MATCH RECAP: San Diego Wave falls 1-0 to Houston Dash in 2026 NWSL season opener

A new era begins in San Diego

San Diego, March 14 — San Diego Wave FC opened its 2026 National Women's Soccer League season against Houston Dash, marking the beginning of a new chapter under head coach Jonas Eidevall.

The offseason brought significant roster changes for the Wave. Key departures included Kailen Sheridan, Delphine Cascarino, and Robbe, while new signings such as Ludmila da Silva, Gabi Portilho, and Kiki Pickett brought excitement and expectations for the new campaign.

The Van Zanten family storyline

One of the most interesting storylines of the match involved the Van Zanten sisters.

For San Diego, Mimi Van Zanten started the match, while her sister Kiki Van Zanten began the game on the bench for Houston.

San Diego Wave dominated possession early, while Houston struggled to build from the back.

Wave creates chances, but cannot finish

The first major opportunity came in the 8th minute when Dudinha fired a powerful shot that Jane Campbell barely managed to push away.

Later, Wave goalkeeper Carly Haracic made an important save after a Houston attack that included a shot hitting the post and a follow-up chance.

The match continued as an end-to-end contest, with Houston nearly scoring again in the 37th minute but failing to convert a dangerous cross.

Houston scores before halftime

Near the end of the first half, Mimi Van Zanten needed medical attention due to a physical issue, but managed to return briefly to finish the half.

However, just before halftime, Robbe broke behind the defense and finished one-on-one to give Houston Dash a 1-0 lead.

Campbell shines in the second half

San Diego continued to push forward after halftime.

In the 63rd minute, Ludmila da Silva unleashed a powerful shot that Jane Campbell stopped with an impressive save.

The Houston goalkeeper continued her standout performance throughout the second half.

In the 74th minute, she made another crucial save on Ludmila, and two minutes later, she stopped consecutive shots from Godfrey and Ludmila.

A frustrating start for San Diego

San Diego Wave continued to press until the final minutes, but Houston’s defense and Campbell’s performance held firm.

The match ended 1-0 in favor of Houston Dash, giving San Diego a difficult start to the 2026 season and raising questions about whether the team can improve on last year’s late-season struggles.