Houston Dash kicks off NWSL X LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup in Kansas City

July 19, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Houston Dash Press Release

HOUSTON – The Houston Dash will make their NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup debut on Saturday when they travel to CPKC Stadium to take on the Kansas City Current. The Dash and Current are in Group C with Tigres UANL and Pachuca FC of LIGA MX Femenil.

This inaugural edition of the Summer Cup features all 14 NWSL teams plus six teams from LIGA MX Femenil. Fans can follow the entire tournament, including Saturday’s match against the Current, via CBS Sports platforms.

This isn’t the first international match for the Dash, who represented the NWSL at the 2021 Women’s International Champions Cup. Houston became the first NWSL team to travel to Mexico for an international friendly in 2019. The team traveled to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon to take on Tigres UANL for the first of two friendlies against the six-time LIGA MX Femenil champions. Houston defeated Tigres UANL 5-1 at Shell Energy Stadium two years later in the return leg of the home-and-away series. The most recent international match was in 2023, when the Dash hosted the Mexico women’s national team at Shell Energy Stadium for a friendly.

The Dash held on for 75 minutes on their first visit to CPKC Stadium in June, with Temwa Chawinga capitalizing on a turnover to spark a two-goal run in the final 15 minutes of the game to claim three points at home. The two teams drew 1-1 at Shell Energy Stadium on May 5, with Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell setting a new personal record for saves in a single game with 12.

Campbell is one of three Dash players who will be unavailable on Saturday due to the upcoming Olympic Games in France. Tarciane will join Brazil in Group C and will face teammate Michelle Alozie and Nigeria in the group stage on Thursday, July 25 at 12:00 CET. Houston will also be without Ramona Bachmann, Elin Rubensson and Sarah Puntigam due to EURO 2025 qualifiers.

The team recently announced the addition of Madison Wolfbauer as a national team replacement player. Saturday’s game will also mark the debut of goalie Heather Hinz or Erin McKinney, who have been working with Dash goalie coach Eric Klenofsky in preparation for the tournament. Klenofsky joined the team earlier this year after beginning his time with the club through the Houston Dynamo Academy.

Kansas City went into halftime with a 2-1 loss at home to Orlando Pride. It was the first loss of the season for Current, who entered the match against Orlando undefeated in their first 15 games of the season and undefeated in 17 games going into the 2023 campaign. Chawinga scored her 12th goal of the season in that game and is currently tied for the lead in the Golden Boot race.

The Dash returns to Shell Energy Stadium on July 28 to host Tigres UANL in the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup. The team returns to competition on August 23 at home against Orlando Pride. Tickets are available for all Houston Dash games at Shell Energy Stadium.

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