One More Test in the Desert: Wave Face Denver Summit

San Diego Wave FC return to the Coachella Valley Invitational on Saturday for their second and final preseason matchup, facing expansion side Denver Summit FC at Empire Polo Club.

Denver enters as one of the league’s newest additions and remains largely untested, having played just one match in club history. Saturday’s meeting offers another opportunity for roster evaluation, tactical experimentation, and minutes building as both sides continue preparations for the regular season.

What We Saw Against Kansas City

In their opening preseason match against the Kansas City Current, the Wave showed flashes of cohesion while rotating heavily across both halves.

Perle Morroni started at left back in the first half before Nya Harrison took over in the second, one of several positional switches that reflected the staff’s emphasis on evaluation. The midfield looked composed at times, with Godfrey helping dictate tempo and build-up, while the group worked to sharpen defensive organization and attacking movement.

As expected in preseason, there were moments of fluidity and moments of adjustment, but the primary takeaway was progress and valuable minutes across the roster.

What We Know About Denver Summit

Denver opened its inaugural preseason with a 2–0 victory over the Utah Royals FC, marking the first win in club history.

They struck early, capitalizing in the 12th minute after a well-weighted ball forward was calmly finished to take the lead. From there, Denver maintained intensity and physicality, rotating heavily in the second half while continuing to press for chances. A late goal in the 79th minute sealed the result.

From available match reports, Summit appeared direct in transition and confident attacking from wide areas, while also competing physically in midfield. With a deep bench utilized in their opener, Denver is clearly prioritizing chemistry and player evaluation, similar to the Wave.

Still, one match is a small sample size. Saturday will offer a clearer picture of how this expansion side stacks up against established competition.

Final Thoughts

Preseason results rarely tell the full story, but patterns do.

For the Wave, this is another chance to refine combinations, test depth pieces, and build rhythm before the regular season. For Denver, it is an opportunity to prove their opening win was no fluke.

Two teams at different stages of development meet for one more tune-up before the matches begin to count.

The match will be streamed live on the San Diego Wave FC YouTube channel for those watching from home. I will be on site at Empire Polo Club providing live updates and post-match coverage, so be sure to follow along throughout the afternoon.

It may be preseason, but there is still plenty to learn.