In March, 26 games ago, the Houston Dash finished the first week of the National Women’s Soccer League season in last place after a 5-1 loss to the North Carolina Courage.

After many ups and downs, on Saturday night, the Dash closed out its 2024 in the same position: rooted at the bottom of the standings. This is also the first time Houston has finished last since its inaugural season in 2014.

Despite a completely disappointing year, there was plenty of pride on display when the curtain came down in Texas. Houston closed the year fighting hard for a 3-2 loss against the heading to the playoffs Bahia FC.

“One of the things we asked of the players tonight was to play for the fans. And I think for 90 minutes you saw a team that worked incredibly hard to put everything on the field,” interim head coach Ricky Clarke said. to the media after the game.

A hard-fought affair was resolved with an outstanding performance from Bay forward Rachael Kudananji. In front of its largest home crowd of the season, 8,176 fans, Houston pushed the top-ranked team until the final moments.

Houston fan favorite Barbara Olivieri, who was born and raised in the nearby suburb of Katy, scored her fourth goal of the season, capping the best year of her career for the 22-year-old. It was also a memorable night for rookie Avery Patterson, who scored her first NWSL goal.

Olivieri, who grew up attending Dash games as a child, identified with the local support, which has continued to show up despite just two wins in 13 home games in the league all season.

“We know how difficult it is to support a team that is at the bottom of the league.
“They’ve been through a lot, but they’ve been there through it all and especially tonight,” he said.

After the final whistle, club captain Jane Campbell took the microphone from the stadium announcer and addressed the fans to thank them personally and defiantly promise them a better future in 2025.

The Dash began the season with Fran Alonso as head coach and Alex Singer as general manager. Both were removed from their positions mid-season and the club was struggling to keep up in the NWSL.

Singer first arrived in August 2022 and was fired in July 2024, with Houston president Jess O’Neill stating that the team was simply “not where we want to be on the field.”

After coaching the first 14 games of the season, finishing 3-6-5 and putting up 14 points, Alonso disappeared in late June before a road game against Kansas City Current. Houston had a streak of three games without wins or goals.

At first, the club claimed he had an “illness,” but later referred to the coach’s situation as “a leave of absence.” Two months later, in early October, Alonso and Dash agreed to separate. Alonso’s first assistant, Gilberto “Giba” Damiano, also left in May without explanation.

Chaos and organizational dysfunction engulfed the club. Clarke had to pick up the pieces, with short-term assistant assistant coaches arriving in September due to player concerns about understaffing.

A poorly formed team, coupled with an injury crisis, made things worse. In September, Houston lost 3-1 to league leader Orlando Pride with only 17 active players, including three goalkeepers.

The 2024 season has taken its toll on the players and interim head coach Clarke. The Englishman, who joined the club as an assistant in 2023, has put on a brave face and admirably steered the Dash through turbulent waters over the last 12 games.

“I will remember this year as pure resilience. Every day, people reach out and lean in. A lot has happened this year, and I think this has been a year that I will remember for the resilience. borrowed, dug in. They fought for this club, “They fought for each other and that will stay with me no matter where we end up,” Clarke said.

While Clarke’s record of two wins and 10 losses in 12 games does not speak to improvement, the Dash have looked more competitive and trained during the final chapter of the season. An intensity returned.

Perhaps most importantly, Clarke’s efforts to steer the ship and restore pride have been well received by the players.

“For us, it’s very much about resilience, both from the staff and the players and every person in the organization. This group has had to improve in some way and I think that shows who we are. That shows who Ricky (Clarke) is, the medical staff, the assistant coaches. “Everything shows how willing we are to strive to give our best at every moment,” said Olivieri.

Rookie goalkeeper Heather Hinz, who was making her first NWSL start against Bay FC as Campbell suffered a thigh injury, also praised the hard work of her supporters.

“It’s been a really crazy year, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I feel like I’ve learned a lot and I feel like the girls here are amazing. Ricky (Clarke) really cares about us. (Goalkeeper coach Eric (Klenofsky) “She helped me a lot, as did the older players like Jane (Campbell),” Hinz said.

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