On Thursday, March 11, Houston Dash players Shea Groom and Katie Naughton held a Q&A session with season ticket holders ahead of the season opener.
Before fans got a chance to ask questions, Shea and Katie reflected on the preseason preparations so far.
"The team we have now is very competitive," Shea said. "We want to win every day."
Katie Naughton said that head coach James Clarkson likes to mix up the teams so nobody is on the same team twice.
When asked how the team feels about opening day, Katie said that she was excited to open Challenge Cup play against her former team, the Chicago Red Stars. "It was a sweet feeling to beat them last time."
Shea Groom said she was pumped. "We want more fans in the stands," she stated. The biggest statement came when she said people still don't believe the team can contend for a title. This was after winning the Challenge Cup last summer too.
When asked what it was like to scrimmage against the University of Texas Women's Soccer team, Shea said it felt like a youth game and a very bizarre feeling.
One of the favorite questions asked was who is the better prankster in the locker room. Both Shea and Katie agreed the honor went to Shea who loves to hide stuff belonging to her teammates.
When asked what it was like to beat her former team in last summer's Challenge Cup Final, Katie said it was a sweet feeling and a great experience.
Asked about the best advice received, Shea said that you need to find what makes you special while Katie said that finding your friends was important.
One thing both players agreed on was the lack of support from fans. "If we are going to prove people wrong, we need the support," they said.
When asked about the odds to defend the Challenge Cup and win the NWSL Cup, Shea said she was willing to bet on it. Katie said it was a challenge and a chance to prove the team's identity.
Finally, when asked about the upcoming season, both agreed it was needed after not really having a season last year.
Will the Dash go back to back in the Challenge Cup? Will they win the NWSL Cup? Will they end up missing the playoffs completely? We find out when the NWSL season officially kicks off.
