Jordan Angeli Made Denver Summit FC Happen. Her Future is Uncertain and Exciting.

Denver, CO – Denver Summit FC hosted a Brand Launch Block Party on Saturday afternoon at McGregor Square. National Women’s Soccer League Commissioner Jessica Berman said it best from the stage: “NWSL is vibes.” It was a vibe. The merch line stretched all the way to the gates of Coors Field. Denver getting an NWSL expansion team started two years ago this month. It started with Englewood native and Colorado Rush legend Jordan Angeli. The face of For Denver FC has been an ambassador for this movement. Her role within the club is now uncertain but it is exciting.

“I would like to be a Director of Vibes if that is available. There are a lot of conversations going on. I am trying to figure out where I fit best and how I can be a part of something that I never really thought would be possible and how that works out with other things in my life. It’s an ongoing (internal) conversation,” Angeli told Burgundy Wave.

Jordan has been ever-present in the Colorado Soccer and NWSL space for the better part of a decade. She’s been a do-it-all media personality for the Rapids. This has included side line reporting, match day presentation, and digital media outside of game day. She’s been a road warrior side line reporter for NWSL as well. She’s one of the cohosts of Soccerwise, the heir apparent to Extra Time Radio, talking all things NWSL. This came after two season with the Boston Breakers in the Women’s Professional Soccer and two years in the NWSL. Knee injuries cut her playing career short. She started a podcast called Show Your Scars to destigmatize injuries through storytelling. Talk about overcoming obstacles and being mission driven.

In 2022, she launched For Denver FC alongside Ben Hubbard, Tom Dunmore, and Nicole Glaros. Their goal was to bring Women’s Professional Soccer to Denver, preferably an NWSL expansion team. Angeli wasn’t the financial might behind the movement but she was the spirit behind it. After networking to build out an ownership group and getting stuck in, the club has arrived.

“It is a true testament to going after something that you want. It was three people with a gigantic dream of bringing a Women’s Professional Soccer Team to Denver. You have to have the right people alongside you. The moment we met Rob (Cohen), I remember him hanging up on the Zoom call and all of us thinking, ‘that’s our owner,'” said Angeli.

Ben Hubbard knew Rob Cohen, who’s now the majority owner writing the big checks. Hubbard set up that Zoom call. Other people are dealing with the local elected officials to make the stadium and training ground happen. President Jen Millet is building a culture and staff. General Manager Curt Johnson is probably getting a coach hired in the next two weeks. We do not get this far without a wave of community support. And that needed a woman who was a Colorado native with bonafide soccer credentials.

There’s this concept of adults becoming the person who would have saved themselves as a kid growing up. I wouldn’t say Jordan ‘saved’ any 10-year-old girls who play soccer in the Front Range. But she’s creating a club and thus a platform to help that next generation. She’s providing something that she would have loved as a young soccer player.

“Growing up, I went to Rapids games and I wanted to be Chris Henderson. Then when the Women’s National Team came along, I watched them win the World Cup. Knowing that they’re just a human like me, that’s going to transform the culture of soccer that’s already elite in Colorado,” said Angeli.

Today’s version of 10-year-old Jordan gets to go watch HER local NWSL team and see players in-person and on a regular basis.

She is the change she wanted to see in Colorado Soccer. It’s inspirational to every girls in this community. At Rapids games, you see kids line up for autographs from Cole Bassett and they’re in awe of him. Jordan has become the equivalent to that if not more.

“That little girl (I once was) is really excited about what other 10-year-old girls get to have. It makes me really proud,” she told Burgundy Wave, fighting back tears of joy.

President Millet sees her as an ambassador for the club. She’s the foundation of them being a player-centric club. She could easily pivot into a media role given that’s what she’s spent the post time doing. She could be a community ambassador of sorts. The equivalent to Magic Johnson with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Matthew McConaughey is a part owner with Austin FC. His official title is Minister of Culture. That’s a fancy way of saying Director of Vibes, yeah?

Jordan Angeli needs to have a power player within this club. What that looks like exactly is to be determined. If Denver Summit gets it right, their and her potential to positively affect their community goes far above any summit.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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