Carson Pickett Is a Foundational Signing for Denver Summit FC — On the Field and Beyond
When Denver Summit FC signed Carson Pickett, it wasn’t just adding experience to a brand-new roster. It was making a statement about identity.
Expansion teams rarely get the luxury of clarity in their first seasons. They’re often defined by survival, by patchwork lineups, by learning the league in real time. But every once in a while, a signing cuts through the noise and tells you exactly what a club is trying to build.
Carson Pickett is that kind of signing.
She arrives in Denver as one of the most productive attacking defenders of the modern NWSL era — and as a leader whose impact stretches far beyond the left touchline. Her story, her style of play, and her presence align with what Summit FC is attempting to do from day one: build something durable, intentional, and community-rooted.
More Than a Résumé: Who Carson Pickett Is
Carson Pickett was born with a limb difference, missing part of her left forearm. For much of her life, that fact shaped how others viewed her potential long before she ever touched a ball. Coaches questioned logistics. Systems weren’t built with her in mind. Expectations were often quietly lowered.
Pickett didn’t respond by chasing attention or trying to make a point. She responded by getting better.
Her journey through youth soccer, college at Florida State, and into the professional ranks wasn’t about proving people wrong — it was about earning trust. And over time, she did exactly that. Across multiple NWSL clubs and competitive environments, Pickett built a reputation as a dependable, intelligent fullback who made her teams better.
That steady rise culminated in a historic moment with the U.S. Women’s National Team, when she became the first player with a limb difference to earn a senior USWNT cap. The significance of that moment extended far beyond the match itself. It expanded the image of what elite athletes can look like — and who gets to belong at the highest level of the sport.
Since then, Pickett has become a thoughtful advocate for inclusion in sport, using her platform not for self-promotion, but to widen access and visibility for athletes with disabilities. Importantly, she has never asked to be evaluated differently as a player. She has asked only to be evaluated honestly.
That honesty is what makes her soccer résumé so compelling.
One of the NWSL’s Elite Attacking Fullbacks
Carson Pickett is not a generalist defender. She is a specialist — and an elite one.
Over the last several seasons, she has consistently ranked among the most productive attacking defenders in the NWSL, and in some years, among the most productive players at any position.
In 2022, Pickett led the entire league in assists, a rare achievement for a left back in a league stacked with attacking talent. The year prior, she finished second in assists and earned NWSL Best XI honors. Across multiple seasons, she has ranked near the top among defenders in:
- Chances created
- Crosses
- Final third passes
- Penalty area entries
This isn’t a one-season outlier. It’s a sustained profile.
When evaluating NWSL defenders by attacking influence rather than traditional defensive volume, Pickett belongs in a very small group. Few fullbacks in league history have consistently shaped their team’s offense the way she has.
That production places her firmly in the top tier of attacking fullbacks — not because she is flashy, but because she is precise. Her value lies in timing, decision-making, and repeatable execution rather than highlight-reel moments.
Understanding Her Defensive Numbers — and Why They Don’t Tell the Full Story
A common mistake in evaluating Pickett’s game is to fixate on traditional defensive statistics. Her tackle and block numbers are not elite, and she is not dominant in aerial duels. But that context matters.
Pickett’s teams do not ask her to be a reactive defender. They ask her to:
- Control territory
- Hold width
- Progress the ball
- Sustain pressure
She defends by keeping her team on the front foot. By being well-positioned. By limiting transitions before they start. In other words, she does defensive work that doesn’t always show up in box-score metrics.
If Pickett were suddenly leading the league in tackles, it would likely mean her team was under sustained pressure — not that she was playing better.
This is typical of elite attacking fullbacks across the sport. Their defensive value comes from anticipation and structure, not volume.
Why She’s Such a Smart Fit for Denver
For Denver Summit FC, the value of Carson Pickett lies in what she stabilizes.
Expansion teams often struggle with tempo, spacing, and cohesion. Pickett helps solve those problems. She provides a reliable outlet in buildup, a consistent attacking lane on the left side, and a calming presence when matches stretch late.
That matters even more at altitude.
At 5,280 feet, inefficiency is punished. Over-running plays, chasing unnecessarily, and defending chaotically all carry a heavier cost. Pickett’s game is built around efficiency and decision-making. She chooses her moments. She conserves energy. She keeps the ball moving.
Her experience in championship environments — including an NWSL Shield and Championship with Orlando Pride — also brings credibility. She knows what winning standards look like, and she brings those standards into a locker room that is still forming its identity.
In league terms, Pickett is not a stopgap veteran. She is a foundation piece — a player you build with, not around.
Representation That Resonates
Beyond tactics and numbers, Pickett’s presence carries real cultural weight.
Young athletes with disabilities will see her wearing the Summit crest and recognize possibility. Parents will see proof that elite pathways can exist without conformity. Coaches will be challenged — productively — to rethink assumptions about what athletes can look like.
For a new club in a growing city, that kind of resonance matters. It connects the team to its community in ways that go deeper than results.
A Clear Signal of Who Summit FC Wants to Be
Denver Summit FC didn’t sign Carson Pickett to make a splash. It signed her to make a point.
This club values intelligence over noise. Consistency over flash. Substance over symbolism. Pickett embodies all of that. She raises the attacking ceiling of the team while strengthening its cultural foundation.
As Denver prepares for its inaugural seasons — temporary homes, future stadium nights, early growing pains — players like Carson Pickett will shape what this club becomes.
Not just by how they play.
But by how they lead.
Women’s Soccer Analyst & Host of The 5280 Pitch & Mom
Kate Hanson is a Colorado native, lifelong soccer fan, and the voice behind The 5280 Pitch. Known for her passion, insight, and unapologetic love for women’s sports, Kate brings a uniquely local perspective to the rise of Denver Summit FC and the NWSL’s expansion into the Mile High City.
A seasoned podcaster and broadcaster, Kate blends storytelling, analysis, and community-focused coverage to keep fans informed and connected — from expansion updates and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and match-week conversations. Her style is direct, energetic, and built for fans who want women’s soccer treated with the same excitement and depth as every other professional sport.
Growing up in Colorado’s soccer culture, Kate understands the significance of a top-tier women’s team finally calling this state home. Her mission is simple:
give fans a place to plug in, learn the stories, and feel part of Denver Summit FC from day one.
When she’s not behind the mic, Kate is usually at a pitch somewhere in Colorado, cheering on the next generation of players who will shape the future of the sport.
