We’re continuing our 2026 report card series, recapping each Houston Dash player’s season. Next up is midfielder Kiki Van Zanten.
2026 Grade: B
2026 by the numbers
Appearances: 25
Minutes played: 1,456
Goals: 5
Assists: 2
2026 in review
Van Zanten got off to a flying start to the 2026 season, scoring braces in two of her first three starts. She was named NWSL player of the Week for Week 4 and earned a place in April’s Best Xi of the Month. She cooled off after that, not scoring again until September, going 13 games without a goal. The Jamaican international played up front, as a wide midfielder, and as a ten.
Van Zanten’s five goals were second on the team, behind Kat Rader, and she led the team in shots per 90 minutes with 2.2. There were ups and downs for Kiki this season but a lot of that was because of factors out of her control like the team learning to integrate a number of new players.
Moment of the season
After a brace in a 3-0 win over Boston Legacy, Van Zanten bagged a double two weeks later, this time in a dramatic 4-3 win over Racing Louisville. She scored twice in the second half to give the Dash the lead. She also created six chances and even had five defensive contributions.
Looking forward
Van Zanten’s contract was set to expire at the end of this season but she signed an extension last month, keeping her with the Dash through the 2028 season with a mutual option for 2029. The 24-year-old has spoke highly about the direction the club is going and the work being done. She wants to be part of what the Dash are building and that’s the type of player you want to build around. Van Zanten is yet another young player in the foundation Houston hopes to improve with in 2027.
