Houston Dash W welcome Kansas City W to Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday at 00:45 UTC in what the NWSL Women, Group Stage table frames as a meeting between contrasting ends of the standings. The hosts sit 13th in a 16-team table with 19 points from 17 matches, while the visitors occupy 5th place with 29 points from 18 matches. The gap between the two sides currently stands at 10 points.
Houston have taken 4 points from their last five matches. That run includes a 4-3 victory over Racing Louisville W and a goalless draw with Seattle Reign FC W, but also defeats to Utah Royals W, North Carolina Courage W and Angel City W. The Dash have recorded five wins, four draws and eight losses across their 17 outings, with a goals record of 19 scored and 25 conceded.
Kansas City arrive having collected 6 points from their most recent five matches. Their results in that spell include a win over North Carolina Courage W, a win over NJ/NY Gotham FC W, a heavy defeat to Washington Spirit W, and losses to Portland Thorns W and Seattle Reign FC W. For the season, they have nine wins, two draws and seven losses, scoring 29 goals and conceding 25.
With Houston placed in the bottom third of the table and Kansas City in the top third, the 10-point gap gives clear shape to the stakes at Shell Energy Stadium. The Dash will be looking to narrow that distance, while Kansas City will be intent on maintaining their position among the table's leading sides.