Three Things We Learned: Houston Dash vs Washington Spirit
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash opened the 2025 season Friday night, falling 2-1 to the Washington Spirit. After each game this season, we’re going to bring you three things we learned from the match. Here is our first edition after watching the Dash begin their campaign at Shell Energy Stadium.
Maggie Graham has It
Head coach Fabrice Gautrat had high praise for rookie Maggie Graham this preseason and we got to see why in the first regular season game. Graham, who was the ACC Midfielder of the Year at Duke University last year, came into Friday’s match in the second half with clear directions. “Fabrice (Gautrat) pulled me over right before I went on the field and just told me, ‘do what you're good at. You have freedom to press, so go wherever you can to make an impact’”, Graham said after the match. She made an impact in the box, redirecting a Ryan Gareis header in for a goal in her first professional match. It was the first glimpse of what will likely be a lot of Graham in the Dash midfield this season.
Houston hung tough
It would be easy for a team that goes down 2-0 to the Washington Spirit in the first half to just back it up and admit defeat. We saw in the other NWSL match on Friday night where the Orlando Pride ran over the Chicago Stars to the tune of 6-0. The Dash didn’t do that, however. Houston hung in the game and didn’t allow the Spirit to score again, or really get any other big chances. They pulled a goal back in the second half and were pushing late for an equalizer. “I think there's a lot of positives to take away,” Gautrat said after the match. “That's obviously one of the best teams in the league. So, for us to play that way and be so dominant in the second half, I think there are a lot of positives to take.” Even in defeat, this can be a big building block for the new-look Dash.
A number 9 needs to step up
With Diana Ordoñez still on the season-ending injury list from last year and unavailable in this match, Messiah Bright got the start up front for the Dash as the team’s striker. Yazmeen Ryan and Bright had some moments where they changed positions and Michelle Alozie came into the match for Bright as the number nine in the second half. None of the forwards were involved in the one Houston goal, and there wasn’t much else to speak of in terms of chances. We knew coming into this season that this team had question marks around scoring. Ordoñez may be that answer, but until she comes back, someone is going to have to find their scoring boots.
