Houston Dash is already reinforcing its squad for the 2025 NWSL season and has signed one of its most important players. Two-time league champion forward Yazmeen Ryan committed to a three-year contract extension that will keep her in town through 2027.
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This renewal shows that Houston sees Ryan as a key piece for the future. But does holding on to a talented player alone really make Dash a competitive team?
Yazmeen Ryan is an immediate-impact player
The 25-year-old forward joined Dash in December 2023 in a trade from NJ/NY Gotham FC. Her impact was instant. A winner by background, she has won four trophies already since making her pro bow in 2021 and was an important member of Gotham's 2023 NWSL title-winning campaign.
Beyond that hardware, this past season was the most prolific of her career as she tucked away five goals to go along with six assists, all while being named to the 2024 NWSL Best XI Second Team. The stats don't lie: She is not only an extremely skilled player but one who produces and impacts the game.
However, even with Ryan having an individual season to remember, Houston Dash still has much to fix as a team.
Does this renewal solve Dash's problems?
Championships always get to add the actual champions, and Dash has brought in a number of them to reinforce their roster. But the real question always is, is a club building a competitive team, or is it just talent collecting? And for the most part, last season was quite inconsistent for Dash. The team attacked inconsistently, and even with good players, it could not find its place among the league's best.
There's no question that Ryan is a player who can change the tempo for the team and elevate attacking production, but she cannot do it all by herself. If this renewal is to truly make a difference, Houston need to make sure she has the backing to thrive.
Can Yazmeen Ryan be the leader Dash need?
A statement from the president of Women's Soccer Angela Hucles Mangano reveals what Dash are expecting from the player Yazmeen Ryan: "She is a competitor and wants to elevate the group; she asks for the best out of herself every single training."
It thus suggests that Houston isn't looking at her alone for her contributions to the offensive. In Ryan, the team sees someone very much instrumental in reshaping the mentality with competitiveness and ambition as the roster looks for a place among the NWSL elites.
But that leadership on and off the field doesn't just happen. She needs to be given the structure and confidence by her coaching staff and teammates to take on such a role.