NWSL Challenge Cup Final: Houston Dash 2 Chicago Red Stars 0, Rio Tinto Stadium, 26 July 2020

Houston Dash, who had never previously reached an end-of-season play-off, won the first trophy in their history at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. They were ahead inside four minutes, Kristie Mewis winning a penalty and Canada’s Sophie Schmidt sending Alyssa Naeher the wrong way from the spot. Savannah McCaskill struck a post for Chicago Red Stars but there was no way back, and in stoppage time Rachel Daly released Shea Groom to round Naeher and settle it. Daly, the Dash captain and the tournament’s most valuable player and Golden Boot winner, called the club a blue-collar team and spoke of five long and difficult years finally paying off. Julie Ertz, the beaten Chicago captain, was generous in defeat and reflective about what the bubble had taught her squad about mental health.