Houston Dash take first road trip of 2025 for meeting with Chicago Stars

(image via Aldo Canale)

The Houston Dash are on the road for their first away fixture of 2025 to face the Chicago Stars. The Dash were defeated 2-1 in their opening match, last Friday, against the Washington Spirit. The Stars endured a heavy 6-0 loss to the Orlando Pride.

When: Sunday, March 23 | 2:00 PM CT

Where: SeatGeek Stadium; Bridgeview, Illinois

TV/Stream: NWSL+/Paramount+

Optimism in the Squad

Despite the season-opening loss, the Dash can take pride in leading in most attacking stats and controlling the game in the second half. Many entered the match with questions about how the team would perform or even how they would play. However, it’s clear now that the Dash can be competitive. If they can hold their own against a team like the Spirit and only fall short by a narrow margin, imagine what more time together will do to help them improve. There's a positive vibe surrounding the club moving forward.

Building Momentum

The second-half performance against Washington was impressive, as the Dash gave the Spirit a real challenge, limiting them to just five carries inside the 18-yard box. The Dash became increasingly difficult for Washington to handle as the match progressed. Head coach Fabrice Gautrat praised the second-half performance but expressed a desire for that intensity to be sustained throughout both halves. We could see the Dash come out strong against Chicago, looking to make a statement with their first win of the season.

Struggle for Chicago

After making the playoffs last season, the newly branded Chicago Stars FC had a rough start to the season. Orlando exposed significant flaws in the Stars’ defense on the way to a 6-0 score line. While Mallory Swanson’s absence due to personal reasons is unfortunate, it's clear that the team's struggles go beyond that. Chicago’s defensive organization was poor, and they were exposed by counterattacks. While players like Alyssa Naeher, Julia Grosso, and Sam Staab will try to keep the team afloat, this presents a great opportunity for the Dash to secure their first win of the season.

Availability Report

Houston Dash – Out: Kiki Van Zanten (SEI-foot), Heather Hinz (D45-knee)

Chicago Stars FC – Out: Ava Cook (SEI-knee), Jenna Bike (thigh), Natalie Kuikka (D45-knee), Leilanni Nesbeth (illness), Mallory Swanson (excused absence)

Predicted Lineup