On Saturday, March 23, a group of JASH members, volunteers, and friends gathered together at the Shell Energy Stadium for the Houston DASH’s Home Opener and Nadeshiko legend Yuki Nagasato’s debut in orange!
Wearing official DASH T-shirts, members of the JASH section were invited onto the pitch to hold the MD Anderson sponsor banner during the pregame ceremonies. The group returned to the stands, armed with Japanese flags and fighting spirit, to cheer on Nagasato-senshu and Houston DASH as they faced the Racing Louisville FC.
Following the tied conclusion of the game, the JASH group gathered in the Rally Tunnel to meet, take photographs, and receive autographs from Nagasato-senshu.
We appreciate Nagasato-senshu for generously giving of her time to take pictures and sign autographs for JASH. JASH is also grateful to Houston DASH for going out of their way to give JASH a memorable experience with Nagasato-senshu.
About Yuki NAGASATO
Yuki NAGASATO (永里 優季) is a Japanese professional footballer who joined Houston Dash in January of 2024.
As noted in a Dash press release:
Nagasato brings extensive experience to the Dash having played in the top leagues in the world. The forward spent time with Brisbane Roar FC during the 2018-2019 offseason and contributed to five goals in 10 matches during Australia’s W-League. Prior to joining the NWSL in 2017, the striker played for FFC Frankfurt in the Frauen-Bundesliga, the top-flight women’s league in Germany, from 2015-2017 and scored eight goals in 35 appearances. Nagasato won the DFB-Pokal, the German Cup, with Wolfsburg, where she scored four goals. She first made her Frauen-Bundesliga debut in 2010 for FFC Turbine Potsdam where she scored 48 goals in 71 appearances from 2010 to 2013, winning the UEFA Champions League title in 2010, and the Frauen-Bundesliga title in three consecutive campaigns from 2010-2012.
From 2013 to 2014, Nagasato played for Chelsea in the Women’s Premier League in England. While with The Blues, Nagasato made 18 appearances and scored five goals.
Nagasato made her professional debut for Nippon TV Beleza in 2002 and played with the team through the 2009 season, where she won six league championships and was one of the league's leading scorers for the 2006 season.
The forward represented Japan from 2004 to 2016 before stepping away from the team following the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. Nagasato made 132 appearances for the Japanese Women’s National Team and scored 58 goals. Nagasato won the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany and were runners up in 2015. She made her national team debut leading up to the 2004 Olympics. The forward also participated in the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2008 Olympics.
Also of note, the Japanese soccer legend was the first female footballer to play for the first-team of a Japanese men’s football club.
JASH is delighted to have Nagasato-senshu in Houston, and we look forward to cheering her on at many more DASH games!
Images courtesy of Patsy Brown and Ikuyo Katayama.