Houston, we don't have a problem: Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell and forward Yazmeen Ryan step up for USWNT at their home stadium

Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash minority investor Tim Howard and Campbell have a few things in common. For one, they both have played or play for a U.S. national team. Both share a common position in goalkeeper. And both are tied to Houston.

In 2024, Howard joined the Dynamo as a minority investor. The role positions him to oversee both the Dynamo and Dash. Ahead of the SheBelieves Cup, Howard spoke about Campbell and Ryan.

"Jane Campbell has been brilliant for this Club," Howard told GOAL. "She has been such an incredible servant, leader and performer. We have talked about what it is like to play for your country. There is no better feeling and no greater achievement as a footballer."

Campbell has had many career highs, including on May 5, 2024, when she made a career-high 12 saves against Kansas City, tying the NWSL single-game save record.

"I’m excited for both Jane and Yazmeen because it is always beautiful to play in your home stadium for your country," Howard said. "I grew up watching games in the old Giants Stadium and playing games there in MLS, and I was fortunate enough to pull on the U.S. men’s national team shirt in that stadium. There is a special feeling to playing at home."

It was an almost perfect performance Thursday night from Campbell, and the best part? It was at home. She started in goal for the USWNT and earned a clean sheet. She collected a few saves here and there, but in general didn't see a whole lot of action. She played off her line and was an outlet time and time again when the USWNT backline were possessing waiting for the opportunity to break through the midfield.

There was a certain level of familiarity in Campbell's aura, as if she's played in goal, at that exact spot, many times.

"It's almost like a dream come true," Campbell told INDIVISA after the match. "It just feels like home, and the fans! I know some of them, but a lot of them I don't know, but I feel like they kind of know me, it's just really special."

Sporting latex gloves to keep her hands warm, she rubs them together and add, "With how impactful this team can be, just all over the country and all over the world, I'm glad they chose Houston to host one of the games. I think it's great for this city, and I hope it grows the fan base."

Soon after the match Campbell was off handling duties signing autographs for little girls flooding by the USWNT locker room entrance.

Two-time NWSL champion Yazmeen Ryan was traded from Gotham FC to the Dash just before the new year. The 25-year-old striker made her first appearance on the USWNT senior team in December, and two months later earned a start for Emma Hayes' squad at her new home away from home, Shell Energy Stadium.

Ryan quickly made an impact on the pitch, finding one-vs-one opportunities down the flank and combining relentlessly with Sam Coffey and Lily Yohannes in the midfield. Her biggest moment came in the 33rd minute. Ryan received a ball over-the-top from Yohannes and ran onto it, swung her hips around the ball and served it one time into the box. And just like that, she earned an assist on Catarina Macario's goal and helped the USWNT go ahead 1-0 over Colombia.

After the game, Ryan seemed initially shy, but once she started to speak to the media, her shyness faded and her pride was obvious. And she admitted that startinf for the USWNT at her new home field "happened sooner than expected, so that was so cool to get to do that right off the bat!"

When asked what she was thinking before the play that found a racing Macario into the box, Ryan chuckled.

"Well, me and Lily [Yohannes] had just talked about that ball and making that run," she said, "and then all I had to do was glance one time and I saw Cat. And yeah, I knew if I just got it in the area, she would just put it in. So it worked out great."