NWSL Challenge Cup Finals Odds & Preview: Houston Dash vs Chicago Red Stars
- The Chicago Red Stars are +125 favorites to beat the Houston Dash (+175) and win Sunday’s NWSL Challenge Cup final
- Neither side has ever won a NWSL title. Which one looks the most likely to end their drought?
- All of the analysis of the odds, predictions on the outcome and best bets follow in the story below
Whether the Chicago Red Stars alight, or Houston Dash their way to a crown, history will be made in Sunday’s NWSL Challenge Cup final.
Neither the Red Stars or the Dash have ever won the league title, so something has to give.
The oddsmakers think it will be the Red Stars who illuminate the sky and soar to the championship. The Red Stars are listed as the +125 favorites to cop the cup.
Houston is the +175 underdog to win it all.
NWSL Challenge Cup Final Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total at DraftKings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Dash | +175 | +2 (-159) | O 2.5 (+123) |
| Chicago Red Stars | +175 | -2 (+117) | U 2.5 (-167) |
| Draw | N/A | +230 | N/A |
Odds taken July 24th.
Sunday’s final kicks off at 12:30pm ET at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah.
Dash To The Cup Final
Reaching the knockout round of the Challenge Cup marked the first playoff appearance since Houston joined the NWSL as an expansion franchise in 2015.
Through their first five seasons, the Dash were more likely to crash. In their history, they’ve gone through three head coaches and multiple general managers.
🏆 dreamin' 💭@HoustonDash 🆚 @chiredstarsPR for the #NWSLChallengeCup Championship on Sunday pic.twitter.com/6uS90CFS9v
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 24, 2020
It’s all come together for Houston in this tournament, though. Head coach James Clarkson feels that the team forged a bond during the COVID-19 lockdown. Players stayed in Houston during that time and were able to work out, form a connection and develop relationships with each other.
Still, following a 1-2-1 record in group stage play, no one was dashing to put money on the Dash to win the NWSL Challenge Cup. But Houston beat the Utah Royals FC on penalties in the quarter-finals. The Dash followed that up with a 1-0 semi-final verdict over the Portland Thorns FC on a goal by Rachel Daly.
Co-captain Daly shares the Challenge Cup goal-scoring lead with three tallies to her credit.
Red Stars Delight
The Red Stars are the only side to get as far as the NWSL semi-finals in each of the past six seasons. However, Chicago didn’t reach the cup final until last year, losing to the North Carolina Courage.
Head coach Rory Dames set out to build an experienced roster this season. He recruited several NWSL veterans, specifically looking to sign players with something to prove on the pitch.
5️⃣ goals marked a 🎢 of a semifinal.
Relive all the action #CHIvNJ had to offer in our @Verizon Match Highlights!#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/Y0TgSByR7J
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 23, 2020
Darmes opted to utilize the group stage of the Challenge Cup to shuffle lineups and experiment with formations. The result was just a 1-2-1 slate.
Chicago bounced the OL Reign on penalties following a goalless quarter-final match. The Red Stars outscored Sky Blue FC 3-2 in a wild semi-final contest.
Red Stars vs Dash Head-to-Head Stats
| 2-2-2 | Record | 2-2-2 |
| 5 | Goals For | 6 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 6 |
| 0 | NWSL Titles | 0 |
| 2 | NWSL Final Appearances | 1 |
| 6-3-5 | Head To Head | 3-6-5 |
Chicago has won three straight from Houston and shows six wins and two draws through the last eight meetings.
Pick: Chicago Red Stars (+125)
It’s Underwhelming
Druing the NWSL Challenge Cup, goals are proving harder to come by than toilet paper was when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit.
"I'm so proud of them."@JHarden13 has been 🧡 the progress of #NWSLChallengeCup Championship finalist @HoustonDash. https://t.co/4XcySiuY9s
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 23, 2020
Chicago’s three-goal outburst in the semis marked the first time the Red Stars found the back of the net more than once in a match. The Dash scored just once through their previous four matches.
Chicago’s semi-final victory ended an 18-match NWSL run where the total went under 2.5 goals. It was also the first time in 12 matches that both sides registered a goal.
The under looks like a lock here. It’s the best bet.
Pick: Under 2.5 goals (-167).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
