HOUSTON (Sept. 27, 2025) - The Houston Dash travel to the nation’s capital this weekend to face the Washington Spirit in a key late-season matchup at Audi Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT on Sunday, Sept. 28, and fans can follow the match live on NWSL+ and Paramount+.
With five matches remaining in the regular season, the Dash sit just two points below the playoff line and continue to push for a postseason berth. Houston enters Sunday’s match following a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Stars FC at Shell Energy Stadium, marking the team’s fourth clean sheet of the season. Forward Yazmeen Ryan scored the game-winner for Houston marking her fourth contribution in Houston’s last six goals.
Ryan has made 25 goal contributions across all competitions since the start of the 2024 season. With 13 goals and 12 assists to her name, her 25 goal contributions are the most by any American player on an NWSL team in that span according to OPTA. She spent the 2024 campaign with NJ/NY Gotham FC, where she contributed to goals across league play, the playoffs and two international tournaments, including a hat trick against Frazsiers Whip in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. Since joining the Dash in December 2024, Ryan has contributed to six goals (four goals and two assists) in the regular season.
Last week’s match saw defender Malia Berkey make her Dash debut in the starting lineup. Berkely joined the Dash on Sept. 12 following a trade with the North Carolina Courage, where she helped the team qualify to the postseason in back-to-back campaigns. Defender Anna Heilferty earned her first appearance for the team coming on in the second half of the match. Heilferty joined the team earlier this summer as a trialist and later signed a short-term contract through the end of the 2025 season.
Defensively, the Dash were led by defender Paige Nielsen, who recorded seven clearances against the Stars and she leads the team with 144 this season. Goalkeeper Abby Smith tallied six saves and earned her second clean sheet with the club. Nielsen is also poised to reach a significant career milestone this weekend, entering the match just six minutes away from surpassing 10,000 regular-season minutes played in the NWSL, becoming the 65th player in league history to cross this mark.
The Spirit enter Sunday’s match unbeaten in their last nine games, most recently earning a 2-2 draw on the road against Angel City FC. Forward Trinity Rodman opened the scoring in the eighth minute, and Croix Bethune netted the second-half equalizer off a cross from midfielder Leicy Santos, who was named NWSL Player of the Week for her performance.
Washington’s attack is led by forward Ashley Hatch, who tops the team with six goals this season, while Rosemonde Kouassi leads in assists with four. The Spirit's backline is anchored by goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury who has recorded seven clean sheets, and defender Tara McKeown, who leads the team in clearances with 116.
The Dash fell 2-1 at Shell Energy Stadium in the last meeting between the two sides on March 17 in Houston’s home opener. Midfielder Maggie Graham scored in her professional debut, coming on in the 60th minute after she capitalized on a redirected ball from forward Ryan Gareis. The match also marked the return of defender Katie Lind, who made her first competitive appearance after missing the 2024 season due to maternity leave.
Houston returns to Shell Energy Stadium on Friday, Oct. 3 to host Orlando Pride for Space City Night, presented by Coushatta Casino Resort. Tickets for that match and all Dash matches are available at HoustonDash.com
