From her apartment, Natasha “Tash” Flint has a view of the Denver metro area on one side and the Rocky Mountains on the other. 

It’s a view much different from her hometown of Salford, Greater Manchester, England, but one she can get used to. 

“I’m a sucker for sunsets and sunrises,” Flint told the Gazette. “I appreciate the little things.”

Flint signed a two-year contract with the club in April after previously being on loan from the Tampa Bay Sun of the USL Gainbridge Super League. The England native has started all six matches for the Summit and has recorded two goals, the most recent being in Denver’s 3-2 loss to San Diego, and one assist. 

The 29-year-old has quickly “grown a soft spot” for her new home and looks forward to being in Denver for a long time, hopefully even longer than her current contract. 

“I’ve worked super hard to try to get this and get a deal for myself and stay here for a couple of years,” Flint said. “I feel privileged, very happy and grateful for the opportunity. I had a home feeling when I moved here.”

Flint will be available for selection in Sunday’s away match with Boston Legacy FC. The Summit is 1-3-2 after a tough 3-2 loss to the San Diego Wave at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on April 25. Boston (0-1-5) sits last in the league and seeks its first win.  

As part of the Sun in the USL’s inaugural season, Flint scored 10 goals to help Tampa Bay win the league title. The USL differs quite a bit from the NWSL, Flint said, but she embraces the challenge. 

“The USL is going to be a great league, but this is the level I deserve to be at, and I’m good enough to be at,” Flint said. “The NWSL is very competitive. It’s hard and challenging, and that’s what I need to get there as a player.

“I always say, if you don’t back yourself, who else is going to back you? It’s just believing in yourself.”

Flint’s prowess was apparent in the match against San Diego when she executed a second-chance header to the center of the goal in the 32nd minute to put the Summit up 2-0. 

She was happy to contribute to the team, but even more so to do it in front of the home crowd. 

“The fans are amazing,” Flint said. “I’ve talked to so many great human beings in Denver and that’s why I’m excited to be here. It’s great how people want to show their love to you and I love to show my love back as well.”

A self-described “spontaneous person,” Flint has already made the most of her time off the pitch. She’s made trips to Lookout Mountain in Golden, seen singer Lewis Capaldi at Red Rocks and made frequent coffee runs with roommates Ally Brazier and Janine Sonis. 

She has yet to pick a favorite coffee shop. 

While Flint is outgoing, she is also private. Still, she quickly clicked with the team and the team’s camaraderie has grown stronger each week. The striker has especially become close with teammate Carson Pickett, whom Flint also looks up to as a player. 

“From the start, you could tell we would be a great team,” Flint said. “We have a good balance of rookies, experienced players and non-experienced players and combining them into one has been an amazing balance for the group on and off the pitch.” 

Flint hasn’t seen her family since last June but is counting down the days until they visit from Manchester in December. She’s excited to show them her new home, but she mostly looks forward to spending the holidays together. 

“It will be amazing to cook for them and do a big Christmas dinner and get silly Christmas jumpers on and have an old family time,” Flint said. “I’m like a little child. I like to make people smile and make people have a nice time and be happy.” 

Her parents haven’t missed a Summit game from England, even if that means staying up until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. to watch their daughter play on television. That support since childhood has propelled Flint to her newfound career and success in the NWSL with the Summit. 

“I do it for myself and for my family,” Flint said. “I want to make them proud. They love it more than me some days. They are just big, massive, proud parents who absolutely love me playing soccer, which is the main reason why I do it. I do it for them.”