The NWSL Houston Dash "have benefitted at the gate" from having three members of the victorious U.S. Women's World Cup team -- F Carli Lloyd, D Meghan Klingenberg and MF Morgan Brian -- but "to keep that momentum going, the Dash would help themselves by landing a playoff berth," according to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. The Dash are "five points out of the fourth and final NWSL playoff spot with three matches to play." However, the three USWNT players earlier this month "left the club to join the national team for two meaningless games against Costa Rica" as part of the World Cup victory tour. It is "not difficult to understand and appreciate U.S. Soccer's decision to hold a 10-game victory tour for the Women's World Cup champions." The organization financially "benefits greatly from huge crowds" that attended matches in Pittsburgh on Saturday and Chattanooga, Tenn., on Wednesday. The players "deserve the tour, but it should be held after the NWSL playoffs next month." Dash coach Randy Waldrum said, "I would guess most of the nine if not all nine coaches in the league would tell you that it doesn't make a lot of sense to be playing these games for the league." Ortiz writes the Dynamo also "have suffered this season" from MLS' decision to "hold matches during FIFA windows for international games." Most of the top leagues in the world "are idle during the FIFA window." The NWSL "suffers from U.S. Soccer's decision to hold money grabs during crucial periods" when the Dash and Seattle Reign could "benefit from having their players preparing with teammates and resting for crucial league matches" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/21).
