Carson Pickett on Choosing Denver and the NWSL's Evolution (BONUS)

Katie: All right, that's Carson Pickett. Number 16, Denver Summit FC Defender, two-time NWSL Best 11, Defender of the Year finalist. Honestly, just an incredible person to talk to, and I hope that you loved that conversation as much as I did. Make sure that you're subscribed to the 5280 pitch wherever you listen to podcasts. Check us out over on YouTube.

Kate Hanson: Welcome back to the 5280 pitch Women's Soccer at Altitude. I'm Kate Hanson. So today's episode is one I've been looking forward to for a while because my guest today is someone who, and I don't say this lightly, is one of the most interesting people in professional soccer. Not just one of the best defenders in the NWSL, not just a two-time best 11 selection, not

Katie: Leave a review if you are feeling generous. It helps more than you know. And head over to the 5280pitch.com for all of the blogs, for the newsletter so you never miss an episode, and for some incredible merch. I love our merch, but I'm a little biased. Gotta go check out the merch. Everything is at the 5280pitch.com. All right, I am Kate Hansen. This is the 5280pitch Women's Soccer at Altitude.

Kate Hanson: just someone who's made history for the United States national team. She's all of that, but she is also something more. She is Carson Pickett, number 16 Denver Summit FC, and she is here with us on the 5280 pitch. Carson, thank you so much for joining me.

Carson: ⁓ my gosh, absolutely. Thanks for having me. I'm so excited to get to chat with each other.

Katie: We'll see you next time.

Kate Hanson: Yeah. And like I said, I've been looking forward to this conversation for a while. So let's start here because I think a lot of summit fans are still getting to know you. You have this incredible resume, Seattle rain, Orlando pride, and see courage. have racing Louisville back to Orlando and now Denver, you have 185 and WSL appearances. And you've basically seen. the whole league grow up in real time. what made you decide Denver was the next right step for you?

Carson: Yeah, I mean, that's a great question because I think when it comes to free agency, it can be really tricky. I think that, you know, it is such a great thing for our league, but also when you're in the middle of it and you're trying to figure out what's best for you. And there's a lot of things to consider. And like you said, I've been here since almost the beginning. So I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of the NWSL. And I'm just so proud of where we've come. I mean, from starting off,

Kate Hanson: you

Carson: in 2016 when I got drafted. is just, we've come so far and I am so truly proud of that. And I think a lot of people ask me a lot of times, know, obviously these younger players, they're getting so much money and they're like, oh, do you feel like you missed out on money? And I obviously, yes, I do. But also I, in my position, I think it is so cool to have seen the start to where we are now and to actually be a part of it, the whole thing. And For me, I'll forgo money for the experience of just seeing this league grow tremendously in the past, what, I guess 10 years now that I've been in the league, 11 years. So when I was thinking about where I wanted to go next, was of course about soccer, yes, but I think for me, because I've been in the league so long, I was ready to kind of feel like I should give back to the league and give back to a team that maybe has no history.

Kate Hanson: crazy.

Carson: it's brand new. And I felt like I was in a position in my career to go somewhere to help build something instead of just step into a team that is top four and you know that you're going to go in there, you know you're going to compete for championships, which again, of course we're going to compete for championship here now that I've been here for quite some time. All of preseason, can confidently say that that will be the case, but I just felt like it was time for me to give back to kind of soccer and to the NWSL and just go.

Kate Hanson: Okay.

Carson: be a leader and start a brand new club from the ground up and just build it how we want to build it. So that was kind of the main reason for Denver. And another reason is I played here for two months in college. Our coach would make us during the summer go play for summer league teams. And I came and played for Denver and it was rush Denver at the time. And so.

Kate Hanson: Okay.

Carson: I had so many, so many good friends, Janine, Becky, Sonis and I, it's where we first played together actually when we were in college. to be her teammate now is just incredible. You know, I think what, like 11 or 12 years down the road, we are finally reunited in the place that we got to play together first. So I have two best friends here and I just, Denver was amazing. I fell in love with it during that summer. And yeah, it was just such an easy decision for me.

Kate Hanson: Yeah. Yeah. Well, someone that's born and raised here, I can't imagine living anywhere else. I'd definitely say Denver's a pretty great place to call home. I saw, well, when you were talking about, like, ⁓ well, you know, would have been nice to have the money. I mean, you were definitely the trailblazer. And it made me start thinking about, I apologize, but it made me start thinking about Johnny Manziel. You know, how he was always, you know, like talking about getting paid and what he did. I mean, like him or not.

Carson: Yes.

Kate Hanson: but he really paved the way for a lot of NIL. And I think that sometimes you need to have those people that are making the game what it is and making a name for themselves to pave the way for the next generation. So ⁓ thank you for paving the way for our new generation, the NWSL. Well, let's go back to the beginning for a second because...

Carson: Mm-hmm. Of course, I feel so honored.

Kate Hanson: You were the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft Seattle rain. And I think people forget how young you were just out of Florida state, walking into a league that honestly was still finding its own footing. What was that like being a rookie in this league, a very newly.

Carson: Scary. It was scary for so many reasons and I'm someone that I will be fully transparent ⁓ in all of my answers that I talk about, but it was scary. ⁓ I remember being at Florida State and my freshman year, the NWSL still wasn't a solid league. didn't know that, I never knew if I was gonna get the opportunity to play in a league in America because really it hadn't shown that it was gonna survive multiple years. When I got a couple years older, when I went to my junior year, it started to become a little more stable. And it was about two or three years in, and I was like, okay, I think it's gonna survive, but you never know how long. And so to begin with, I didn't even know if I was gonna get to play pro soccer, especially in America, in of my family, in front of these amazing fans. I had no idea. And so then when I was able to have the opportunity to play soccer, and it was with Seattle. First off, being from Florida and going to the state. Yes, temperature difference, like the city is so different. I come from a beach town and it's just so different. And then I had just never gone that far away from my family. So I don't think I could have been drafted to anywhere further from my family. And that was definitely scary as well. ⁓

Kate Hanson: A little temperature difference.

Carson: It was also scary because we had host families at the time. So I was about to, you know, I grew up, I'm an only child. So I grew up just me and my parents. Yes. Oh my gosh, I love it. I love it. But, you know, it was just me and my parents. And then I go to college, had my own apartment for four years. And then now I'm moving across country to somewhere I have known nothing about, moving into someone's house with.

Kate Hanson: Me too. Yeah. Hey.

Carson: young kids that were four and eight, and I'm sharing a home with a four and eight year old when I'm an only child and have been in college living on my own. there was, yeah, a huge difference. And so I think there were so many factors outside of the obvious of soccer, which was scary on its own, because I mean, I'm stepping into playing against the best in the world, not the best in the country, not the best, you know.

Kate Hanson: It's a big difference.

Carson: ⁓ a couple good players here and there and know like every single player on that roster is one of the best in the world. And that was petrifying ⁓ going there. But I knew that Seattle was actually a club before me. They didn't really draft a lot of rookies. have, they had their set team and they had been together. The Lou Barnes, the Jess Fishlock, Kim Little. I mean, they, they were together for a long time and it was, it was a tight knit family. So they really didn't, they didn't. ever really draft rookies. Laura didn't really believe in that at the time. She just kind of wanted her ⁓ group of amazing players just to kind of stay together. She knew she could compete with them. ⁓ But then the way that the league was changing, I mean, you have to bring rookies in at some point because, you know, your players are getting older. So I think that was one of the first rookies that really got drafted there and made it there. But it was really challenging. ⁓ You know, when I got drafted, everyone was like, ⁓ you know, you're going to an amazing club. They're like a family.

Kate Hanson: Mm-hmm.

Carson: And don't get me wrong, they are family, but you definitely still had to break into the family a little bit. so, you know, being one of the only rookies there and, know, the next player, I think that was close to my age was maybe five years older than me. So it was a big change for a lot of different reasons. But I wouldn't take that experience away. It made me grow up a lot. You know, I thought I was going to grow up a lot in college and I did, but I really grew up when I moved to cross country. First year in the NWSL, you know, I was starting as a rookie.

Kate Hanson: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Carson: ⁓ There were some really challenging moments, it was a really great experience.

Kate Hanson: And it seems like you really found your footing when you got to North Carolina, know, back to back end WSL. That's 11 in 2021 and 2022. in 2022, you led the league in assists with six as a left back. that

Carson: Mm-hmm.

Kate Hanson: Number really doesn't make sense when you think about it ⁓ typically left backs aren't ⁓ for that. So ⁓ clicked when you were ⁓ the Courage? What changed in your game?

Carson: That's enough. Yeah, ⁓ I will completely agree with that. I think my career completely changed when I went to the Courage. I think the style of play and the players I was around were the biggest difference. ⁓ You know, in a lot of teams before that, ⁓ I was a defender, but I was like only a defender. It wasn't like I was an attacking defender because this league is, I mean, we have some of the, we have the best forwards in the world in this league. So, you you're not always attacking. You're gonna have to defend some really good forwards. And so, you know, a couple of the teams that were on before that, I was a defender as a defender, which sounds silly, but you know, and then I got to North Carolina and the way that we played was just so attack minded that he was just like, you know what? Yeah, you are a different defender, but I want you so much more in the attack because that means we have the ball. If you're in the attack and in the attacking half, that means we have full possession and I want that majority of the game. So I think I just got to play how I really truly play as an outside back.

Kate Hanson: Mm-hmm.

Carson: I mean, you we have great outside backs in this league and some are more defensive minded and some are more attacking minded. I'm certainly more attacking minded. So I just felt the freedom to be able to go forward, you know, to play my game that I was kind of ready to play, but I never really got the opportunity in NWSL. I would say I definitely had that opportunity at Florida State because we played very similar soccer, but I just had the best teammates. I had the best players on that team. I mean, getting to play with Dubinia. Jess McDonald, Lynn Williams. I mean, I could literally go through the whole roster and it was an incredible starting 11 and then an amazing bench that was coming off, know, coming into the game as well. So I just trusted my teammates so much that if we lost the ball, they were gonna get back for me and it wasn't just gonna have to be all on me to get back if I was attacking. So I just, ⁓ just really, I started to play the game that is more my type of game, which is an attack mining outside back.

Kate Hanson: Yeah. And I have to ask about the national team because in June of 22, you made your debut for U.S. against Columbia and you played all 90 minutes. U.S. won 2-0. What all do you remember about that night?

Carson: Yep. ⁓ man, it's almost like really hard to talk about sometimes because like I have this strongest feeling about it and it's just so hard to portray like the pride that I felt, like the honor that I felt. I just remember going out, ⁓ never forget this, going out for warmups in my, you know, U.S. Women's National Team training top and ⁓ walking out of the tunnel and just hearing chants ⁓ USA, USA and then. ⁓ people knowing your name and I'm like, wow, I'm not representing an individual club right now, I'm representing United States of America. And that was the coolest moment for me, but even cooler was the fact that I felt so much pride for also representing limb difference. No one has ever been on the national team with a limb difference, I was the first one. So that was heavy in a way, obviously, because I just felt like I was representing so many people.

Kate Hanson: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Carson: like not only the American fans, but all the limb difference people, maybe even in the world, because that had just never really happened before. And so I remember seeing my parents, when I found out I was starting, they flew immediately to the game and I just saw them in the stands and I honestly could have cried in that moment. If I wasn't so nervous, I probably would have cried because it was so cool. You know, my parents are my best friends. My dad was my coach growing up. I owe everything to them and to be able to just make eye contact and see them wearing that jersey and representing so many people in the limb difference community was just something that I will never forget. And it was so special.

Kate Hanson: Well, and there is the photo from 2019 that I think a lot of people remember. And you're playing for Orlando at the time and you jog over to this family in the stands after the game and there's a little boy who has the same limb difference ⁓ you. And you two do this ⁓ bump on the sideline and that photo just took off. ⁓ you remember that moment and ⁓ it was like to suddenly see that picture everywhere?

Carson: Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely. I remember it like it was yesterday. I actually had met Joseph before that and we had an interaction. His family had reached out to Orlando and they were like, we would love for them to meet. I know he's really young, but I think it would just be really cool for both of them. He grew up in Orlando. I'm representing Orlando and I think it would be a really cool opportunity. met before and the coolest moment for me was when I showed him my arm. as a two-year-old, he looked at it and started smiling. And I just, I don't have kids, so I don't know how, you know, I don't know what if he thinks we're the same, if he knows we're the same, if he knows anything even about his own arm. And so it was so cool, you know, as a, I think I was 28 at the time, as a 28-year-old, being able to connect with a two-year-old and feeling that we had the exact same situation. We'd go through the same things. Yes, I'm 20.

Kate Hanson: Mm-hmm. Bye.

Carson: six years older than him, but to connect and know that we were the exact same in that moment was so cool. And so seeing him in the stands that game, I mean, we didn't plan that at all. He just stuck out his arm and I was like, oh my gosh, he remembered me. He remembers that we're the same. I hope he thinks that every time he sees me that he can just dream big and know that nothing can stand in his way and he could do whatever he wants to do in life. So I felt like in that moment, it's kind of what I was thinking. And yeah, it was incredible.

Kate Hanson: Well, and you've made it a bit of your mission to try and meet somebody at every stadium, ⁓

Carson: Yes, yeah, I'm trying to someone at every single away stadium that I play in so far. I haven't gotten there yet. I haven't gotten to all of them, but I'm hoping I get there this year.

Kate Hanson: Yeah. Yeah, that's such an incredible story. So bigger picture here. You've been in the league since 2016, 185 appearances. You've watched the NWSL go from honestly kind of a scrappy operation. I mean, you were staying at host families to what it is now. Expansion teams, national TV deals, full stadiums, football stadiums.

Carson: Thank you. Mm-hmm.

Kate Hanson: What is the biggest change that you've seen in this league and the culture and what it means to be a professional women's soccer player here in America?

Carson: Yeah, I mean, that is a great question. I think the biggest thing for me is that I finally feel like my profession isn't a joke, to be honest. In the beginning, again, thanks to my parents, because I would never be able to play professional women's soccer if it wasn't for my parents. I was making $8,000 for six months. I mean, it's just, you can't live off that.

Kate Hanson: Yeah. No.

Carson: Well, it was, and then my big raise the next year was 16,000. So you still can't live off of that first, you know, for six or seven months. And I, I owe it all to my parents because I truly would not be able to play people. mean, girls were, were coaching. They were getting jobs as baristas. They were working in restaurants. mean, retail stores, people were having to have two different jobs ⁓ when we were first in the league. And so I think for me is the biggest thing is that now I feel like my profession is truly a profession and people don't take it as a joke or think that it's like a Sunday league and ⁓ I didn't even know there was a soccer league and that's been the coolest thing for me is that when I say I play professional soccer, people now are like, ⁓ in the NWSL. They know there's a league, they finally understand that it is a real league, it's one of the, I think it's the best in the world, but. ⁓ I know it's up for debate, but I truly think it's the best of the world. And I just think that we're treated like true professionals. And for me, that's the biggest thing because, you know, we were in Seattle, we were in a public run stadium. We had to move our stuff every single day because a football team would come practice in there, a high school football team. And we had one physio, like with 22 players, we had one person that was able to give us any kind of help. know, we had two coaches basically ⁓ three if you're at a, you know, big time club. ⁓ You had no gear, ⁓ gear. So I went from Florida state in the ACC where we were getting, mean, I could dress ⁓ of people with all the stuff I was getting at Florida state. And then I go to Seattle and I get a ⁓ Like that is it. There's no hoodie to fly with. you, we got nothing.

Kate Hanson: Yeah.

Carson: And it's no fault to there is it was just how the league was. I mean, we were trying to just survive and get to play the game we love. So I think those are the biggest things, just kind of feeling like you are supported in every single way now. I mean, our CBA obviously helps so much. We are protected. can't get traded without consent now. ⁓ And there's so many things that ⁓ we've come far with. Yes, we still have so many things to go ⁓ and ⁓ will there, but... So far, I'm so proud of where we're at because it was bare minimum in the beginning and that was fine by us, because that's all we had.

Kate Hanson: Yeah. You know, it's, interesting too. So that's how it was when you first started. And then now you're on an expansion team, which some people might be saying like, ⁓ man, you're, are you having to start all over again and be like, ⁓ there is a professional soccer team. There is this. I feel like Denver's a little different. honestly, ⁓ what have you thought about being a part of an expansion team here in Denver? Because ⁓ a Denver native and ⁓ sports fan, It always baffled me as to how we, there's all these NWSL teams and Denver didn't have one. I'm like, man, you know, we, have amazing soccer programs here in Colorado. You know, we've, we're huge sports fans. How do we not have an NWSL team? So how has it been for you as a player coming to a team that really quote unquote doesn't exist yet and the culture that's already here?

Carson: My best answer for that is what took so long because I completely agree. Denver is, and I've known this, but I have recently really, really learned this. I have never been to a place that loves sports more than Denver. It is the biggest sports city I have ever seen, ever visited, ever been a part of. mean, the fact that you have pretty much, I think what every men's sports team represented here from.

Kate Hanson: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Carson: that you could possibly think of five different ones, right? And then, you know, like I said, playing my college summer here, I was like, this place is soccer obsessed. They love soccer here. And truly I'm like, what took so long for the NWSL to find Denver? Because this place is incredible. I've been on ⁓ many different teams, obviously, and... I came out here with my parents over Christmas after I had signed because I was trying to come find a place to live, seeing kind of what area I wanted to live in. And within two days of being here and walking around downtown, not wearing a Denver Summit shirt, nothing, I had three people within two days stop me and say, ⁓ my gosh, you just signed for the Denver Summit, like welcome to Denver. And I have never even been stopped other places. And them knowing, I they knew who I was, but they didn't know that I professional soccer for the Orlando Pride. Like that just didn't happen. They just knew because I was like from there and things like that. So the fact that I was stopped two days by three different people showed me that I was like, wow, like this is definitely, this was the right decision to bring into myself to Denver because these people love soccer and they love sports. ⁓ That's been the biggest thing for me so far is just being stopped in the streets. It seems like everyone knows about Denver Summit. I will say I have to give all the credit to the Coens. They're incredible All the hires that they've had, Kurt Johnson, ⁓ obviously as our coach, they have hit the nail on the head with. ⁓

Kate Hanson: Mm-hmm.

Carson: who they brought in and they were very selective about it. And you can tell that they wanted people with experience like Kurt having experience at North Carolina in the NWSL I think is such a positive because this league is different. This league is different than any other league in the world. And if you don't have people that have ever been in the NWSL, like you're probably not going to survive. And so I think the fact that they have brought people in that have already worked in the NWSL is massive for an expansion team. And I will say

Kate Hanson: Yeah.

Carson: I know there'll be bumps in the road, I have been so incredibly impressed with how this club has been run from the ground up within the last six to eight weeks. I mean, I'm...

Kate Hanson: Well, and it's funny because people that listen to the podcast prior to having you on the show and Jordan on the show, I feel like I said probably more than I should have how intentional everything with this team has felt, especially with the roster build between a lot of established veterans like yourself and Janine and Kaylee, mean, Lindsay, those very established veterans. and then a lot of fun, exciting rookies. talk about what the roster build has looked like, how that locker room feels. Kaylee said on the show that she was on, there's the grandmas of the group ⁓ and the rookies are keeping you guys young with the lingo and everything. So let's talk about the roster a little bit and how locker feels.

Carson: Mm-hmm. haha you ⁓ my gosh, I can't say enough good things about this locker room. ⁓ I take pride, again, like I said, there is a lot of pressure coming to an expansion team and being a veteran in the league because so many people are gonna look to you to how you react to things, how you build, you know. literally built something from the ground up. People are looking at you, these young ones, I mean, they're like, how do we do this? It's the first year in the league. I feel so incredibly blessed that we have great grandmas. We do call ourselves the grandmas. ⁓ have a group chat and it is called the grandmas, ⁓ Denver Summit grandmas. But I just feel like I have amazing teammates that are also veterans in this league, like you said, KK, Janine, Abby. ⁓ think we have a really good veteran group that's here now and that understands the process. ⁓ When you come in to begin with, it's not going to be perfect, but also there's a lot of pressure. Because however you start this club, hopefully 10 years from now, we will look back and say, wow, we started this, and I'm so proud of where it's come, because it could have gone two different ways when you start. You know what I mean? And so I think the mix of veterans and the

Kate Hanson: Yeah.

Carson: team but also like you said the younger ones that absolutely you know we need them we're gonna need them big time I think obviously when you have a club that is you know has been a club for eight years you need rookies for sure you need rookies but you they have a little more time to come into the league and to get that experience like our rookies we need them now we don't need them three months from now we need them right now and so it's It's cool, like I think it's a really cool opportunity for them to be able to come in in a pressure cooker situation and just step into that role. And I will say, so thankful and I'm so blessed with the rookies that we got because they hop on board to everything that we asked them to hop on board on. ⁓ they are so receptive, they're open to learning, there's no attitude that comes with it. They truly do want. the best for the team. yeah, it like pre-season's really long, but when you're new to this league, eight weeks feels like one week because you just have to hop on board and go. ⁓ And ⁓ ⁓ just, I cannot enough good things about these rookies and what they've brought to the team already, ⁓ not only on the field, but off the field. Like I said, like KK said, I have no idea what they're talking about half the time. And I'm like, this, you guys are ridiculous. ⁓ but I love you for it and I'm so glad that you're here because now I feel at least five years younger. ⁓

Kate Hanson: Yeah. Well, the summit social media is pretty fun because I think on the, there's a lot you guys walking out of the locker room where they'll have you answer questions and stuff. And you can definitely tell there's a bit of an age gap between certain questions that they ask. Speaking of social media, are you just the designated announcer for who is going to be on the team or let's talk about that for a second here, because that was hilarious. And if people don't know what I'm talking about, you announced.

Carson: Yeah. ⁓ my-

Kate Hanson: How many players did you announce before the team did?

Carson: Yes. So I was just, because I'm such a selfless person, I was just trying to help them with their job. No, I did. I did fully, ⁓ announce two different people and you know, signings. I would say they're pretty big signings. I'm just, yeah. And Kelsey, who is the head of our, ⁓ social media, she's awesome. She.

Kate Hanson: Yeah, they are.

Carson: messaged me after the first one, she was like, okay, thank you so much for doing my job. So you did announce Liv and I was like, ⁓ my gosh, I'm so sorry. Like I was already too far gone. It was up for way too many hours. And I was like, okay, I'm not gonna say should I delete this one? Then the next one went and I'm very active on social media. I'm sure as people know, Kelsey loves me for it. She's like, I need you to take 0.5. It's like, I need this, need this. So I feel like I'm working for the Denver Summit, not just. but also for the social media team. And so then when I announced Tarsh, that one was tough because she's one of my, I mean, she's my best friend on the team, but I'm like, if you're around me, you will be on my social media. So ⁓ you guys need to hurry up with the announcing. I'm like, let's go, let's get it out so I can have fun with my friends. ⁓ yes, that was, that was not good. And you know what, made a yeah, they made a good TikTok out of it. So I think it all worked out in the end. ⁓

Kate Hanson: You That was hilarious. Yeah, I think that I think it got picked up to by the NWSL account too. And so, I mean, it was pretty good, but. Okay. So I have to ask this because I ask everyone this. It's about the altitude. It is a very real thing here. 5,280 feet. How have, how has it been for you adjusting to the altitude coming from sea level and training here? And do you think it's going to be able to work to your guys's advantage?

Carson: Yeah. It was. I absolutely think it's gonna work to our advantage because let me tell you right now, it's been awful. ⁓ You know, coming from Florida, especially, it was awful at first. I'm not even gonna sugar coat it. And so, but I was like, okay, this is awful, but that just means it's gonna be awful for everyone that comes and plays us. So yes, I think it will work to our advantage. mean, Nick says all the time, he calls it our third lung. And I truly think it is. It's gonna be our third lung. think, you know. once we get past that 60 minutes where most people get extremely tired, especially in this league, it's so transitional and things like that. I think it will just help us so much because it is challenging. It's challenging to run, play soccer, stairs. I literally climb like 14 stairs, I think, for breakfast and lunch every day, and I'm out of breath every single time. So they told me to do everything. ⁓

Kate Hanson: Have you made it to to Red Rocks yet to do the stairs at Red Rocks ⁓

Carson: So I did when I was living here when I was in college, but I have not gone back because I'm actually scared. I'm so scared. I don't want to work out there. I know it's, I know how beautiful it is, but I am nervous about trying to climb those stairs and actually be serious and do a workout there. So that will come maybe. ⁓ but yeah, I think it will work to our advantage for sure. And I think even, you know, opposite when we go down the sea level, I think we'll be able to run for days. So.

Kate Hanson: ⁓ it's such good training.

Carson: I actually think it's both. I think teams will definitely struggle here, but also think we will be able to capitalize that when we go to C level as well.

Kate Hanson: Yeah, definitely. I know whenever I travel, I'm like, I love it when I go to sea level. like, I can just, that was only two miles. I got another mile. I mean, this is amazing. So, well, March 28th, Washington Spirit, home opener. We've already sold over 45,000 tickets. I mean, what do you do with this information as a player? This is the first ever home game in clubs history and

Carson: Exactly.

Kate Hanson: Like we said earlier, Denver's been waiting for an NWSL team. I think obviously by the amount of tickets that we sold. But what do you think about ⁓ home opener?

Carson: Man, mean Denver has already showed up. you know, still being weeks away, the fact that we've sold that many tickets is absolutely incredible. And I think that's gonna be one of many records that we break. ⁓ I think that our fans here are, I'm not even gonna say some of the best in themselves, they truly, without even stepping on the field, without having a game. I truly believe they're the best fans in this league. And like I said, we haven't even had the game yet. So I can imagine the way that everyone's going to show up for us, for the Denver community. And I just hope that we play the type of game that, you know, yes, we're proud of, but also that they're proud of as well. Like the way that we play, we want to represent not only ourselves, but Denver as a community. And we want to make it fun. You know, we want to make it.

Kate Hanson: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Carson: know, not too back and forth, because we don't need too much. We want to be on top all the time. But I just think we want to play a style that is fun to watch and that people are proud of and that they, you know, when we're on the TV, they're like, that's my team. So it's incredible ⁓ much they've showed up already ⁓ we still have a whole season to go. So I think there's so many records that are broken ⁓ to these fans here in Denver. And I'm just so excited to step on that field for the first time and just to feel

Kate Hanson: Yeah. Yeah.

Carson: so much love for the city and to just show them how grateful we are that they show up and that they're there for us no matter what and I'm just so excited for that.

Kate Hanson: Yeah, it's going to be an incredible experience for everyone attending as a fan. I'm sure for you guys on the field, I'm sure it's going to be super loud. But I'm really excited for this season to, to kick off. And honestly, I could talk to you for another two hours. but that the end of our time. So I want to thank you again so much for, for joining me before I let you go. ⁓ Where can follow along? You are very active over on the gram. ⁓

Carson: Yeah.

Kate Hanson: You are showcasing all the different restaurants that you that you're ⁓ trying out here in the Denver area and out on the road. But give us give us an example as to where we can stay along with all things Carson Pickett.

Carson: Yeah, so ⁓ probably get in trouble for this one and I'm going to announce something here. So you're the first one to hear it. But ⁓ me and Tosh Flint are actually going to start a podcast as well, but it'll be through Denver Summit. So we will have, you know, obviously all of our teammates on. We're going to try and do, you know, maybe a different coffee shop every week and things like that. We just want to show ⁓ fans who we are as people ⁓ not just as players. And so ⁓

Kate Hanson: Mm.

Carson: We'll be starting that eventually, but yeah, mean Instagram, TikTok, I make ridiculous TikToks. honestly, my social media is not really just even about me. I just want to showcase my amazing teammates as well and just our personalities because obviously we're so much more than just soccer players. And I just want all of Denver to see, you know, a little bit into our lives off the field.

Kate Hanson: Have you thought of for the podcast yet?

Carson: Not yet. So, you know, we're open to suggestions. We really want to make it good. Like, we're trying to take our time. We don't want to rush it. But I just think it'll be such a cool opportunity for fans to get to know us just as human beings.

Kate Hanson: ⁓ it's gonna be awesome. I love it, I love it. I can't wait to tune in. And once you do have the the show link and everything, or I will include it in my show notes so people can go ahead and listen. Yeah, ⁓ so, well thank you so much for your time. Thank you for choosing Denver. This city is so lucky to have you. ⁓ And we wait to see you out on the pitch this, man, ⁓ couple here.

Carson: Perfect! Thank you. It's coming really fast. No, I appreciate it. Thank you so much for having me. This was honestly so great. Such a great conversation with you. So thank you.