Houston Dash lands key defensive piece in unexpected trade deal | OneFootball

Westphal arrives but not as an undisputed starter; instead, she is the one supposed to add experience and stability to the group. The 29-year-old defender brings some quality experience after playing with a couple of winning clubs in her career and is someone who has maintained consistency in the game.

What can Westphal offer Houston Dash?

Although not a regular starter at San Diego Wave, Christen Westphal is one of those players who are always reliable and consistent-precisely what counts in a league as competitive as the NWSL. During her three seasons with Wave, Westphal played 80 games, starting 59, with six assists.

Her experience with successful teams, like Portland Thorns and Wave itself, brings Dash a player used to high-demand environments. At Thorns, she was part of the squad that won the NWSL Shield, the Challenge Cup, and the International Champions Cup between 2020 and 2021. These titles, while not making her the star, highlight her ability to contribute positively to competitive teams.

Interim general manager Erik Ustruck highlighted Westphal's role at the club: "The championship experience and the defensive prowess Christen brings to the team will be essential to the team's success and building a sustainable high-performance culture in the coming years."

What it means here is that Dash want to build an ampler squad with enough options to face the challenges of the season.

Westphal's role in a squad seeking balance

The Houston Dash has been living an inconstant season, especially in the defensive sector. Westphal arrives as a piece of depth in this squad, like a rotation player to be used in different moments of the season. Her profile also goes hand in glove with the planning of Dash for building up better defense with flexibility.

Westphal might not be the star of San Diego Wave, but that does not belittle her value as a player who can perform certain functions.

Consistency and experience

Since her NWSL debut, when she was selected by the Boston Breakers in the 2016 draft, Westphal has built a consistent career. She played 26 games for the Breakers, scoring one goal in her rookie season. In 2018, the defender moved to Seattle Reign, where she continued her growth before joining Portland Thorns in 2020.

It was at Thorns where Westphal won some of the most important titles of her career. At San Diego Wave, much quieter in terms of personal spotlight, she consolidated as a good and reliable player who can contribute to any team.

Westphal said of her arrival at Dash with enthusiasm:" I am very grateful for the opportunity to join the Dash and help the team transition into an exciting new era. I'm ready to do everything I can to help the team succeed and share that with the fans at Shell Energy Stadium."

Dash Investment in New Direction

While the Dash has been investing in roster changes and club structure to move past uncertainties that have marked recent seasons, the signing of Westphal fits into this scenario as a bet on adding depth to the defensive lineup.

The experience she brings may be of great help during periods of wear and tear or when competition overlaps, especially in trying to balance a very hard calendar. Westphal may not be the seal that fixes Dash's leakage in defense, but rather a useful addition to a sector that has been asking for consistency.