Through every stage of the NWSL Challenge Cup, the Dash repeated a mantra forged by captain and tournament MVP Rachel Daly — after years of not earning respect in the league, they wanted to become a team that was feared.
With a decisive 2-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars in the Challenge Cup final, the Dash did just that. Half of the team collapsed to the grass at the final whistle, elated but also exhausted after playing seven matches in 26 games to take home the tournament title.
After scoring the game winners in the match, Daly and striker Shea Groom carried the energy into the postgame news conference, jubilantly drinking NWSL sponsor Budweiser and teasing each other as they celebrated the first title in club history.