HOUSTON (Nov. 1, 2026) – The Houston Dash closed the 2026 regular season with a 2-0 loss to Portland Thorns FC at Shell Energy Stadium this evening. The team finished with a 9-15-6 (WLD) record and interim head coach Jaime Frias posted a 2-3-1 record during the last six games.
Portland Thorns FC opened the scoring in the 34th minute after forward Sophia Wilson capitalized on a cross inside the box. Portland was awarded a penalty following a foul inside the box in the 61st minute. Wilson stepped up to take the attempt from the spot and Campbell denied her initial effort. Following a VAR review, a Dash defender was deemed to encroach on the penalty kick, and Wilson converted the second attempt to extend Portland’s lead.
Forward Miljana Ivanović created an early opportunity for Houston in the opening moments of the match, getting on the end of a cross for a shot on target. Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold made the save and the Dash forced five saves from the Thorns this evening.
The Dash created another opportunity in the eighth minute after forward Kat Rader played the ball to defender Avery Patterson at the top of the box. Patterson fired a shot toward the near post, but her effort narrowly missed the target.
Goalkeeper and captain Jane Campbell was called into action in the 11th minute, denying Caiya Hank’s right-footed effort. Campbell made another key save moments later, stopping Sophia Wilson’s left-footed shot from outside the box to keep the match level.
Houston created another opportunity in the 28th minute after midfielder Danny Colaprico delivered a cross into a crowded box, but Arnold came up with the save.
The Dash nearly opened the scoring in the 32nd minute after Rader played a ball to midfielder Sophie Schmidt on the left side. Schmidt broke past the Portland backline and fired an effort toward goal, but Arnold was well positioned to make the save.
Campbell came up with an important defensive play in the 38th minute, punching the ball away to prevent Portland from extending its lead. The Dash captain was called into action two minutes later, denying Hanks’ effort to keep the visitors’ lead at one heading into halftime.
Houston's final opportunity of the first half came after midfielder Maggie Graham fired a long-range effort toward goal, but the Portland goalkeeper got her fingertips to the ball to push it out of play.
Houston threatened early in the second half in the 46th minute following a corner kick. Rader stepped up to take the set piece, finding Schmidt inside the box for a header that skipped over the crossbar.
Forward Clarissa Larisey nearly leveled the match three minutes later after dribbling through the center of the field and creating space inside the box, but her left-footed effort was blocked by Arnold.
Houston threatened again in the 56th minute after Rader fired a right-footed effort from outside the box, but her shot was off target. The Duke University finished with 10 goals this season and led all rookies in scoring. She was also the first Dash player to reach double-digit goals in a single season since Rachel Daly scored 10 goals in 2018.
Houston threatened in the 82nd min after Patterson sent a cross toward the far post, where midfielder Kiki Van Zanten attempted a header that went wide of the target. The Dash came knocking moments later following a corner kick that found defender Leah Klenke inside the box, but her right-footed effort was blocked.
The Dash’s final opportunity of the evening came in second-half stoppage time after Graham fired a right-footed effort from outside the box, but the Portland goalkeeper made the save.
