HOUSTON (March 13, 2024) - The Houston Dash open the 2025 regular season on Friday, March 14 at Shell Energy Stadium as they host the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup champion, the Washington Spirit. The first fans to enter the venue will receive a team-branded wall flag, courtesy of Shell Energy and tickets for the match are available on SeatGeek.
Friday’s match will mark the first match for team under the leadership of President of Women’s Soccer, Angela Hucles Mangano and head coach, Fabrice Gautrat. Hucles Mangano was hired on Dec. 9 for the newly created role that also serves as the Chief Soccer Officer for the team. The team hired Gautrat on Jan. 3, and he is the sixth full-time head coach in team history.
The Dash added eight new players to the roster and six of the additions to the roster have won an NWSL championship or trophy. Among the new players on the roster are U.S. Women’s National Team forward Yazmeen Ryan, who represented the U.S. at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup. Ryan is a two-time NWSL champion and won her most recent title in 2023 with NJ/NY Gotham FC. She is one of three former Gotham players to join the Dash and that includes veteran goalkeeper Abby Smith and midfielder Delanie Sheehan.
NWSL veteran Danielle Colaprico and Christen Westphal joined the Dash over the offseason and both bring extensive postseason experience to the team and as teammates the duo helped San Diego Wave FC lift the NWSL Shield in 2023. Offensively, the Dash added forward Messiah Bright and Evelina Duljan, a member of the 2024 Orlando Pride team that won the double (NWSL Shield and Championship) last year. The team signed Maggie Graham following her collegiate career at Duke University. She led the Blue Devils to the semifinals of the 2024 Women’s College Cup and the ACC regular season title as a graduate student.
Preparation for the 2025 began well before the offseason with new contracts for captain Jane Campbell (June 2024), defender Paige Nielsen (Aug. 2024), defender Natalie Jacobs (Sept. 2024), forward Michelle Alozie (Sept. 2024), midfielder Bárbara Olivieri (Sept. 2024) midfielder Sarah Puntigam (Oct. 2024) and midfielder Sophie Schmidt (Oct. 2024). Defender Avery Patterson (Dec. 2024) also signed a new contract with the team.
The team faced San Diego and Portland Thorns FC during a preseason trip to California as part of the Coachella Valley Invitational. Houston split the two matches against the NWSL clubs with a draw against San Diego and a victory over Portland. Houston’s preseason slate also featured a friendly against Dallas Trinity FC from the USL Super League. Graham scored a goal in the second half to secure a 1-1 draw in that match.
The Washington Spirit visit Houston after opening their season with a penalty kick shootout triumph over Orlando last week in the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup. Leicy Santos scored the equalizer in the second half following a free kick outside the box. Goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury tallied a save in the shootout and Tara McKeown converted her penalty kick to secure Washington’s first trophy of the year. The Spirit were without Croix Bethune, Courtney Brown, Ouleye Sarr, Heather Stainbrook and Andi Sullivan due to injury. Trinity Rodman joined the team in Orlando and on the bench but did not enter the match. She was listed as questionable on Thursday with a back injury.
In addition to Santos, the Spirit signed Mexican international Rebecca Bernal following a transfer from C.F. Monterrey. The Spirit also signed Narumi Miura as a free agent after beginning her NWSL career with North Carolina FC. Washington reinforced each line this offseason with the addition of defender Kysha Sylla on loan from Olympique Lyon, Scottish international goalkeeper Sandy MacIver and Brazilian forward Tamara Bolt. Washington looks to surpass a recording-breaking campaign that included a trip to the NWSL Championship last season plus new single-season club records in wins (18), points (56) and goals (51).
The Dash will visit the Nation’s Capital in Sept. to face the Spirit at Audi Field. Fans can watch the match on Sept. 28 at noon CT on NWSL+ or Paramount+
The Dash travel to Illinois next week for their first road trip of the season. Houston will face Chicago Stars FC on Sunday, March 23 at 4 p.m. CT and fans can watch the game on NWSL + or Paramount +. The team returns to Shell Energy Stadium on Friday, March 28 for She Shines Night as they welcome NJ/NY Gotham FC.
