Celebrating 10 years: A look back at Houston Dash history

Houston Dash players wave as fans drive by to maintain a safe distance during the NWSL Challenge Cup Champion celebration — the twist on the traditional championship parade necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic — on July 30, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports)

Although the Houston Dash fell 3-1 against the Washington Spirit in their 10th anniversary celebration game on April 12, the National Women’s Soccer League club is on the horizon for more as they lock in a pivotal year in club history.

The early days

Being the new kids on the block in 2014, Dash players were used to showing up to practice with no locker room in sight and having to wash their own training uniforms. 

“At the beginning, I remember girls were very much just appreciative to have a league,” said retired Dash forward Kealia Watt (née Ohai) to Theo Lloyd-Hughes at Squad Depth. “It was very much like we needed to be thankful there’s a league because it could fall at any moment. And then, I remember probably around my fifth or sixth year, it started changing to where we started getting a voice. That was really led by the women’s national team and they were fighting for equal pay, so, things started to shift.”