Houston Dash defeats Chicago Stars 2-1 in opener

The Houston Dash defeated the Chicago Stars 2-1 in their home opener on Sunday. The game started well for the Stars, as Jameese Joseph scored their first goal in the 18th minute. However, the celebration was short-lived as Paige Nielsen equalized for the Dash just two minutes later. In the second half, rookie Maggie Graham made an instant impact. She scored the winning goal in the 64th minute with her first touch after coming off the bench just a minute earlier. Graham's goal was set up by Delanie Sheehan. This victory marked a significant moment for both Graham and the Dash. Graham became the first player in NWSL history to score in her first two matches as a substitute. It was also the first win for Houston's head coach Fabrice Gautraut.