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The Houston Dash competed in their first National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) playoff match on Sunday, and while the team lost 2-1 to the Kansas City Current, they and the fans at PNC Stadium in East Downtown (EaDo) had nothing to feel ashamed about.
“This season wouldn’t have been as incredible without our fans,” the Dash tweeted following the contest. “Thanks for sticking with us through our highs and lows.”
CBS Sports reported that Dash midfielder Sophie Schmidt accounted for Houston’s lone goal of the afternoon while the hosts surrendered two to Kansas City.
Schmidt’s goal knotted things at one apiece in the 21st minute, according to CBS Sports.
The Dash outshot the Current 5-1 during the first half, but a plethora of missed opportunities allowed Kansas City to cruise to what became their first NWSL playoff win, CBS Sports reported.
In its ninth season of play, the Dash punched their first-ever playoff ticket earlier this month when the North Carolina Courage and the San Diego Wave FC played to a scoreless draw, according to a club-issued press release.
The Dash finished their 2022 campaign with a record 10 wins, breaking the mark of nine set last year and in 2018.
Houston FOX affiliate KRIV reported that 21,284 people passed through the gates at PNC Stadium, to which Dash officials said is a team and NWSL attendance record.
Former Houston Dynamo player Brian Ching told KRIV that the figure demonstrates the Bayou City’s love for soccer.
"Soccer is growing in this country, it’s getting better, even on the women’s side,” Ching, whose 12-year Major League Soccer (MLS) career included two MLS Cup victories with the Dynamo, said, the station reported. “They’re more and more women’s teams now and the MLS has helped the growth of that. And you’re going to see throughout the World Cup, that a lot of people are taking a big interest not only in the U.S. team, but in the entire tournament."
Houston is one of the host cities in the 2026 World Cup.