Houston Dash

The Houston Dash is a professional women's soccer team based in Houston, Texas. They joined the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in the 2014 season. It is affiliated with the MLS team Houston Dynamo.

Houston Dash
FoundedDecember 11, 2013 (2013-12-11)
StadiumPNC Stadium
Houston, Texas
Capacity22,039
Majority ownerTed Segal
PresidentJessica O'Neill
Head coachvacant
LeagueNational Women's Soccer League
20217th of 10
WebsiteClub website

History

Establishment
See also: National Women's Soccer League: Establishment and National Women's Soccer League: Expansion

On November 19, 2013, the Houston Dynamo began talks in the initial stages with the intention of bringing a top flight women's professional soccer franchise to Houston.[1] Just a week later, the effort was bolstered when the Dynamo began accepting refundable deposits for a potential NWSL expansion team.[2] On December 11, 2013, the National Women's Soccer League awarded the Houston Dynamo and the city of Houston an expansion franchise.[3]

Team name, crest, and colors
Former logo (2013–2020)

During a press conference on December 12, 2013, Houston Dynamo president Chris Canetti announced that the club would be named the Houston Dash and would share similar colors to the Dynamo: orange, black, and sky blue.[4] The crest features a soccer ball along with the words "Houston Dash" with sky blue lines in the background.[5] The name Dash refers to the fast running speed of a horse, which was a historical mode of transportation for Texans in the 1800s.[5]

Ownership and team management

Houston Dash is owned by the same ownership group as the Dynamo, Gabriel Brener, Jake Silverstein, Ben Guill, multiple World and Olympic boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya, and Brooklyn Nets star and NBA MVP James Harden[6]

On December 23, 2013, Former Houston Dynamo player Brian Ching was named Managing Director, in charge of day-to-day duties on both the business and technical sides of under the supervision of Houston Dash and Dynamo team president Chris Canetti.[7]

On January 3, 2014, Randy Waldrum was named as the Dash's first head coach, having previously coached the Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's soccer team to two national titles since joining the team in 1999.[8]

On May 29, 2017, Randy Waldrum and Houston Dash agreed to part ways. Assistant coach Omar Morales was named interim coach.[9]

On November 27, 2017 Vera Pauw was hired as the new head coach.[10] On September 20, 2018 Vera Pauw departed from the club.[11]

On December 11, 2018, James Clarkson was hired as the new head coach.[12] He was suspended on April 26, 2022.[13]

BBVA Stadium is the current home of the Houston Dash and Dynamo.

Stadium
Main article: PNC Stadium

The Dash play their games at PNC Stadium, formerly known as BBVA Stadium, which opened in May 2012, and features a 22,039-seat capacity. For the team's inaugural season, 7,000 seats in the lower seating bowl are available for home games.[14] When the stadium opened in 2012, it became the first soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer located in a city's downtown district.[15]

Players and staff

Current squad
As of April 22, 2022.[16]
No. Pos. Player Nation
1 GK Jane Campbell  United States
2 DF Allysha Chapman  Canada
3 FW Rachel Daly  England
7 MF María Sánchez  Mexico
8 FW Nichelle Prince  Canada
9 DF Haley Hanson  United States
10 MF Shea Groom  United States
12 DF Julia Ashley  United States
13 MF Sophie Schmidt  Canada
14 MF Brianna Visalli  United States
15 MF Marisa Viggiano  United States
17 MF Kelcie Hedge  United States
18 MF Emily Ogle  United States
19 FW Elizabeth Eddy  United States
20 GK Lindsey Harris  United States
21 FW Ryan Gareis  United States
22 FW Michelle Alozie  Nigeria
24 FW Paulina Gramaglia (on loan from UAI Urquiza)  Argentina
25 DF Katie Naughton  United States
26 MF Makamae Gomera-Stevens  United States
27 DF Annika Schmidt  United States
29 FW Joelle Anderson  United States
33 GK Ella Dederick  United States
34 FW Michaela Abam  Cameroon

Staff
As of April 26, 2022.[17][18]
Executive
Chairman Ted Segal
Vice chairman Lyle Ayes
President Jessica O'Neill
Assistant general manager Carlos Martinez-Gloria
Technical
Head coach vacant
Assistant coach Michael Balogun
Assistant coach Sarah Lowdon
Assistant coach and video analyst Hiro Suzuki
High performance coach Corey Ashe

Head coach history
Name Tenure
Randy Waldrum January 3, 2014 – May 29, 2017
Omar Morales (interim) May 29, 2017 – November 27, 2017
Vera Pauw November 27, 2017 – September 20, 2018
James Clarkson December 11, 2018 – April 26, 2022

Seasons
Season NWSL regular season Position NWSL
Playoffs
P W L D GF GA Pts
2014 245163234418 9th DNQ
2015 20686212624 5th DNQ
2016 206104292922 8th DNQ
2017 247143233924 8th DNQ
2018 249105353932 6th DNQ
2019 247125213626 7th DNQ
2020 NWSL season not contested
2021 249105213132 7th DNQ

DNQ = Did not qualify

Honors

Broadcasting
See also: National Women's Soccer League § Broadcasting

As of the 2017 season, Dash games are streamed exclusively by Go90 for American audiences and via the NWSL website for international viewers.[19] As part of a three-year agreement with A&E Networks, Lifetime broadcasts one NWSL Game of the Week on Saturday afternoons.[20][21] For the 2017 season, the Dash will be featured in five nationally broadcast Lifetime NWSL Game of the Week broadcasts on May 6, May 3, and September 23, 2017.[22]

During the 2014 season, games were broadcast locally on CSN TV in Houston.[23]

See also

References
  1. de Jesus Ortiz, Jose (November 19, 2013). "Dynamo pursue expansion franchise in women's league". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  2. Farley, Richard (November 21, 2013). "Houston Dynamo accepting refundable deposits for potential NWSL expansion team, and why it's a no-brainer for the league". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  3. Berman, Mark (December 11, 2013). "Houston and Dynamo land National Women's Soccer League team". KRIV. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  4. Lovell, Darrell (December 13, 2013). "Houston Dynamo president Chris Canetti: Houston Dash's formation "will make soccer stronger"". Houston Dynamo. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  5. "Houston Dynamo launch Houston Dash as expansion member of National Women's Soccer League". Houston Dynamo. December 12, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  6. De La Hoya on the way to Dynamo , HoustonDynamo.com, February 26, 2008
  7. Brian Ching named Houston Dash managing director, Houston Dash Communications, December 23, 2013
  8. Dash hire highly-acclaimed coach from Notre Dame to be their first head coach Archived January 3, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, My FOX Houston, January 3, 2014
  9. Purdy, Jacqueline. "Houston Dash, Randy Waldrum part ways". NWSL. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  10. "Dash hire Dutch legend Vera Pauw as head coach". chron.com. November 27, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  11. "Houston Dash Coach Vera Pauw Departs Club to Return to Holland | Houston Dynamo".
  12. "Houston Dash name James Clarkson as head coach". houstondynamo.com. December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  13. "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com.
  14. Lauletta, Dan (December 12, 2013). "It's official — Houston Dash to join NWSL for 2014". Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  15. Major League Soccer, L.L.C. "Dynamo Stadium 2012". Houston Dynamo. Archived from the original on May 30, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  16. "Dash Players". Houston Dynamo. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  17. "Houston Dynamo FC". houstondynamofc.
  18. "Staff | Houston Dash". houstondynamofc.
  19. "NWSL, go90 announce exclusive streaming partnership". Black and Red United (SBNation). Vox Media. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  20. "Lifetime To Air National Women's Soccer League Games As A+E Networks Kicks In For Equity Stake". Deadline.com. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  21. "A+E Networks, National Women's Soccer League Ink Major Deal". Variety. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  22. "Houston Dash to host three nationally televised games in 2017". Houston Dynamo. March 30, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  23. "Houston Dash unveil local television broadcast schedule". Houston Dynamo. March 17, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
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