Houston Dash 2024 player report cards: Barbara Olivieri
(image via Houston Dash)
We’re continuing our 2024 report card series, recapping each Dynamo and Dash player’s season. Next up is Barbara Olivieri. Barb entered the season in a weird spot, having not played a ton of minutes in 2023. She showed flashes under Sam Laity and was expected to take another leap under a new coaching staff.
2024 Grade: A
2024 by the numbers (NWSL play)
Appearances: 24
Minutes played: 1592
Goals: 4
Assists: 2
G+ per 96: -0.04
2024 in review
(via FBref.com and FBcharts.com)
There were a lot of questions on just what Barbara Olivieri would look like in 2024. We knew the raw talent was there, but we still wondered what her best role and position would be. She started the year on the bench and was eventually integrated by Fran Alosno in a midfield role. She was mostly used for her ability to transition the ball with her dribbling ability.
She eventually took over a full-time starting role playing both a deeper midfield position, an attacking midfield, and out wide. She played very well in every role asked of her and cemented herself as a key player. She really shined once Ricky Clarke became the head coach and put his full faith in her to be one of the focal points of the team.
She ended the season with three goals and an assist in the last three matches. She was the biggest bright spot in what was an awful season for the Dash, finishing bottom of the league.
Moment of the season
With the Dash sitting on one win two months into the season, they were desperate for any points they could get. The Dash went up 1-0 before half time against North Carolina Courage thanks to a goal from new signing Ramona Bachmann. This goal came against the run of play in a match that looked like North Carolina could easily come back in and run away with it. Barb was able to score the second goal of the game with a great strike from a tough angle to put the Dash in a rare position to win the game. This was a fantastic way to open her NWSL account, not just for 2024, but her whole career.
Looking forward
Olivieri signed a new contract in September, keeping her at the club until the end of the 2026 season. With how much of a bright spot she was in this rough season, she should be a foundational player for the Dash with this rebuild. Barb, being a local player from Katy, along with her strong play, has cemented herself as the face of the team and that should be the case for years to come.
