Denver Summit FC didn't mess around building their back line. They went out and got veterans. Championship winners. Players who've actually won stuff in this league.

In this episode, we break down all eight defenders on the Summit roster—from Kaleigh Kurtz's ironwoman durability (played every single minute for four straight years) to Carson Pickett's attacking threat from fullback (3 goals, 2 assists in 2025), Janine Sonis coming home to Colorado with Olympic gold, and the young talent like Ayo Oke pushing for USWNT recognition.

We cover:

• Kaleigh Kurtz - 2,340 minutes in 2025, NWSL Champion, First Team Best XI
• Carson Pickett - 5 goal contributions from fullback, two-time Best XI
• Janine Sonis - Highlands Ranch native, Olympic medalist, captain at Louisville
• Megan Reid - 81 appearances with Angel City, Canadian international
• Camryn Biegalski - Prove-it year, 1,561 minutes with Chicago
• Ayo Oke - 22 years old, first USWNT senior camp call-up
• Eva Gaetino - From PSG, ACC Defensive Player of the Year (2x)
• Natalie Means - 10 goals as a defender at Georgetown

Plus: Why veteran leadership matters for expansion teams, how Denver's defensive depth will handle six matches in 28 days, and what this back line tells us about year one expectations.

If you're gonna compete in year one, you build from the back. Denver's got the pieces. Now we see if it works.

The 5280 Pitch. Women's soccer at altitude.