In a league that has been dominated by familiar names the last few years, change is officially coming at the top. Whoever wins the NWSL Challenge Cup on Sunday will hoist a trophy for the first time, something the Houston Dash made sure of by knocking out the Portland Thorns, 1–0, in Wednesday's first semifinal at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Chicago Red Stars and Sky Blue FC will play in the day's second semifinal on Wednesday night.
Fittingly, it was the Dash's longest-tenured player—England striker Rachel Daly, who was drafted sixth overall by the club back in 2016—who delivered the lone goal to punch Houston's ticket to its first NWSL final of any kind.