2024 NWSL schedule released: 5 Dash games to circle on your calendar
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash are looking to wipe the slate clean from 2023 into a successful new season in the NWSL. Today, the NWSL released the 2024 schedule for all teams along with some information about the new NWSL+ TV/ streaming services. The Dash will start the season away at North Carolina Courage on March 16. The first home match will be the week after on March 23 against Racing Louisville. The league will take a CBA-mandated break on July 8-14 which will lead into the Olympics break from July 19-August 18. The league will organize a tournament, featuring international participants and all 14 NWSL clubs, beginning the weekend of July 19-21. Further details regarding the competition and format are forthcoming.
Here are five matches we are looking forward to this season for the Dash.
March 16 - away at North Carolina Courage
It will be the first match of the season and new head coach Fran Alonso’s first game with the team. With roster spots still up in the air, many will be keen on what type of football the Dash will play. There is no secret that Alonso loves to play a 3-4-3 from his time in Scotland with Celtic FC. The question is, will he have the team adapted to the system to get a result away from home to kick off the 2024 season?
May 8 - home vs NJ/NY Gotham FC
It’s no secret that facing Gotham would be a hard test after they won the NWSL Championship last year, but no one expected them to build a super team this offseason. The Bats then went and added the likes of Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, Crystal Dunn, Tierna Davidson, and Cassie Miller this winter. Juan Carlos Amoros and Gotham are going to be the bar that most teams want to be. Can the Dash compete against early in the season?
June 22 - home vs San Diego Wave
This match will be the midpoint of the season for the Dash, and it will be a huge test for Houston. Since San Diego joined the league, the Dash haven’t got a single result against them. With players like Naomi Girma and Alex Morgan, the Wave have always seemed too much for the Dash. Now coming off winning the NWSL Shield, can Houston break their streak against them and get a result?
August 31 - home vs Utah Royals
This will be the first game back after the Olympics, with most of the players back from the tournament. The opponent will be new expansion side Utah Royals FC. Utah is a club that has a second chance on life after folding and moving to Kansas City after the 2020 season. Facing a new team at home, this will be a vital three points if the Dash are to kick on the second part of the season toward the playoffs.
November 2 - home vs Bay FC
The final match of the regular season will be at Shell Energy Stadium against Bay FC. It will be interesting to see the other new expansion side in Houston, with familiar faces Joelle Anderson and Caprice Dydasco on the other side. The big question will be, can the Dash be in the hunt in the final game this year. Eight teams will make the playoffs now, instead of six like last season, so this game could be big in the fight to get into the postseason or seeding.
These are some of the matches we are looking forward to. Let us know on Twitter/X which matches you are most excited about.
