The NWSL is continuing expansion this upcoming season. Two cities that are getting expansion teams for 2026 are Boston and Denver. Denver's nickname will be the Summit.
The Summit will need many players to help jumpstart the fanbase into the city and state. One player the Summit can rally behind will be defender Carson Pickett. Pickett has had a storied career.
She was born without a left forearm and hand, making her a pioneer for adoptive athletes not just in the United States but around the world. More importantly, though, she has been a strong player for every team she played for.
Drafted by the Seattle Reign in 2016, she has been a staple in the NWSL and is one of its premier defenders. During May of 2024, she was named Best XI by the league for her standout play. She had 27 possession recoveries during the month for Racing Louisville FC.
Outside of her play on the field Carson Pickett has shown great poise off of it as well
She has become an advocate for people with a limb difference and has been embraced by every city she has lived and played in.
Having a player who is not only loved, but also of that caliber will be vital for Denver to create goodwill with its fanbase. Pickett is a NWSL champion (2024 Orlando Pride) and could be on the early stars of the expansion team.
The league as a whole also takes pride in promoting players who have performed on the International stage. Lindsey Heaps of the United States and Janine Sonis of Canada are among those stars. Pickett is among them as well.
In June of 2022, she made her debut for the Women's National Team in a match against Colombia. She had one other appearance since then. It made her the first player with a limb difference to play for the United States.
As the Summit prepares for its upcoming opening season, it will be important for the fanbase to have something to root for. Carson Pickett has gone beyond her limb difference and has become a valued member of both the league and the soccer community as a whole.
The Summit would be hard-pressed to find a player with more experience and more of a stronger will to lead them to a surprise playoff berth in their opening campaign than Pickett. Now, as she gets ready to perform on the pitch, the city of Denver will be ready to get behind her.