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Data: Axios research; Note: USLS is officially known as the Gainbridge Super League; Map: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals

Denver is playing a part in the evolution of women's pro sports as fresh teams, fanfare and big investments reshape the field for female athletes nationwide.

The big picture: A wave of new women's leagues in soccer, hockey, rugby and lacrosse is sweeping the country, bringing dozens of pro teams and their inaugural seasons to life in just the past two years.

Zoom in: In its debut season this year, the Denver Onyx — the city's first professional women's rugby team — dominated the league, finishing 9-1 and claiming the first-ever championship in the U.S. pro women's rugby era.

What's next: Denver will soon have another dot on the map. The city's first-ever professional women's soccer club — whose name, Denver Summit FC, was revealed last month — is set to begin play in 2026.

The team will debut in Centennial, with long-term plans to anchor a 14,500-seat stadium and entertainment hub closer to downtown.

The bottom line: If the fans keep showing up, women's sports will keep growing.

Denver gets in the game as women's pro sports surge nationwide

Denver is playing a part in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="evolution of women&#x27;s pro sports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/27/women-sports-teams-us-growth" data-vars-content-id="a8d7f73f-27e6-4d53-a348-e1db01648ee6" data-vars-headline="Denver gets in the game as women&#x27;s pro sports surge nationwide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/27/women-sports-teams-us-growth" target="_self">evolution of women&#x27;s pro sports</a> as fresh teams, fanfare and big investments reshape the field for female athletes nationwide.The big picture: A wave of new women&#x27;s leagues in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="soccer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gainbridgesuperleague.com/" data-vars-content-id="a8d7f73f-27e6-4d53-a348-e1db01648ee6" data-vars-headline="Denver gets in the game as women&#x27;s pro sports surge nationwide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gainbridgesuperleague.com/" target="_blank">soccer</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hockey" data-vars-click-url="https://www.thepwhl.com/en/news/2025/january/1/inaugural-season-reflections" data-vars-content-id="a8d7f73f-27e6-4d53-a348-e1db01648ee6" data-vars-headline="Denver gets in the game as women&#x27;s pro sports surge nationwide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thepwhl.com/en/news/2025/january/1/inaugural-season-reflections" target="_blank">hockey</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rugby" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/01/29/bay-breakers-women-pro-rugby-team-new-name" data-vars-content-id="a8d7f73f-27e6-4d53-a348-e1db01648ee6" data-vars-headline="Denver gets in the game as women&#x27;s pro sports surge nationwide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/01/29/bay-breakers-women-pro-rugby-team-new-name" target="_self">rugby</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lacrosse" data-vars-click-url="https://thewll.com/" data-vars-content-id="a8d7f73f-27e6-4d53-a348-e1db01648ee6" data-vars-headline="Denver gets in the game as women&#x27;s pro sports surge nationwide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://thewll.com/" target="_blank">lacrosse</a> is sweeping the country, bringing dozens of pro teams and their inaugural seasons to life in just the past two years.

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