Houston Dash will take real momentum into Wednesday’s Chicago Stars vs Houston Dash meeting at Shell Energy Stadium after Clarissa Larisey scored twice in a 3-2 comeback win at North Carolina Courage. The home fixture on Aug. 19, 2026, at 7 p.m. CT gives Houston a chance to build on that result, while Chicago arrive still searching for a response after back-to-back scoreless games.
The Dash did not just win in North Carolina, they showed the kind of resilience that can shift the tone of a week. Larisey’s late double turned the match after Houston had been pushed hard, and the result marked another important step for a team that has needed points and belief in equal measure.
Larisey gives Houston a lift
Clarissa Larisey was the key figure in Sunday evening’s win. Her two goals late in the second half completed a comeback and gave Houston a 3-2 road victory, a result that came after the Dash had already gone six years without winning in North Carolina, since the 2022 season.
It was also a notable night for Houston in a broader sense. Miljana Ivanović, who signed from Malmö FF in June 2026, was part of a squad that found a way to contribute from different areas. The Dash also had multiple players involved in the decisive moments, which is exactly the sort of spread of responsibility that helps in a tight league game.
Chicago face a different kind of pressure
Chicago Stars FC come into the match in a less settled moment. On Aug. 12, they parted ways with Martin Sjögren and brought back Lorne Donaldson as interim director of coaching through the end of the season. Their first match under Karina Báez ended in a 1-0 road defeat to Seattle Reign FC on Friday, Aug. 14, and they have now gone two games without scoring.
There is also a major absence for Chicago to manage. Jordyn Huitema will not be available after being placed on the season-ending injury list last month because of a knee injury against Angel City FC. That leaves the Stars without one of their attacking options at a time when goals are already hard to come by.
What the match can tell us
This is a points opportunity for both clubs, but the mood around each side is different. Houston are carrying confidence from a comeback away win, while Chicago are trying to steady themselves after change and a difficult run.
For the Dash, the question is whether Larisey’s influence can carry over into another home performance. For Chicago, it is whether the new-look setup can find enough threat to end the scoring drought. At Shell Energy Stadium, that balance of momentum and uncertainty should make for a revealing meeting.
