Denver Summit FC Signs Ryan, Sheehan & Yamamoto (BONUS)

Denver Summit FC blew up their roster one week into the inaugural NWSL season...

In 24 hours, the Summit acquired USWNT forward Yazmeen Ryan and midfielder Delanie Sheehan from the Houston Dash in a blockbuster trade, then announced the signing of Japanese international Yuzuki Yamamoto from WE League champions Tokyo Verdy Beleza. Three proven players. One week in. Before a single home game has been played.

Kate breaks down what each signing actually means — Ryan's versatility and why two NWSL championships matter, Sheehan's ironwoman midfield presence and the connective tissue Denver has been missing, and Yamamoto's WE League MVP season and why a 23-year-old Japanese international is the long-game piece that tells you everything about how this front office is thinking.

She also gets into why the fact that both players chose Denver over other interested clubs matters for an expansion team still building its identity, what this does to the forward line alongside Kössler and Brazier, and why expansion teams that wait to compete usually never do.

Denver's home opener against the Washington Spirit is nine days away. Fifty thousand tickets are sold. The roster just got a whole lot more interesting.