HOUSTON (March 13, 2026) - The Houston Dash open the 2026 NWSL season on Saturday with a road matchup against San Diego Wave FC, marking the second campaign under President of Women’s Soccer Angela Hucles Mangano and head coach Fabrice Gautrat. Fans are invited to visit Side Peace on Saturday for a watch party with Dash midfielder Sophie Schmidt.
Saturday’s match begins the 13th NWSL season in team history and the team looks to build on the momentum from the second half of 2025. The Dash earned 19 points during the final stretch of the campaign, nearly doubling their first-half total, and finished Gautrat’s first season with a 5-4-4 (WLD) record over the final 13 matches, including victories over three eventual playoff teams. Houston ultimately finished 8-12-6, six points shy of a postseason berth.
Houston enters the season with eight new additions to the roster, blending experienced NWSL talent with promising young players. Veteran forward Makenzy Robbe adds depth to the offensive side of the ball, whileHillary Beall and Caroline DeLisle add depth in goal. The Dash also welcomed five first-year professionals, including 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Kate Faasse, University of Georgia standout Cate Hardin, Houston native Leah Klenke, Duke forward Kat Rader and North Carolina midfielder Linda Ullmark.
The organization also expanded its technical and sporting staff ahead of the 2026 season, adding 10 new staff members. That group includes Twila Kilgore, who joins as the club’s second technical director in team history. Oscar Rivero and MLS Cup champion Matt Pickens were added as assistant coaches, with Pickens also serving as goalkeeper coach. The team also hired Marina Schachowskoj as a player development coach.
Saturday’s match could feature the second pair of sisters to ever face each other in a league match. Dash midfielder Kiki Van Zanten and her sister, San Diego defender Mimi Van Zanten, are both eligible for Saturday’s match and if both are on the field it would mark the first time a pair of siblings meet in a league game since the Mewis sisters (Kristie Mewis and Sam Mewis) faced each other in 2019. The Van Zanten sisters also represent Jamaica internationally and are currently competing in the early stages of qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Mimi Van Zanten is one of seven new players on the San Diego roster for the 2026 season. The Wave acquired Brazilian forward Ludmila from Chicago Stars FC at the start of the year in exchange for $800,000 in transfer fee funds and up to an additional $200,000 in conditional transfer fee. The team recently acquired forward Gabi Portilho from Gotham FC in exchange for $175,000 in transfer funds. The team is led by Jonas Eidevall, who was hired as the second head coach in team history on January 7 following three seasons with Arsenal Women in England.
In addition to the new additions to the roster, San Diego features French playmaker Kenza Dali, a finalist for the NWSL Midfielder of the Year award. Defensively, Perle Morroni leads a backline that only allowed 34 goals last season and helped San Diego post a positive goal difference of seven goals.
The Dash return to Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday, March 21 to host Boston Legacy FC in the home opener, powered by Shell Energy. Fans in attendance will receive a 2026 Dash Season Passport, a collectible designed for autographs and stamps throughout the season. Tickets start at $15 as part of a promotion celebrating defender Avery Patterson’s contract extension, which also includes a limited-edition Patterson poster available at the match. Additional information about the promotion is available HERE.
