2020 Houston Dash Season
The 2020 Houston Dash season is the team's seventh season as an American professional women's soccer team in the National Women's Soccer League. On January 6, 2020, the Dash traded team captain Kealia Ohai to the Chicago Red Stars, Ohai had been a member of the Dash since their inaugural season and is the team's all-time leading scorer. Competitions Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the NWSL did not hold a regular season as originally scheduled. The season was replaced by the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup in July and the Fall Series in September and October. 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup Houston won the NWSL Challenge Cup after defeating the Chicago Red Stars 2–0 in the Championship Game. Dash forward Rachel Daly was named the Challenge Cup MVP. Preliminary round Knockout round Fall Series The Dash would be without Challenge Cup MVP Rachel Daly for the Fall series as she was loaned to West Ham United for the remainder of 2020. Midfielder CeCe Kizer would also miss the fall series ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Houston Dash
The Houston Dash is a professional women's soccer team based in Houston, Texas. It joined the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in the 2014 season, and is affiliated with the MLS team Houston Dynamo FC. History Establishment On November 19, 2013, the Houston Dynamo began talks in the initial stages with the intention of bringing a top flight women's professional soccer franchise to Houston. Just a week later, the effort was bolstered when the Dynamo began accepting refundable deposits for a potential NWSL expansion team. On December 11, 2013, the National Women's Soccer League awarded the Houston Dynamo and the city of Houston an expansion franchise. Team name, crest, and colors During a press conference on December 12, 2013, Houston Dynamo president Chris Canetti announced that the club would be named the Houston Dash and would share similar colors to the Dynamo: orange, black, and sky blue. The crest features a soccer ball along with the words "Houston Dash" with sky b ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Zions Bank Stadium
Zions Bank Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Herriman, Utah, United States, with a seating capacity of 5,000. The stadium is home to Real Monarchs, a MLS Next Pro team affiliated with Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer, and the Utah Warriors, a Major League Rugby team. The stadium is part of the $78 million Zions Bank Real Academy, which includes the academy and training facilities for Real Salt Lake, and is near the Mountain View Corridor. It was originally scheduled to open on March 31, 2018, but moved back to April after construction delays. In May 2017, Real Salt Lake and Zions Bank announced a sponsorship deal that would give the bank naming rights to the stadium. Facilities Zions Bank Stadium is a 5,000-seat stadium at the center of the Zions Bank Real Academy, a sports campus in Herriman, Utah. The pitch measures , the same dimensions as Rio Tinto Stadium (the home of Real Salt Lake), and uses a Greenfields MX artificial surface. The east side includes a pr ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Amy Rodriguez
Amy Joy Rodriguez Shilling (; born February 17, 1987) is an American retired professional soccer player who last played as a forward for North Carolina Courage in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for NWSL teams Utah Royals FC, FC Kansas City, and Boston Breakers, as well as Philadelphia Independence of the WPS. A former member of the United States women's national soccer team, Rodriguez was a world champion in 2015. Currently, Rodriguez is an assistant coach at the University of Southern California’s women’s soccer team. Early life Born in Lake Forest, California, to parents John and Lori, She grew up in Lake Forest, California and attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, where she was a ''Parade'' All-American in 2003 and 2004 and the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2005. Her paternal grandparents were from Cuba and immigrated to the United States in the 1950s. She has a sister named Lauren and br ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Brianna Visalli
Brianna Elizabeth Visalli (born April 17, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Brighton & Hove Albion. She has represented the United States at under-23 level. She also holds British citizenship. Early life Visalli was born in San Jose, California. She has five siblings. Her mother is a dual US/UK citizen. She played six years of her youth career for the CV Chilipeppers and one year for the De Anza Force. She was also a four-year varsity player for Valley Christian High School. College career Visalli was a four-year starter for the Pepperdine Waves, starting all but two games, setting a record for number of games played (83) and started (81) by an outfield player. She finished her Waves career second in game-winning goals (14) and seventh in total goals (25). In her senior year she was a semi-finalist for the Mac Hermann Trophy and was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year. Club career Chicag ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Christine Nairn
Christine Marie Nairn (born September 25, 1990) is an American retired soccer player from Annapolis, Maryland. She previously played for the Houston Dash, Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit and Seattle Reign FC in the NWSL and has had regular loan spells with Melbourne Victory in the Australian W-League. She has represented the United States at senior level as well at numerous youth levels. In 2008, she helped the under-20 national team win gold at the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Chile. Nairn announced her retirement from professional soccer on September 18, 2021, in order to pursue a career as a professional firefighter with the Houston Fire Department. Early life Born in Annapolis, Maryland to parents Tommy and Danamarie Nairn, Christine attended Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Maryland where she was all-time leader in assists, goals and points from 2004–2007 and was a four-time Parade All-American. Besides excelling in soccer, she played four years ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Sophie Schmidt
Sophie Diana Schmidt (born 28 June 1988) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for National Women's Soccer League club Houston Dash and the Canadian national team, with whom she won an Olympic gold medal in 2020 and bronze in both 2012 and 2016. She previously played her club soccer for German club FFC Frankfurt and Sky Blue FC in the NWSL. Early life Schmidt was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Elmer and Cornelia Schmidt. Her parents immigrated to Canada from Paraguay before she was born, while her grandparents were originally from Germany. She speaks German fluently and studied German in Portland. She attended W. J. Mouat Secondary School in Abbotsford, British Columbia and played for the Abbotsford Rush club team in 2004. She grew up in a Mennonite community and has described her faith as the most important thing to her. College career Schmidt attended the University of Portland and played for the Portland Pilots from 2007 to 2009. She ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Katja Koroleva
Ekaterina "Katja" Koroleva (born March 20, 1987) is an international soccer referee for the Professional Referee Organization from the United States. Koroleva officiates matches in the National Women's Soccer League and the United Soccer League as a referee, and in Major League Soccer as a Video Assistant Referee. Koroleva was the referee for the 2015 NWSL final in Portland, Oregon. In August 2016, Koroleva was appointed to be a referee at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup The 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup was the fifth edition of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, the biennial international women's youth football championship contested by the under-17 national teams of the member associations of FIFA. The tournam ... in Jordan. In August 2018, Koroleva was appointed to referee at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay. Koroleva was appointed to be an official at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. References Living people 1987 births American soc ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Bayley Feist
Bayley Elizabeth Feist (born March 14, 1997) is an American soccer midfielder who currently plays for the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Early life Wake Forest Demon Deacons Feist attended Wake Forest University, where she played for the Demon Deacons women's soccer team from 2015 to 2018. Starting in all games after her sophomore year, Feist made the All-ACC Third Team in 2017 and the All-ACC Second Team in 2018. At the time of her graduation, her 22 career goals were tied for 10th-most in school history. Club career Washington Spirit Feist was drafted 17th overall in the second round of the 2019 NWSL College Draft by the Washington Spirit. In April, she was signed to the Spirit's supplemental roster in advance of the 2019 NWSL season. Feist made her first professional appearance on May 4, 2019, as an 80th-minute substitute in Washington's 0–0 draw against Reign FC OL Reign is an American professional women's soccer team based in Seattle, ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is an American professional soccer club based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area that participates in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). It is a continuation of the D.C. United Women of the W-League and continues to field both an amateur WPSL team and a youth team, both under the Spirit name. History Establishment The foundation of the National Women's Soccer League was announced on November 21, 2012, with Washington selected as a host for one of the eight teams selected for the inaugural season. In December 2012, the team's name was announced as the Washington Spirit. D.C. United Women head coach Mike Jorden was kept on as well as assistant coach Cindi Harkes. Harkes is married to the former U.S. international and D.C. United star John Harkes. Bill Lynch, the original Washington Spirit's owner when the National Women's Soccer League launched in 2013, sold the majority of the team to tech executive Steve Baldwin in late 2018. Several ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Nahomi Kawasumi
is a Japanese footballer who plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC. A full international since 2008, she won gold at the 2011 World Cup as well as silver at the 2012 London Olympics and 2015 World Cup. During the 2011 World Cup, she scored two goals—including a lob at 35 yards away against Sweden during the semifinals—helping Japan eventually win the tournament for the first time in its history. Early life Kawasumi was raised in Kanagawa Prefecture about 40 minutes south of Tokyo where she began playing soccer as a youth following the lead of her older sister. She played for the Rinkan Lemons while in elementary school along with future Japanese national team defender Megumi Kamionobe. Kawasumi and Kamionobe scored approximately 70% of the team's goals. Kawasumi attended Nippon Sport Science University. Playing career Club INAC Kobe Leonessa, 2008–2016 Kawasumi signed with INAC Kobe Leonessa in 2008. In 2011, she was named the league's most valuable player after captaining INAC to ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Paige Monaghan
Paige Quinn Monaghan (born November 13, 1996) is an American professional soccer player who plays for Racing Louisville FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer at Butler University. Early years Monaghan grew up in the Succasunna section of Roxbury, New Jersey, alongside her mother Christine, dad Jim, two brothers and one sister. She attended Roxbury High School, where she played soccer for four years, scoring 68 goals in 45 appearances and earning the NJ.com's 2014 NJAC girls soccer Player of the Year award. She also played two years of high school basketball. She hopes to one day become a sports broadcaster. College career Monaghan played four years for the Butler University Bulldogs, finishing her university career with 22 goals and 18 assists in 80 games played. During her career at Butler she was twice named to the All-Big East First Team (2017, 2018) as well as being awarded the 2017 All-Big East Offensive Player of the Year. Mona ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Sky Blue FC
NJ/NY Gotham FC is a professional women's soccer team based in Harrison, New Jersey. Founded in 2006 as Jersey Sky Blue, the team was known as Sky Blue FC from 2008 until 2020. A founding member of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in 2013, Sky Blue FC also played in the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) from 2009 to 2011. History 2006–2008: Establishment Following the growth of women's soccer in the United States in the 1990s, the first attempt at a fully professional women's league, the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), was founded in 2000. However, after playing just three seasons the WUSA folded in 2003. Almost immediately following the folding of the WUSA, attempts were made to relaunch the league, although each of these initially came to naught. Finally, in December 2006, an agreement was reached to establish a new professional women's league, consisting of teams from Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., as well as an undetermined s ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |