Houston Dash at San Diego Wave FC player ratings
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash beat San Diego Wave 1-0 on Saturday night to open the 2026 NWSL season with three points. Let’s take a look at how everyone performed.
Starters
Jane Campbell - 9.5
Campbell had a near flawless performance. She made 9 saves on what was well over 1 xG for San Diego. She can single-handedly win this team points, as she has done for years, and she showed that again in this match.
Leah Klenke - 7
Klenke made her pro debut and didn’t put a foot wrong. She got beat for pace a couple of times by Gabi Portilho but was able to get back into position. Klenke also offers the Dash an option going forward on the left, like they have on the right with Avery Patterson.
Paige Nielsen - 7.5
A steady night for the veteran. Nielsen had 12 clearances and 2 blocks. Houston’s center back partnership allowed some gaps but were able to clean them up for the most part (and Campbell took care of the rest).
Malia Berkely - 7.5
Between Nielsen’s 12 clearances and Berkely’s 9, both center backs were sweeping up for long stretches of the match. Berkely’s ability to go forward wasn’t on display as much but she showed a few times that she can join in on the attack.
Avery Patterson - 7.5
Patterson was up and down the right flank all night long. She also added in 12 defensive contributions, showing what earned her a Best XI selection last season.
Kat Rader - 6.5
Another rookie making her debut, Rader got the start on the left side of the Houston midfield ahead of Kiki Van Zanten. Rader didn’t get off any shots but she was solid in keeping possession and shape.
Danielle Colaprico - 7
Colaprico wasn’t on the ball as much as she often is, completing just 15 of 20 pass attempts. However, she was involved in 6 defensive contributions to help keep the Wave at bay.
Maggie Graham - 7.5
Graham was all over the pitch in a deep-lying playmaker role that suits her very well. Her assist on the goal was class, picking out a ball over the top, in her own half, to hit Robbe on the run.
Linda Ullmark - 6.5
The teenager hit the post, denying what would have been a well-taken goal on her debut. Ullmark had just 14 touches in her 57 minutes on the field but she looked dangerous when she was involved.
Kate Faasse - 6.5
Faasse also almost scored on her debut, she was denied by San Diego goalkeeper Didi Haracic on the doorstep. Faasse took a hard tackle from behind and had to leave the match in the 57th minute. She wasn’t able to put weight on her foot as she walked off, the Dash are hoping it’s nothing major.
Makenzy Robbe - 8
Robbe showed great pace to track down Graham’s pass over the top and beat the San Diego defense to it. Her composure to hold off Wave defender Kennedy Wesley and finish into the far post showed what a veteran striker can do.
Substitutes
Clarissa Larisey - 6
The Dash were defending a lead when Larisey came on and she helped do that, with multiple interventions in the Houston half and in the box. She wasn’t able to contribute much offensively and looks to have lost her starting striker spot.
Yazmeen Ryan - 6
It was a surprise to see Ryan on the bench to start the game. But, the ability to bring a player of her quality off the bench shows the depth this Dash team now has.
Allysha Chapman, Sarah Punitgam, and Kiki Van Zanten - N/A
All three players came on for the final minutes, plus stoppage time, to see out the game, and all did a good job in doing just that.
Head Coach
Fabrice Gautrat - 8
Starting four rookies, on the road, was a gamble but it paid off for Gautrat and the Dash coaching staff. Houston played a pretty standard 4-4-2 but it gave them many different options with the fullbacks and wingers, as well as the central midfielders. Gautrat has this team looking and playing like he wants it to and its starting to click and get results.
