Centennial, Colo. – For Denver Summit, it’s been an expansion year of ups and downs, but they’ve been able to find success in their inaugural season of the NWSL. Head Coach Nick Cushing’s side sits directly in the middle of a playoff push, just five points from a postseason spot.
Off the field, Denver has pushed the boundary in Colorado Women’s Soccer, selling out Mile High Stadium, building a temporary stadium in Centennial, and breaking ground on a permanent soccer-specific stadium at Santa Fe Yards.
At the center of all the success, Janine Sonis has found her feet again with Summit, reuniting with Cushing, she’s having one of the most impressive seasons of her career. She’s started nearly every game, racking up 11 goals and five assists, and being a key leader from the wing-back position.
Youth Career and Breakthrough
Sonis’s story started in Colorado. Born in Littleton, Colorado to Canadian parents, she was an athlete from the start.
“I was born and raised in Denver,” Sonis said, “I played my club soccer for Real Colorado. I’m one of four kids, the youngest of four, so I kind of just followed in the footsteps of my siblings, who all played for Real growing up too.”
“I tried everything as a kid, played basketball, ran track, did everything,” Sonis said.
“As I got older, it became clear that soccer was the thing I was most naturally talented at, and I was more passionate about it. I just had a great sports upbringing.”
From there, Sonis excelled in high school soccer for Valor Christian, winning the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2012. After high school, she decided to play collegiate soccer at Texas Tech University. A decision she remembers as instrumental to her development.
“I had an opportunity to go and play a lot of minutes as a freshman,” Sonis said.
“I played a ton of minutes my freshman year, and that was really the difference for me, and massive in my development.”
In 2016, she was drafted to the Houston Dash, where she began her professional career.
Professional Career and Mentality
Sonis’s career began in 2016. Since then, she’s played for Manchester City, other NWSL sides, internationally, and returned back home to Colorado.
She’s been everywhere, overcame injuries, position switches, and difficult career periods.
Today, she’s a key leader on Colorado’s first professional women’s soccer team, and there is nowhere else she’d rather be.
“The first time I ever played fullback was under Nick Cushing at Manchester City,” Sonis said.
“I was not a great defender back then. I found myself back up the pitch, until last season when I was at Louisville, and we again had another injury so I slotted back there.”
Sonis believes fullback has become the best position of her career.
Internationally, Sonis chose to represent Canada, despite being born in the U.S. A decision that means everything to her.
“It’s everything to me,” Sonis said, “Representing my family’s country and being able to be on the national team for the last ten years and explore my Canadian roots has been special to understand more about what it means to be Canadian.”
“It’s a really incredible thing to represent your nation and my family’s nation, an honor of a lifetime.”
Sonis was involved in U.S. youth camps, but she was invited to a U-20 Canada camp with no strings attached. After taking a chance, she immediately felt at home.
In 2023, Sonis suffered a knee injury that took her out of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, a period of her career that was devastating.
“Missing the World Cup was devastating and very difficult for me to comprehend,” Sonis said, “In that process, I created an identity outside of the game. I grew in my relationship with my now husband, and we got engaged during that period.”
“I learned how to take better care of myself. I’ve learned how hard I can push myself, how mentally strong I am, and genuinely how much I love the game.”
The injury process made Sonis the leader, person, and player she is today. It’s a journey that led her back home to Colorado.
Returning Home
Sonis left Colorado at the beginning of her blossoming soccer career. She returned years later as a more well-rounded player and person, becoming a leader at the center of Colorado’s new professional women’s soccer movement.
It’s a place she never would have imagined herself, but it’s a place she’s having her best season yet.
“It’s been amazing,” Sonis said of returning home to Denver Summit.
“I left home for college, and I never would have imagined that I would be back here,” Sonis said.
“I would not have guessed that we would get a professional team while I was still in my career, so for all of that to happen, while I’m still playing, and to have the opportunity to come here, and not just play at home, but help build something in my home state.”
Returning home also gave Sonis the opportunity to reunite with Cushing and later, Lindsay Heaps.
“It always helps when you have that pre-existing relationship, just that you know you aren’t starting over,” Sonis said.
“I’ve just built a lot of confidence, and he’s built a lot of trust in me in that position. I think being back alongside him has just unlocked a new confidence in my game.”
She also got the opportunity to reunite with Lindsay Heaps halfway through this season.
“Lindsay and I have an incredible relationship, and we are very good friends,” Sonis said.
“She’s an incredible leader, and I think that in our game, we really complement each other a lot on the pitch. It’s really helpful to have someone you have blind-eyed trust in.”
Reaching New Heights
As Denver Summit approaches the end of its season, they sit in the middle of a playoff push in what Sonis hopes will end in a successful season.
“We would be really disappointed if we don’t reach the postseason,” Sonis said.
“I’ve had so much fun this year. I think it’s incredible we put ourselves in this position, and I feel honored to have led the team through some tumultuous times. It’s now my job to make sure we don’t reach below the team’s standards.”
Outside of soccer, Sonis is the co-founder of a coffee company, 90 Brew.
“I wanted to create something that can continue to grow as I finish this career and move into that one,” Sonis said.
As Denver Summit approaches the conclusion of its inaugural season, Sonis is proud of what’s being built and feels lucky to be at the center of incredible growth in the women’s game.
“I just feel really lucky that I’ve been given the opportunity to be here and help in whatever small way to take this club to the next level and to build the legacy.”
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Matt Pollard 
Katherine Ammon 