It wasn’t a great season for Houston. In 22 regular season games, the Dash netted just 16 goals, nine fewer than any other team in the league. Yet, with two games remaining, it was still in contention for a play-off spot. Why? Because its defense was the best in the division.
Jane Campbell, capped seven times by the United States women’s national team, was a huge reason for that, racking up an outstanding tally of eight clean sheets that was only one away from being the best in the division this year. The two goalkeepers who reached nine, Casey Murphy and Kailen Sheridan, were both in teams that made the playoffs.
The expected goals against stats say that Campbell should’ve conceded 36.9 goals in the NWSL in 2023. Instead, she conceded just 18, making more saves than any other shot-stopper and registering the best save percentage of anyone in her position playing more than five games. She’s more than earned a place in this XI.