Key additions make the Houston Dash a dark horse in 2019

For the second straight season, the Houston Dash will have a new head coach to start the year. How will James Clarkson do in his first season at the helm?

The Houston Dash might just be the most underrated team heading into the 2019 NWSL season. After missing the playoffs in 2018, the Dash fired their head coach and started a bit of a rebuild. With some exciting additions in the offseason, the Dash could be built to make a strong push for the playoffs in 2019.

In a World Cup year, it’s important to take into account who will be out for a portion of the season due to camps and the tournament itself. For the Dash, seven players are likely to be called upon to represent their country in France. Lindsay Agnew, Allysha Chapman, Nichelle Prince and Sophie Schmidt will represent Canada; Rachel Daly will be there for England; and Clare Polkinghorne and Kyah Simon will play for Australia. Depending on how long those players are out, it could really have an impact on the Dash.

As a team that has struggled over the years keeping the ball out of the back of the net, the Dash have done a good job upgrading their backline and midfield. With the national team players out, it will be difficult early on to improve upon the 1.6 goals they allowed per game last season. However, they’re poised to make a push in the second half of the season.

Another big issue the Dash have had in previous years is their inability to score goals. In 2018, they averaged 1.45 goals per game. It will be interesting to see how Kealia Ohai does with a bill of health. After playing in 20 games and scoring 11 goals in 2016, Ohai suffered a knee injury in 2017 that cut her season short. She came back toward the end of April last season, but expect for her to play even better on a full preseason this time around. If her and Daly can connect, the offense for the Dash could be scary.

The goalkeeper spot should be the most consistent for Houston this season. While she was called up for the two April friendlies, Jane Campbell appears to be on the outside looking in when it comes to the USWNT roster. Bianca Henninger also returns for the Dash and will not miss any time with her national team as Mexico failed to make the World Cup. Campbell will be the clear number 1 heading into the start of the NWSL season.

Houston have failed to make the playoffs all five years they’ve been in the league. They finished in sixth place last season, their highest position in the standings to end the year since 2015, when they finished fifth. Expect things to change in 2019 as the Dash will make the playoffs for the first time in their history.