(image via Aldo Canale)
The Houston Dash finished the 2026 NWSL season on Sunday night at Shell Energy Stadium, losing 2-0 to the Portland Thorns.
MATCH SUMMARY
Houston Dash 0-2 Portland Thorns
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Venue: Shell Energy Stadium - Houston, Texas
Referee: Joshua Encarnacion
Assistants: Laura Chambers Waliski, Nicolas Lopez
Fourth Official: William Hale
VAR: Mark Verso
Attendance: 8,375
Weather: 84 degrees, mostly clear skies
SCORING SUMMARY
POR: Sophia Wilson (Reilyn Turner) 34’
POR: Sophia Wilson (penalty kick) 70’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
POR: Jayden Perry (caution; foul) 41’
LINEUPS & STATS
Houston Dash: Jane Campbell (c); Lisa Boattin (Khyah Harper 88’), Leah Klenke, Paige Nielsen, Avery Patterson; Miljana Ivanovic (Linda Ullmark 46’), Danielle Colaprico (Sarah Puntigam 79’), Maggie Graham, Kat Rader; Sophie Schmidt (Kiki Van Zanten 71’), Clarissa Larisey (Kate Fasse 71’)
Unused substitutes: Caroline DeLisle, Alllysha Chapman, Natalie Hammond, Cate Hardin
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 10
Offside: 0
Corner kicks: 8
Saves: 7
Portland Thorns: Mackenzie Arnold; Reyna Reyes, Jayden Perry, Isabella Obaze, Carolyn Calzada (M.A. Vignola 46’); Caiya Hanks (Renee Lyles 70’), Jessie Fleming (c), Nina Nijstad (Cassandra Ella Bogere 83’), Marie Müller (Morgan Weaver 46’); Reilyn Turner (Pietra Tordin 46’), Sophia Wilson
Unused Substitutes: Morgan Messner, Mallie McKenzie, Sam Hiatt, Val Loboa
Total shots: 18
Shots on goal: 9
Fouls: 7
Offside: 5
Corner kicks: 9
Saves: 5
HOUSTON DASH INTERIM HEAD COACH JAIME FRIAS
On the match:
“(We saw) growth in the areas that we wanted to see, especially towards the end of the season. Which for us, we asked if we can be more of an attacking-minded team? Against a very good Portland (Thorns FC) team, we did that with the amount of box entries we created. Our final third entries and penalty box entries were higher than theirs. The biggest difference in our area of continued development is creating more quality chances on goal. I think with the few chances that they (Portland Thorns FC) had, they created greater chances than us. That's the difference between us and a playoff team right now. For sure, we're a playoff team between the 18s, but if we can tighten it up in each box, I think we’re right there with any team.”
On Jane Campbell:
“Jane (Campbell) is, in my opinion, the best goalkeeper in the league, and you could see it out of today's performance. She did everything she could to keep us in the game and made some unbelievable saves, which is not a coincidence. She's been doing that all year, but she is in form right now. And like I said, in my opinion, she's not only leading from the back, but her performance is peaking at the right time as the national team is considering goalkeepers for their qualifiers and their World Cup team.”
On Sophie Schmidt:
“Soph (Sophie Schmidt) is the heart and soul in many ways of this team. The team rallies around her. She's battled some injuries this year, which is not ideal for her. She's had a really challenging year as far as that's concerned, but she has found a way to overcome them and found a way to play her in, play herself into the match today, and you can see just by how cerebral, how she helps us defend and attack, hold the ball up in in front of the back line, and bring other players in. On top of all her leadership that she shows, not only in the game but in the locker room.”
On the transition from assistant coach to interim head coach:
“It was easier than I expected, not from roles and responsibility, but from the support that the team gave not only me but the entire staff. They leveled up their leadership. They leveled up what they were displaying out on the field. Their focus, concentration, and willingness to win games. All the credit goes to the team at this point, and all they did was just support us and our group as a coaching staff to make sure that we ended on the right foot here in the last few games that we had.”
HOUSTON DASH GOALKEEPER JANE CAMPBELL
On the match:
"First, I just want to say a big thank you to everyone here at this organization, if you wear this crest. We, the players, often don't see about 90 percent of this organization in person, so to the front office staff, everyone at headquarters, marketing, community relations, you name it. I just want to say, on behalf of the team and everyone who works on the field, we just want to say thank you for all your hard work. To all the people here at the stadium — the security and media — just a big thank you on behalf of us for all your hard work, and we're excited for next year. Regarding the game: Portland are a really good team. I'm proud of the group for putting on the performance we did. I wish it had gone our way, but I think it's hard to reflect on just one game. I think, throughout the season we made really big strides, and we're such a young group, and I'm really excited for next year and for the people returning. I think the majority of the team is returning, which is exciting. So, I'm really just proud of the group, and hopefully everyone rests up and gets healthy and comes back next year ready to roll."
On her message to the fans:
"Thank you for sticking with us. It has been another hard year and another year filled with a coach gone and players coming in and out, adversity, losing streaks, and some winning streaks, and the fans are with us every game whether we’re home or away. We see all the tweets and Instagram messages. We see all the support, so we want to get it right next year. The players, especially, we want to get it right. It was tiring this year because we felt like we were so close. But it's exciting knowing that, because next year I think we will get it right, and I just hope, I hope the fans stick with us. So, thank you for their support, for you all’s support. We couldn't do it without them."
On Sophie Schmidt and her teammates:
“ Huge shout-out to Soph (Sophie Schmidt). She's been a teammate of mine for quite some time, and she’s such a veteran player, and I know she would say she's on the backside of the clock in her playing years, but she's just so good, and I'm so honored to share the field with her and be a teammate of hers. Same with Chappy (Allysha Chapman). I know she didn't see the field tonight, but I want to give them a big shout-out. I love them dearly, and I'm so thankful I've been their teammate for so long. I thought everyone did well. I thought Khyah (Harper) and Clary (Clarissa Larisey), over the last few games, have kind of been on a roll, and I'm glad they kind of did their thing tonight. I'm proud of everyone, everyone's done great. I'll shout out my backline, everyone who's played not just the four, but everybody who stepped in there. I thought they had a really good season, and they’re really young. Natalie (Hammond) came in and got a bunch of starts under her belt and crushed it, and Leah (Klenke) has played the whole season as a rookie. I think that's incredible. And, of course, the veterans. I can't forget them. But everyone did well.”
HOUSTON DASH MIDFIELDER SOPHIE SCHMIDT
On Jane Campbell:
"She is a phenomenal goalkeeper. She's an exceptional leader on this team. Tonight she made a mistake but then made up for it with two phenomenal saves. Her performance was fantastic. We need to find ways to not put so much pressure and rely on her so much, but we are so blessed to have her as our goalkeeper. She is fantastic.”
On the rookies:
“Our rookies have been phenomenal. They're an exciting bunch. They have so much to offer. They're dynamic and fast. Everyone talks about Kate Fasse, Kat Raider, Linda (Ullmark), they bring in that spark in the attack. But we can't forget about Leah Klenke. She's been a rock for us back there. I think she's (Leah Klenke) grown so much throughout the season. I'm excited for that group. They have gotten a lot of experience this year, and their potential is huge. I hope we keep growing and developing them because they're going to be very important for the future."
On the fans:
“We heard them (the fans), they were fantastic. I love our fans. They make it so much more exciting for us as players to play. They're with us all the way through the end, all through the whole game. When the referee makes a call that they don't agree with. I love it, that they get into it and let their opinions be known. I got to give a special thank you to the fans that are always chanting, "We want Sophie." It just warms my heart that we have passionate fans in the city that come out and support us every time. It's truly special.”
