Highlands Ranch’s Sonis guides
Summit to breakthrough moment

The team calls her Madam President. 

Denver Summit FC captain Janine Sonis doesn’t see herself that way, but is honored to be a leader for the expansion team. Still, the loving nickname is warranted. 

“Janine is awesome. She has led us to the point we are at,” defender Ayo Oke said. “She is a great captain, keeps the vibes up, and shows in her playing style how she wants the rest of us to play and what she expects of us.”

Sonis, a Highlands Ranch native, has had a lengthy professional career that includes over 100 league matches across multiple clubs. In 2022, she helped the Portland Thorns to the NWSL championship and was part of Canada’s Olympic gold medal‑winning team in Tokyo 2020 and bronze medal team in Rio in 2016.

As a defender for the Summit, Sonis has made an early impact as a captain and player. Last weekend, she recorded her second consecutive brace to help Denver to a 3-1 win over Orlando for the franchise’s first home win. It was the team’s first back-to-back wins and lifted the Summit to No. 7 in the NWSL standings. 

Sonis’ performance earned her NWSL Player of the Week.  

“It’s critical that we have players like Janine,” head coach Nick Cushing, who coached Sonis at Manchester City, said. “She’s one I have huge trust in, and she has huge trust in me. She is from Denver, so there is a huge emotional connection. She has a huge desire to have a successful women’s professional team here. She is playing well, just needs to keep it up now.

“I told her two games are good, but let’s make it 22.”

For Sonis, it’s a dream come true to play for her hometown team. Sonis was a four-year varsity starter at Valor Christian and was the 2012 Gatorade Colorado Player of the Year. The 31-year-old also played for Centennial-based club Real Colorado throughout her entire youth career. 

“I never thought Denver would get a team while I was still playing, so when it was announced a franchise was coming here, I knew I needed to get there at some point,” Sonis said. “Thankfully, it happened in the first season, which was really important for me to be here from the beginning and build what we’ve built.” 

That build includes three home sellouts and likely more to come after the World Cup break. The Summit has been on the road for six of its nine matches but has three home games in July alone. When fans return, it will be in the new Centennial Stadium. 

Sonis is proud of how far the team has already come and is confident in its ability to bring the first women’s professional sports championship to Denver. While extra pressure can come with the responsibility of being a captain, she is focused on enjoying herself and staying consistent.  

“High performance is expected, and I try to think of high pressure as a privilege,” Sonis said. “Not a weight, but an opportunity. For me, it’s about consistency week to week, not only on the pitch, but who I am off the pitch. How I treat my teammates. How I interact with staff and people in the community. The more I can be consistent, that pressure feels less heavy.” 

Sonis stays in close contact with future teammate Lindsey Heaps, who will join the team in June and take on the captain role. Sonis gives Heaps updates on the team, and every conversation ends with mutual excitement to play together.

“It will be disappointing for Janine not to lead the team out, and I understand that,” Cushing said. “I think it’s a real marker of her commitment, passion and love for the team that she is going to step aside for Lindsey to wear the armband.” 

That commitment from Sonis is apparent in her ability to help people see the potential in themselves and who they are as leaders. She encourages everyone to use their voices and contribute because she sees the team as full of leaders. 

Sonis may be one of the Summit’s leading scorers, but she’s a teammate first.   

“I don’t get to do what I do if it wasn’t for the team we have now,” Sonis said. “We have incredible players, incredible human beings. It’s not an accident that this group was put together, so I’m just grateful that I’m in that position and hopefully can keep doing what we’ve been doing.” 

What I’m thinking

• The Summit earned a much-needed win over the Pride on May 16 for its first home victory in franchise history. The 3-1 win moved Denver past Orlando to the No. 7 spot after previously sitting at No. 13. These are the first back-to-back wins in franchise history and occurred in front of the Summit’s third sellout crowd (16,974). Impressive. 
•  While Dick’s Sporting Goods Park served its purpose as a temporary home field, Centennial Stadium will bring even more excitement to the expansion team in Denver and seems to be on track to open in June. Although the facility will be limited to 12,000 seats, it will be good for the team to have its own space, including a 20,000-square-foot performance center.

What I’m seeing

• Summit defender Natalie Means and Orlando goalie Cara Martin graduated from Georgetown University following Denver’s 3-1 win over the Pride at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. In an Instagram post by the Summit, the two are pictured together in graduation gowns and Hoya student-athlete stoles. Summit midfielder Devin Lynch graduated from Duke two weeks ago.
• There was a shake-up in league standings this week. The Portland Thorns (6-2-2, 20 pts) have dropped to No. 3 after a 0-0 draw with Angel City FC on May 17 and a loss to Louisville the week before. The San Diego Wave (7-0-3, 21 pts) has risen to the top after back-to-back wins, followed by the Utah Royals FC (6-2-2, 20 pts), whom the Summit face Saturday. 
• Highlands Ranch native Mal Swanson is back in uniform for the Chicago Red Stars after returning from maternity leave and was put back on the active roster May 19. It was her first game in 554 days (Nov. 8, 2024). Chicago fell 4-0 to the North Carolina Courage, but Swanson was all smiles in a post with her baby girl that said, “Thankful for all of the support to get back and extra thankful for these new postgame hugs.”

What I’m hearing

• Heaps will take over as captain when she joins the team in June. Sonis will serve as vice-captain, and defender Kaleigh Kurtz will support the two. “To me, it’s not about the armband,” Cushing said. “I get it. It’s an important element to being the captain. I don’t think Janine’s leadership should or will change once Lindsey comes in. I think we will gain a huge asset in experience, knowledge and level with Lindsey. For us, it’s about how we grow this team consistently.” 
• Speaking of Heaps, the Golden native will be competing with OL Lyonnes in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final on Saturday against Barcelona. OL Lyonnes is an eight-time championship winner and beat Arsenal 3-1 in the semifinals. 
• While Cushing didn’t confirm or deny the rumors of Denver acquiring Australian striker Sam Kerr (who recently announced she was leaving Chelsea), he said he is always in the market for “world-class players.” The NWSL transfer window for acquiring players outside the league opens in July.