DALLAS — In a night that felt bigger than the final score, Dallas Trinity FC made a statement.
Backed by an energized crowd of 6,110 at the Cotton Bowl, Dallas edged the Houston Dash 1-0 on Saturday in the inaugural I-45 Texas Showdown — the first public Division I professional women’s soccer matchup between two Texas clubs.
After a tightly contested, scoreless first half, the breakthrough arrived in the 64th minute. Forward Caroline Kelly, a TCU alum, slipped into space and finished a clean feed from Cyera Hintzen, delivering the lone goal of the night and sending the home supporters into a roar.
The match served as more than just a preseason friendly. It spotlighted the accelerating rise of women’s soccer across the state, with two Texas sides meeting on a public stage for the first time after a closed-door exhibition in 2025.
Dallas captain Amber Wisner, who previously suited up for Houston from 2016-20, anchored a back line that kept the Dash off the scoreboard. Forward Chioma Ubogagu, a Coppell native and former Houston player, also faced her old club in a matchup layered with personal connections.
Head coach Nathan Thackeray said the atmosphere matched the occasion.
“I don’t know exactly how many people were out there, but it was loud,” Thackeray said. “It shows me that there are fans here. It’s our job as players and coaches to entertain them and try to bring them back each and every week.”
Kelly called the result a reward for the club’s recent work behind the scenes.
“It was awesome,” she said. “It was just a culmination of all the hard work we’ve put in. We’re going to keep riding this wave and keep improving.”
Midfielder Caroline Swann — affectionately part of “C squared” with Kelly — said watching her teammate deliver the decisive moment brought added emotion.
“When you see other people score and have that moment, you’re filled with joy for them,” Swann said. “It’s huge for the team, but also huge for her individually.”
With the win, Dallas Trinity FC moves forward in league play at 7-6-3 (24 points). Next up is a road trip to face Lexington SC (7-1-9, 30 points) on March 8 at noon CT. The match will air on KFAA and stream on WFAA+ and Peacock.
On a night rooted in history, Dallas delivered the first chapter — and made sure it ended in celebration
