2025 Houston Dash season



Season summary

Pre-season

Immediately following the 2024 season, the Houston Dash started their preparation for the 2025 NWSL Season. Houston began the offseason by strengthening their roster, signing Delanie Sheehan from NJ/NY Gotham FC on December 4, 2024. The next day, Houston started work to extend contracts to players, signing defender [Avery Avery Patterson (soccer)|Patterson (soccer)|Avery Patterson] for another three seasons with the team. On December 6, 2024, Houston made two more roster moves agreeing to mutually terminate Elin Rubensson's contract and offering a contract extension to Kiki Van Zanten for another two years with a mutual year option. On December 10, 2024, Houston made a flurry of moves as they moved forward towards the 2025 season. They signed Christen Westphal in a trade with San Diego Wave FC, giving up a 2025 international slot and $14,000 in allocation money in the trade. The team also extended contracts on defender Jyllissa Harris through the 2027 season with a mutual year option, defender Allysha Chapman through the 2026 season with a mutual year option, and forward Amanda West through the 2026 season with a mutual year contract. Houston also announced the roster decision which included exercising the mutual option on midfielder Sophie Schmidt, unilateral option on goalkeeper Heather Hinz, and contract renewals of forward Michelle Alozie, defender Natalie Jacobs, defender Paige Nielsen, midfielder Bárbara Olivieri, and midfielder Sarah Puntigam. In addition to signings, Houston announced they had agreed to decline the mutual options of forward Paulina Gramaglia, midfielder Andressa, and defender Croix Soto. In addition goalkeeper Erin McKinney and midfielder Havana Solaun were out of contract. Lastly they agreed to mutual contract termination with forward Cece Kizer and midfielder Madison Ayson. On December 17, 2024, Houston announced they would be taking part in the Coachella Valley Invitational in February 2025 as part of their pre-season games. December 27, 2024 Houston announced they had acquired Yazmeen Ryan. On January 3, 2025, Houston announced they had hired Fabrice Gautrat as the new head coach headed into the 2025 season. On January 17, 2025, Houston announced that they had signed Abby Smith. Smith was acquired on a trade with NJ/NY Gotham FC for $20,000 of intra-league transfer funds. On January 21, 2025, Houston Dash announced the signing of midfielder Maggie Graham to a contract through 2027. Graham played her last five years at Duke and is the first collegiate players signed by Houston since the NWSL's new CBA. On the same day, Houston announced the signing of midfielder Danielle Colaprico through the 2026 season. On January 27, Houston announced the signing of forward Messiah Bright from Angel City FC for $100,000 in inter-league transfer funds. On February 2, Houston announced Tarciane had been traded to Lyon for an undisclosed record fee. On February 10, 2025, Houston announced the signing of Swedish midfielder Evelina Duljan for the 2025 season. On March 4, Yuki Nagasato announced her retirement from professional football.

March/April

Houston started their season at home with a 1–2 loss to the Washington Spirit, with Maggie Graham getting the first goal of her career. In their first road game of the year, Houston secured their first win of the season, 2–1 against Chicago Stars FC on the back of goals by Paige Nielsen and Maggie Graham. Houston returned home and earned their first clean sheet of the season, playing NJ/NY Gotham FC to a 0–0 draw. Returning from the international break, Houston fell 1–3 to Angel City FC at home, with Bárbara Olivieri getting her first goal of the season. Houston travelled to the undefeated Kansas City Current, falling 0–2 as Kansas City expanded their regular season undefeated streak to an NWSL record nine game. Houston returned home for a two-game stand, facing Utah Royals FC, earning their first home win of the season 1–0.

May/June

In their second game of the two game home stance, Houston fell to Racing Louisville FC 1–2 after two long weather delays. Houston travelled to Seattle for their next match, earning a road victory over the Seattle Reign 1–0 on a goal by Graham in the second half. Houston returned home to host Portland Thorns, falling 1–4, with the only goal coming from an Own goal. The next week, Houston hosted Bay FC, earning a 2–2 draw on goals by Avery Patterson and Messiah Bright. On May 30, Houston announced they had transferred Diana Ordóñez to Tigres Femenil for an undisclosed amount. Houston fell in a defensive struggle against the Pride 0–1. On June 12, Houston signed Ellie Ospeck on a short-term contract. Houston hosted San Diego, but fell to the Wave 2–3, with goals from Olivieri and Ryan. Houston ended the first half of the season with another loss falling to North Carolina 1–2 with a goal from Patterson, but lost Puntingam after getting two yellows, and being sent off.

July/August

On July 22, Houston announced the signing of Canadian international forward Clarissa Larisey from Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee. Larisey is signed through the 2027 season. Houston returned from the summer break and earned a 2–2 against Bay FC. Getting goals from van Zanten and Schmidt. Houston returned home and earned a dramatic 2–1 win against North Carolina with a stoppage time goal by Schmidt, adding to an earlier goal by van Zanten. On July 11, Houston announced the signing of Italian International Defender Lisa Boattin for an undisclosed amount. Boattin is signed through the 2027 season. On August 22, Houston traded Olivieri to expansion team Boston Legacy FC for $100,000, half of which will come in 2025 and half in 2026. Houston extended their unbeaten streak to four games, earning a 1–1 draw against Seattle Reign, on a goal by Ryan. Houston ended the month of August unbeaten with a 1–1 draw versus Louisville, on a goal by Duljan.

September/October

Houston continued their good form, with a 3–0 road win versus San Diego. Goals were scored by Larisey, Ryan and Bright. Houston earned a 1–0 win against Chicago on a goal by Ryan, breaking the Stars 8-game unbeaten run. Houston travelled to the nation's capital, falling 0–4 to the Spirit, their worst defeat of the season to date. Malia Berkely scored her first goal for Houston, but the team failed to secure all three points after giving up a late game goal, earning a 1–1 draw against Orlando at home. Houston then travelled to California to face Angel City FC, falling 0–2, ending their chance for a playoff bid. Houston then returned home to face league leading Kansas City, ending their 17 game unbeaten streak with a 1-0 win for their final home game of the season. Houston ended their season with an 0–2 away loss to the Thorns.

Roster

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Staff


RoleName
President

Competitive fixtures

2025 National Women's Soccer League season

Legend

Results by matchday

League

MatchdayDateOpponentVenueLocationResultScorersAttendanceRefereePosition
1March 14Washington SpiritShell Energy StadiumHouston, TexasGraham 74'Matthew Thompson13th
2March 23Chicago Stars FCSeatGeek StadiumBridgeview, IllinoisNielsen 20'
Graham 64'		3,376Iryna Petrunok6th
3March 28NJ/NY Gotham FCShell Energy StadiumHouston, TexasShawn Tehini6th
4April 12Angel City FCShell Energy StadiumHouston, TexasOlivieri 61'Jaclyn Metz10th
5April 19Kansas City CurrentCPKC StadiumKansas City, Missouri11,500Ekaterina Koroleva10th
6April 25Utah Royals FCShell Energy StadiumHouston, TexasSheehan 80'5,084Adorae Monroy10th
7May 2Racing Louisville FCShell Energy StadiumHouston, TexasPatterson 8'5,765Marie Durr12th
8May 11Seattle ReignLumen FieldSeattle, WashingtonGraham 57'Alyssa Nichols12th
9May 16Portland ThornsShell Energy StadiumHouston, TexasOwn goal6,217Shawn Tehini12th
10May 24Bay FCShell Energy StadiumHouston, TexasPatterson 33'
Bright 88'		5,595Alexandra Billeter12th
11June 7Orlando PrideInter&Co StadiumOrlando, Florida9,766Benjamin Meyer12th
12June 13San Diego Wave FCShell Energy StadiumHouston, TexasOlivieri 61'
Ryan 68'		6,241Greg Dopka12th
13June 21North Carolina CourageWakeMed Soccer ParkCary, North CarolinaPatterson 1'6,624Calin Radosav12th
14August 2Bay FCPayPal ParkSan Jose, CaliforniaVan Zanten 72'
Schmidt 80'		15,00212th
15August 8North Carolina CourageShell Energy StadiumHouston, TexasVan Zanten 39'
Schmidt 90+5'		5,409Shawn Tehini12th
16August 17NJ/NY Gotham FCSports Illustrated StadiumHarrison, New Jersey
Alozie 90+3'		7,519Elijio Arreguin10th
17August 24Seattle ReignShell Energy StadiumHouston, TexasRyan 47'5,481Iryna Petrunok11th
18August 29Racing Louisville FCLynn Family StadiumLouisville, KentuckyDuljan 90+1'6,095Matthew Rodman11th
19September 7San Diego Wave FCSnapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaLarisey 17'
Ryan 45'
Bright 77'		15,626Thomas Snyder9th
20September 14Utah Royals FCAmerica First FieldSandy, UtahMarie Durr10th
21September 19Chicago Stars FCShell Energy StadiumHouston, TexasRyan 28'Abdou Ndiaye9th
22September 28Washington SpiritAudi FieldWashington D.C.12,715Alexandra Billeter10th
23October 3Orlando PrideShell Energy StadiumHouston, TexasBerkely 62'6,406John Griggs10th
24October 12Angel City FCBMO StadiumLos Angeles, CaliforniaMatthew Corrigan10th
25October 18Kansas City CurrentShell Energy StadiumHouston, TexasGareis 69'8,436Iryna Petrunok10th
26November 2Portland ThornsProvidence ParkPortland, OregonMatthew Thompson10th