- Head-to-head: Chicago have won three of the last five head-to-head meetings, with Houston winning the other two (no draws).
- Recent form (Houston): Houston have won one of their last five matches, drawing three and losing once.
- Recent form (Chicago): Chicago have lost four of their last five games, winning none (D1).
Style clash should make an interesting game
Odds and background:
Houston Dash look the sharper side and the best value on the odds board for this NWSL clash at 1.72, with Chicago Red Stars priced up at 4.15 and the draw 3.75. The home side have won two of the most recent five head-to-head clashes and were 1-0 winners in NWSL 2025, but that doesn't guarantee anything as Chicago have won on two of their previous three trips to Houston.
Tactical approaches:
Fabrice Gautrat has been in charge of the Houston Dash since 2 January 2025 and he has given them a clear identity of being an energetic, high-tempo team that play with the ball up the pitch. Houston's 4-3-3 is built around players who run at the opposition and press high up the field, so the object of the game is to win the ball back as close to the opposition's goal as possible and transition defence to attack instantaneously.
Chicago's game is much more controlled and methodical. Martin Sjögren has been in the Red Stars dugout since 1 January 2026 and is building a side that plays with the ball, puts in compact blocks and presses selectively rather than non-stop. The two styles could make this a chess match on Thursday, with the vertical tempo of Houston against the build-up play of Chicago.
Houston in better nick
Whatever the style of play, Chicago arrive in worse shape for this one. They have won none of their last five, drawing one and losing four, and appear to be the worst attack in NWSL 2026.
Their most recent three games have seen them lose 2-1 away to Racing Louisville, draw 0-0 at home to Bay FC and lose 1-0 away to Seattle Reign FC.
Houston's last two have been a 0-1 home defeat to Gotham FC and a 1-1 home draw with Kansas City Current, so they have been better but still lacking the killer instinct.
Houston have a solid base at home in NWSL 2026 where they have gone 4-3-3, averaging 1.40 goals per game and earning a respectable number of points in front of their own fans.
Away from home, Chicago are 1-9 with an average goals scored figure of 0.20 and goals conceded average of 2.00.
Home win the most likely outcome
The odds will be on a Houston win and that looks the most likely result because the hosts have been the sharper of the two teams in NWSL 2026 so far.
- However, Chicago have a bite in the head-to-head and have won two of their last three visits to Houston, so the game could stay close and a 1-0 or 2-0 home victory seems the most probable outcome.
- Kat Rader has been Houston's main threat up front during the last five fixtures, scoring three of her team's five goals, and if she is on form on Thursday then that will greatly enhance their chances of getting the better of a blunt Red Stars attack.
- Over 2.5 goals at 1.62 has some appeal as an alternate wager if Gautrat's pressing game forces enough turnovers to open the match up.
