Houston Dash – Page 2 – Women's Soccer Express

NWSL News of Note: Christen Press re-ups with Angel City, Dash acquire Abby Smith from Gotham, Courage signs Hannah Betfort, Racing signs Nebraska’s Sarah Weber, Pride trades international spot to Spirit

Leading the notables for Friday, January 17th, is the news that forward Christen Press will return to the NWSL and Angel City for at least one more season.

In other player news…

Gotham FC trades goalkeeper Abby Smith to the Houston Dash for $20,000 in intra-league transfer funds.
The North Carolina Courage signs free agent forward Hannah Betfort through 2026 with a mutual option for 2027.
Racing Louisville signs senior Nebraska forward Sarah Weber via a two-year contract.

Additionally, the Washington Spirit have room for another international signing after acquiring an international slot from the Orlando Pride.

NWSL News of Note: Gotham signs UCLA’s Lilly Reale, Dash hire Fabrice Gautrat as head coach, Arin Wright re-ups with Racing, Emily Van Egmond departs Wave, Denver “secures NWSL team” per Sportico

Leading the notables for the first days of 2025 is Gotham’s signing of UCLA center-back Lilly Reale, who is the current Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year.

In other player news, Arin Wright is set to stay with Racing Louisville for at least two more seasons. Meanwhile, Australian international Emily van Egmond leaves the San Diego Wave a year early via a “mutual” departure.

In coaching news, the Houston Dash finally have a permanent head coach: Fabrice Gautrat, who was an assistant coach with the North Carolina Courage and, before that, the Chicago Red Stars.

Additionally, on Thursday, Sportico reported that the Denver bid group for the second 2026 expansion team had “secured” an NWSL franchise and made its first expansion fee payment.

NWSL News of Note, Transfers Edition: Gotham trades forward Yazmeen Ryan to Dash, Current acquire Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena, Gotham gets Ghanian midfielder Stella Nyamekeye

Leading the notable transfers announced during the last full week of 2024 is the trade of newly minted United States Women’s National team player Yazmeen Ryan from NJ/NY Gotham FC to the Houston Dash for a record amount of allocation money, plus other consideration.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Current have secured the services of Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena via a transfer from Brazil’s Grêmio.

Also, Gotham has added 19-year-old midfielder Stella Nyamekeye via a transfer from Dreamz Ladies FC of her native Ghana.

NWSL News of Note: Loera traded from Bay to Utah; USC’s Courtnall signs with Courage; Ivory moves to KC; Dash announce Briede contract; Westphal updates Dash contract; Freeman re-ups at Gotham

Leading this edition of the notables is the news that Bay’s FC first player, Alex Loera, has been traded to the Utah Royals, and that a team other than the San Diego Wave have signed a collegiate player: On Thursday, the North Carolina Courage announced the signing of Southern California defender Brooklyn Courtnall.

In other player news, the Kansas City Current officially have a goalkeeper on their books with the free agent signing of Laurel Ivory.

Additionally, the Houston Dash announced that recently acquired defender Christen Westphal has been signed a new contract that adds another year to her planned stay in Houston. The Dash also confirmed that midfielder Belle Briede, who was included in the club’s end-of-season roster, has a one-year contract for 2025. Meanwhile, Gotham FC have retained veteran defender Mandy Freeman.

In front office news, Matt Potter is officially Bay FC’s Sporting Director after holding an “interim” title since June.

NWSL News of Note: Denver takes the lead; Becky Sauerbrunn retires; Narumi Miura moves to Spirit; Angel City signs Julie Dufour and retains M.A. Vignola; Coachella teams

Leading this edition’s notables is the news that the league “is entering exclusive negotiations” with the Denver bid for the second 2026 expansion franchise.

Former USWNT defender Becky Sauerbrunn announced her retirement from professional soccer on Tuesday.

In other player news, Washington Spirit has landed free agent midfielder Narumi Miura, previously of the North Carolina Courage, while Angel City has signed 23-year-old French international Julie Dufour and re-signed defender M.A. Vignola.

Additionally, six NWSL teams have announced that will play preseason friendlies at the 2025 Coachella Valley Invitational.

NWSL Transactions Catch-Up: Lundkvist stays with Wave; Thorns extend Hirst and McKenzie; Pikkujämsä will return to Racing; Biegalski re-ups with Red Stars; Dash retain Chapman, Harris, Hinz, and West

Lost in the buzz surrounding the 14 clubs dropping their end-of-season roster updates on Tuesday were some player transactions, a few of which were not publicized separate from the roster updates.

On Tuesday, five teams retained a total of nine additional current players:

The Chicago Red Stars have signed Camryn Biegalski to a new one-year-contract.
The Houston Dash re-signed three players — Allysha Chapman, Jyllissa Harris, and Amanda West — and optioned a fourth: Goalkeeper Heather Hinz.
Racing Louisville and Elli Pikkujämsä exercised a mutual option which should keep her in the Derby City through the 2025 NWSL season.
The Portland Thorns have retained Sophie Hirst and Mallie McKenzie via new contracts.
San Diego Wave and Hanna Lundkvist also exercised a mutual option.

For coverage of additional transactions see: “NWSL News of Note: Royals sign 15-year-old KK Ream, Wave trade Christen Westphal to Dash, Kat Asman signed by Pride, Red Bull Arena is now ‘Sports Illustrated Stadium'”.

NWSL News of Note: Royals sign 15-year-old KK Ream, Wave trade Christen Westphal to Dash, Kat Asman signed by Pride, Red Bull Arena is now “Sports Illustrated Stadium”

Here are the notables from December 10th and 11th:

On Tuesday, the only last-minute trade before end-of-season roster announcements involved the San Diego Wave sending veteran defender Christen Westphal to the Houston Dash in exchange for an international spot and allocation money.
On Wednesday, the Utah Royals announced the signing of their first U18 player, forward KK Ream, who won the 2024 Concacaf Girls Under-15 Championship as a member of the United States squad.
Also on Wednesday, the Orlando Pride announced the signing of goalkeeper Kat Asman, who recently finished her rookie season with the Portland Thorns.
In non-player news, Gotham FC’s home stadium has a new name.

Note: Recent re-signings will be covered in a separate post.

NWSL: End-Of-Season Roster Updates for All 14 Clubs (10-Dec-2024)

On Tuesday, December 10th, all 14 NWSL teams published their initial offseason rosters. This post includes the announced roster for each club, in a standardized format.

The lists for each club are organized as follows:

Currently Signed: All players signed to a contract (for at least part of 2025) but not presently loaned to another club.
Out on Loan: Signed players that have current loan agreements.
Loan Expired: Players on loan from other clubs who have returned to their home club.
In Negotiations: Free agent players that the club acknowledges as still negotiating.
Free Agents: Players with expiring contracts that have not been retained and/or with options that have not been exercised.
Retired: Players that have announced their retirements from professional club soccer.

NWSL News of Note: Becki Tweed out as Angel City head coach, Dash hire Angela Hucles Mangano, Red Stars sign Halle Mackiewicz, Bay FC re-signs three rookies

Leading the notables from Monday, December 9th are the news that Becki Tweed is no longer Angel City’s head coach and former Angel City general manager Angela Hucles Mangano is now the President of Women’s Soccer for the Houston Dash.

In player news, the Chicago Red Stars have signed former Clemson goalkeeper Halle Mackiewicz. She returns to the States after playing her rookie pro season in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan.

Also, Bay FC re-signed three first-year professionals: Goalkeeper Emmie Allen plus midfielders Caroline Conti and Jamie Shepherd.

NWSL News of Note: Nichelle Prince extends with KC, Dash re-sign Avery Patterson and Kiki Van Zanten, Elin Rubensson departs Dash

In this end-of-the-week edition of NWSL News of Note…

The Kansas City Current have signed forward Nichelle Prince to a new two-year contract that should keep the Canadian international in teal through at least the 2026 NWSL season.
The Houston Dash, which is currently without both a head coach and a non-interim general manager, have retained two rookie players via new contracts: Defender/midfielder Avery Patterson and midfielder Kiki Van Zanten.
However, the Dash will not have the services of Swedish international midfielder Elin Rubensson, who departs Houston after one season.