jasmine Aikey with the ball as BYU midfielder Jamie Shepherd defends in the first half at WakeMed Soccer Park. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY SportsBob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

One USWNT star whom Aikey looks to for inspiration is forward Catarina Macario, who finished 2025 with eight goals in 10 national team appearances.

“I was there to witness a lot of her games in her amazing junior season,” Aikey said when she recalled watching Macario from the stands at Stanford’s Maloney Field at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium. “She’s just an amazing player. Players that I’ve played with like Kennedy Wesley, she has such a strong mentality and is such a hard worker. I think getting to watch and see those players, then see their national team success, is really amazing.”

She followed in the footsteps of Macario by scoring bundles of goals for the Cardinal. Aikey capped a first-team All-American season at Stanford by capturing the prestigious Hermann Trophy as the top women's college soccer player and the TopDrawerSoccer Women's National Player of the Year Award.

Macario, who now represents Women's Super League Chelsea, twice scooped the TopDrawerSoccer Women's National Player of the Year Award and twice received the Hermann Trophy before forgoing her senior season at Stanford to begin her professional career at Lyon.

Wesley has gone on to make three USWNT appearances while establishing herself as a reliable backline presence for the San Diego Wave.

With the NWSL season weeks away, Aikey will soon have the chance to write her own story with the Summit.

“It also helped that I loved Denver and I’ve lived here before,” she said. “I love the area. It’s an opportunity to live in an amazing city, and play in a sports city and play for an organization that really wants to do things the right way.

“Right now, I’m focussing on adjusting and helping Denver in any way that I can.”

Summit's Empower Field Home Opener Likely to Break NWSL Attendance Record

An exterior view of Empower Field at Mile High on September 15, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Excitement is peaking for the Summit, who’ve already surpassed 40,000 tickets sold for their inaugural home game at Empower Field at Mile High against the Washington Spirit on March 28. Denver is poised to break the NWSL's all-time single-match attendance record of 40,061, set last season when Bay FC hosted Washington at San Francisco’s Oracle Park.

“I have friends and family friends here and there texting me that we’ve got our tickets and we’re going to games,” Aikey said. “For me, it will be such an honor to hopefully be able to play in front of all these people, and so many people would want to support us. The group is so excited, and I’m so excited to hopefully bring another championship back to Denver.”

As an NWSL rookie, Aikey and the expansion Summit are about to embark on a special journey in hoping to build a foundation for success for women’s soccer in “The Mile High City.”

Summit fans are eagerly awaiting Denver’s turn to make memorable moments on the pitch.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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