TheHouston Dash have agreed to a new multiyear contract with midfielder Sophie Schmidt, the Club announced today. The contract will see Schmidt remain with the Dash through the 2022 season, with a Club option for 2023.
“I’m very excited to re-sign Sophie–she’s a really important player for us on and off the field”, said Head Coach James Clarkson. “She had an outstanding year and scored some really important goals. We want to continue pushing her to new levels.”
Schmidt started in nine out of 11 games played in the year, scoring four goals and tallying one assist.The midfielder scoredin four consecutive matches, beginning when she converted a penalty kick that proved to be the match-winner over Chicago in the NWSL Challenge Cup Final on July 26. Schmidt continued her goal streak when she scored in Houston’s next three games in the NWSL Verizon Community Shield, helping the team earn second place in the league after bringing home the Challenge Cup trophy in the summer.
"This makes my heart so happy! This club is moving in a great direction,” said Schmidt. “The expectation is to build off of a very successful last season and I am excited to keep pushing with this amazing group of humans and players.”
During the Fall Series, the Canadian international earned NWSL Player of the Week honors during the second week after scoring a goal, tallying an assist and playing a crucial role in the Dash’s 3-1 victory against the Orlando Pride on Sept. 28.
Schmidt has been part of Canada’s national team since 2005 and made her fourth World Cup appearance last summer in France. The 32-year-old is one appearance shy from earning her 200th cap for Canada and has tallied 19 goals and 20 assists. Schmidt was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame last fall on October 23, 2019.
The Dash currently have 23 players on the roster ahead of the 2021 season.
HOUSTON DASH PLAYERS CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT (23)
| GOALKEEPERS (3) | ||||||||
| No. | Player | Pos. | NSWL Exp. | Age | Ht. | FIFA Nationality | ||
| 1 | Jane Campbell | GK | 4 | 25 | 5-9 | USA | ||
| 20 | Lindsey Harris | GK | 1 | 26 | 5-7 | USA | ||
| 99 | Amanda Dennis | 1 | 22 | 6-0 | USA | |||
| DEFENDERS (4) | ||||||||
| No. | Player | Pos. | NWSL Exp. | Age | Ht. | FIFA Nationality | ||
| 2 | Allysha Chapman | DF | 6 | 31 | 5-3 | Canada | ||
| 11 | Megan Oyster | DF | 6 | 27 | 5-8 | USA | ||
| 23 | Ally Prisock | DF | 2 | 23 | 5-8 | USA | ||
| 25 | Katie Naughton | DF | 5 | 26 | 5-10 | USA | ||
| MIDFIELDERS (10) | ||||||||
| No. | Player | Pos. | NWSL Exp. | Age | Ht. | FIFA Nationality | ||
| 4 | Maegan Kelly | MF | 3 | 28 | 5-5 | USA/Canada | ||
| 6 | Shea Groom | MF | 6 | 27 | 5-6 | USA | ||
| 9 | Haley Hanson | MF | 3 | 24 | 5-5 | USA | ||
| 10 | Christine Nairn | MF | 8 | 30 | 5-5 | USA | ||
| 13 | Sophie Schmidt | MF | 4 | 32 | 5-7 | Canada | ||
| 14 | Bri Visalli | MF | 2 | 25 | 5-2 | USA | ||
| 19 | Kristie Mewis | MF | 7 | 29 | 5-7 | USA | ||
| 28 | Cami Privett | MF | 5 | 27 | 5-8 | USA | ||
| Emily Ogle | MF | 2 | 24 | 5-5 | USA | |||
| Gabby Seiler | MF | 2 | 26 | 5-5 | USA | |||
| FORWARDS (6) | ||||||||
| No. | Player | Pos. | NWSL Exp. | Age | Ht. | FIFA Nationality | ||
| 3 | Rachel Daly | FW | 5 | 29 | 5-6 | England | ||
| 7 | Katie Stengel | FW | 5 | 28 | 5-9 | USA | ||
| 8 | Nichelle Prince | FW | 4 | 25 | 5-4 | Canada | ||
| 12 | Veronica Latsko | FW | 3 | 24 | 5-8 | USA | ||
| 24 | Jamia Fields | FW | 5 | 27 | 5-4 | USA | ||
| 26 | Bridgette Andrzejewski | FW | 1 | 23 | 5-8 | USA | ||
