HOUSTON (Oct. 13, 2026) - The Houston Dash and defender Cate Hardin agreed to a new contract through the 2028 NWSL season, the club announced today.
“This new contract reflects the progress Cate has made and our confidence in her trajectory as a player,” President of Women's Soccer, Angela Hucles Mangano said. "She has approached every opportunity with purpose and shown that she can contribute at a high level. We believe she can play an important role in the future of this club, and we're excited to continue investing in her development as part of the foundation we're building here in Houston."
Hardin joined the Dash as a non-roster invitee ahead of the 2026 season and was named to the club’s initial preseason roster on Jan. 26. Following preseason, the defender officially joined the Dash’s 2026 regular season roster on March 11 after signing with the club through the current season on March 5. Hardin has since appeared in 17 matches this season, earning seven starts, and has been part of a rookie class that has played a significant role for Houston throughout the 2026 campaign.
“I’m incredibly excited and grateful to continue my career with the Houston Dash,” Hardin said. “This season has been an incredible experience, and I’m thankful for the opportunity the club has given me to grow and compete at the professional level. Houston has created an environment where I feel supported and challenged every day. I’m excited to continue learning from my teammates and coaches and to keep growing both on and off the field. I’m proud to call Houston home and can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together.”
The 23-year-old made her professional debut on March 21 at Shell Energy Stadium against Boston Legacy FC before earning her first professional start on May 9 against Utah Royals FC. Hardin is one of six rookies on Houston’s roster this season. The Dash’s rookie class has continued to play a pivotal role throughout the campaign, combining for 24 goal contributions and Houston continues to lead the league in rookie starts, appearances and minutes played.
Prior to joining the Dash, Hardin completed a decorated career at Georgia, where she made 81 appearances with 70 starts and logged 5,949 minutes along the Bulldogs’ backline. She helped Georgia record 17 shutouts during her four-year career while totaling two goals and eight assists for 12 career points.
As a senior in 2025, Hardin started all 21 matches and led Georgia’s field players with 1,723 minutes. The Marietta, Georgia native earned Second Team All-SEC honors after recording career highs in assists (4) and points (6). Hardin also earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors twice and was a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll during her collegiate career. She served as Georgia’s representative on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and was the recipient of the Jimmy and Barbara Turner Soccer Scholarship Endowment.
