2023 Houston Dash season

Immediately following the 2022 Houston Dash season, Houston Dash started their preparation for the 2023 NWSL Season. On November 15, 2022, the team announced that it was 14 players as worked to build their 2023 roster. The declined Valérie Gauvin's option, released Elizabeth Eddy, Cali Farquharson to free agency, and Michelle Alozie, Michaela Abam, Makamae Gomera-Stevens, Kelcie Hedge, Emily Ogle, Ally Prisock, Annika Schmidt, Natalie Jacobs, Lindsey Harris, Tiernny Wiltshire, and Brianna Visalli were all out of contract. On the same day the team announced it was purchasing Paulina Gramaglia option, after her loan.[1] On December 8, 2022, the Dash announced that they had resigned Michelle Alozie to a new contract, adding depth to attack.[2] December 14, 2022, the team continued to build its attacking capabilities by signing Natalie Jacobs to a new contract.[3] Houston started working on rebuilding their defensive presence on December 19, 2022, by resigning Ally Prisock to the team.[4] On December 21, 2022, the Houston Dash announced they had chosen the fourth coach in team history, hiring Sam Laity after his term as interim coach with the OL Reign.[5]> Houston continued to work on their defensive depth for 2023 by re-signing Annika Creel (formerly Schmidt) on January 5, 2023.[6] Continuing to shape their 2023 roster, Houston signed Devon Kerr on January 6, 2023. Kerr is a Goalkeeper who started with the Dash in their 2019 season, and has spent the last three seasons with the Washington Spirit.[7] Houston continued to re-sign players on January 9, 2023, when they added Emily Curran (formerly Ogle) to the midfield.[8] On January 11, 2023, the Dash announced the signing of Jamaican international midfielder Havana Solaun.[9] Just prior to the 2023 NWSL draft, Houston announced they had traded for Diana Ordóñez and the 2023 NWSL draft 30th pick from the North Carolina Courage for their 2023 and 2024 first round pick, 2023 international slot and $100,000 in allocation money.[10] On February 1, 2023, the Dash announced they had acquired the rights for Courtney Petersen from the Orlando Pride in addition to the Pride's natural third round pick in the 2024 NWSL draft.[11]

The 2023 version of the NWSL Challenge Cup will be held interspersed throughout the season, rather than being before the start of the season. The first Challenge Cup round for Houston was held on April 19, 2023, a midweek match against the Kansas City Current, which ended in a 2–0 defeat.[12] Houston topped the Chicago Red Stars 2–0 in the second round of the Challenge Cup, with goals from Bárbara Olivieri and Diana Ordóñez.[13] In their third round of the Challenge Cup, the Dash went on the road and lost 3–0 to Racing Louisville FC.[14]

Starting their season at home, the Houston Dash earned a draw against Racing Louisville in the first game of the season.[15] In their second game of the season, the Dash picked up the first win of the season, winning 2–1 against the Chicago Red Stars.[16] The Dash managed to stay undefeated through the third game of the season by earning a draw against the league leading Portland Thorns. María Sánchez earned a first half equalizer, allowing the Dash to fight for a point in the game.[17] April ended in the worst way possible, with a 1–0 loss to the North Carolina Courage due to a, weather induced, game abandonment in the 52nd minute of play.[18]

The Dash started May off on the road at OL Reign, losing their second game of the season 2–0 to the league leaders.[19] Houston bounced back in their second NWSL match of the month defeating the Portland Thorns 2–1 at home on goals from Ebony Salmon and Joelle Anderson.[20] On May 20, 2023, Houston suffered their worse loss of the season to date by falling to the San Diego Wave 3–0.[21] In their next match, the Dash went on the road and secured a 2–0 win against the Kansas City Current and Jane Campbell (soccer) went over the 10,000 minute mark in the NWSL.[22] As June started Houston kept up their winning ways by defeating the Orlando Pride 2–0 at home, with Hirst and Alozie both scoring their first goals of the season.[23] On June 11 Houston drew with NJ/NY Gotham FC 1–1 at home, earning a point, but falling to 7th half way through the season.[24]

To start the month of July, the Dash faced North Carolina Courage earning loss on the road 1–0 in North Carolina, after weather delayed start.[25] On July 7, 2023, the Dash returned home to face the Chicago Red Stars, again suffering a 1–0 loss and extending their winless streak to five games.[26] The Dash had 7 players selected to their national teams for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup that started on July 20, 2023, and goes until August 20, 2023.[27] After a two-week break, Houston returned to the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup against Kansas City Current, losing 3–1 and extending their losing streak to three games and winless streak to six games in all competitions.[28] On July 26, 2023, Houston signed Sarah Puntigam to the squad for the rest of the 2023 season.[29] The Dash managed a 1–0 win against Racing Louisville FC in the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup on a goal by Ebony Salmon.[30] The Dash closed out their Challenge Cup competition with a 3–0 loss to the Chicago Red Stars.[31] In their first game back for the international break, Houston grabbed a late point on a stoppage time goal by Sanchez, drawing with the Washington Spirit 1–1.[32] On August 26, the Dash earned another point at home against Chicago Red Star on a 1–1 draw on a goal from Michelle Alozie.[33]

The Dash started September by falling to the San Diego Wave 1–0 after falling to 10 players on a Michelle Alozie was given a red card for DOGSO in the 33rd minute.[34] On September 6, the Dash fired Laity.[35] Two days later the team announced that Sarah Lowdon will serve as the intirim head coach for the remainder of the 2023 season.[36] On the same day the Dash announced they had completed the tranfer of Ebony Salmon to Aston Villa W.F.C. for an undisclosed amount.[37] Returning to play after the release of Laity, Houston secured three points beating Racing Louisville FC 1-0, keeping their slim chance at a play-off position alive.[38] The Dash continued to push for a play-off spot by earning their eight clean sheet of the season in a 2–0 defeat of NJ/NY Gotham FC on two goals by Michelle Alozie.[39] In front of the largest home crowd of the season Houston fell late to Angel City FC 2–1.[40] The Dash finished the season with a 1–0 loss to the Orlando Pride, ending the season 6–8–8.[41]

Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. The 2023 NWSL Draft was held on January 12, 2023.

Round	Pick	Nat.	Player	Pos.	College	Status	Ref.
2	8 (20)		Sophie Hirst	MF	Harvard	Signed with team	[45]
2	10 (22)[lower-alpha 1]		Jylissa Harris	DF	South Carolina	Signed with team	[46][47][45]
3	6 (30)[lower-alpha 2]		N/A
3	8 (32)[lower-alpha 3]		N/A
3	12 (36)[lower-alpha 4]		Lindsi Jennings	DF	LSU	Signed with team	[45]
4	12 (48)[lower-alpha 5]		Madelyn Desiano	DF	UCLA	Signed with team	[45]