Three things we learned: Houston Dash at Chicago Stars
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash picked up their first win of 2025, beating the Chicago Stars 2-1 Sunday afternoon. After each game this season, we’re going to bring you three things we learned from the match. Here is our next edition after watching the Dash grab three points on the road.
Fabrice Gautrat is building a culture
Dash head coach Fabrice Gautrat said after the win that “culture drives performance, performance drives results.” It may sound like coach-speak but getting to talk with Gautrat weekly and seeing what he is building with the Dash, you can tell it is an ethos for him and the team. Gautrat reiterated that it is still early in the season but the results on the field are speaking. A hard-fought loss to Washington and now a win in tough conditions in Illinois show the Dash are on the right track.
Maggie Graham’s Rookie of the Year campaign is real
If you don’t already have a ticket for the Maggie Graham hype train, you better get one quickly. The rookie from Duke scored again Sunday, making her the first player in NWSL history to come off the bench and score a goal in each of her first two career regular-season matches. Graham won’t be a super sub long if she keeps this up. Her knack for knowing went to get into the box while still being sound in the midfield is such a great asset in a young player. Don’t carve her name on the Rookie of the Year trophy yet, but you can’t get off to a much hotter start in your debut season.
Veteran leadership is immeasurable
Much like we saw with the Dynamo’s rebuild, veteran players who have “been there, done that” is such a valuable commodity to have. With the Dash’s core of Jane Campbell, Paige Nielsen, Katie Lind, Sophie Schmidt, Danielle Colaprico, there is so many combined years and matches in the NWSL to lean on. Even younger players like Yazmeen Ryan, who has two NWSL championships, and Delanie Sheehan, who has one, are vital to building up the club and influencing the younger players. As this team continues to grow, and improve this season, these players will play key roles in turning the club around back to being a contender.
