Most fresh-out-of-college rookies and international players take awhile to adjust to the professional level of play in the NWSL. Rachel Daly is not like most rookies at all, having almost seamlessly transitioned from her college days at St. John’s University to the Houston Dash. This English international is a bright talent in the 2016 NWSL Draft Class, and has proved it by leading the Dash in goals and being called up to England’s senior team earlier this year.
Easy transition for the Red Storm star
High level soccer has always been a part of the forward’s life. As a teenager, she was part of England’s youth national teams. The young forward took her talents stateside and attended St. John’s University. Unfortunately due to NCAA compliance rules she didn’t see the field her freshman year, but in the three years that followed she scored an impressive St. John’s record of 50 goals as well as led her team to the NCAA Tournament twice. She was picked sixth overall in the 2016 draft, and has been a rather consistent started for the struggling Houston team.
The switch from college to the NWSL wasn’t as much an adjustment for the 24-year-old as coming from England to the states had been. However, she is thankful for playing in the states - both in NCAA and also on teams like the LA Blues - before being thrown into the world of professional soccer. “I transitioned a lot easier from college than a regular international player would,” she admitted when reflecting on her choice to attend college here. “I do think that benefitted me a lot, just the lifestyle and everything like that.”
Growing accustomed to life and style of play in America was helpful for Daly, but the change to the professionals was also something that she had to navigate through. It’s different than college in the regard that at St. John’s, the forward knew she had four years with her teammates, and the team wasn’t likely to change too much in her time spent there. “But here, it’s sort of like you’re thrown into the deep end,” the English international says when she describes what it’s like to get to that next level. “It’s time to play and you come in, and you don’t know anyone, or you know of people, but in this league there’s trades, people come in and out, people aren’t happy, people leave.” It’s a very different dynamic, and it’s one that Daly knows is tough to fully grasp, but she believes she’s done a pretty good job so far.
However, it helps that everyone else on the team has been doing their best to make her feel welcome, seeing that she’s unable to just pick one or two teammates in particular that have been the most helpful. In addition, all the new faces the Dash have this year also make it a little easier to breathe for the rookie. She told VAVEL USA that everyone was able to help each other get through the first few months of being new to Houston and to the team, and at this point everyone’s settled in pretty well.
Daly on the rise in England
Not only is she making a statement for Rookie of the Year in the NWSL this season, but she’s also beginning to find a spot on England’s Women’s National Team. She was first called up to the senior team in 2013 when Mark Sampson took over as head coach, but she didn’t make her first appearance for the team until this past June. Much like with the Dash, the young forward made her mark in her English debut Daly scored her first international goal against Serbia in what ended up to be a 7-0 victory for England in their UEFA Euro 2017 Qualifiers.
Her call up with England was similar to her change to playing professionally. It was a new environment and a new level of play where she hoped she would fit in. After being away from her home country and even the youth teams in England for a few years, the call up would be a test for her. The only difference is she wasn’t looking at complete strangers coming into the camp. “I played with a lot of them in England with the youth national team,” she explained. “but everyone there knew it was kind of tough for me coming in, you know not being there awhile.” Just like the Dash though, she fell into place quite easily, claiming the rest of the team made sure to make her comfortable and help her transition back to their style of play.
On the level of play in England Daly says, “The standard is a lot higher for me going there than it is [with the Dash]. It’s a different game, it’s a lot more of a technical game, the speed of play is quicker.” It was a bit unfamiliar to the forward after playing on athleticism and speed here in the states, but she did end up transitioning rather seamlessly when training in England. The transition was so easy she found herself in the starting lineup against Serbia.
Houston’s goal-scoring savior
Thanks to her successful campaign at St. John’s, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Rachel Daly currently leads the Dash in goals. The natural goal scorer has come up big for the Dash in a season where they just can’t seem to find the back on the net enough. That being said, the forward’s not content with only scoring four goals this far into season. “Obviously it makes me want to get more,” she told VAVEL USA. “I’m always hungry to get more goals.” Despite being known as the top scorer of the team, the 5’8” forward isn’t fazed at all by that title. She states, “I don’t think I’ve gotten to my full potential yet, but I think I’ve adjusted well.”
When her reigning top scorer title is brought about, she’s quick to compliment her teammates for setting them up. The most prominent of them is fellow forward Kealia Ohai, who has managed to find a rhythm with Daly on the field in the past few games. “[Kealia’s] created most of my goals and sort of played a part in all of them,” the English player says of her teammate. “I think we’ve finally found a rhythm with each other which is great.” The chemistry between these two on the field is undeniable, and it couldn’t have come any sooner with the Olympic players being away.
“I still don’t think we’re there yet, you know with everyone leaving to the Olympics,” she went on, admitting there are still things that they all need to work on in terms of rhythm on the field. “but I do think Kealia and I have worked well together for the past few games.” The two forwards for the team have played off each other incredibly well, and they are both a big part of the Dash’s turn around after their six game scoring drought. Ohai actually comes right behind Daly in goals with three, two of them coming in the Dash’s last match against Western New York Flash. This duo, once fully solidified, will be a nightmare for anyone who crosses their path.
NWSL final great for Houston
Despite the Dash’s unfortunate standings, the rookie is excited for the final being hosted in Houston this October. Of course, she does hope that her team will be able to rally after the Olympic Break to make a case for playoffs. It’s not completely hopeless, but she understands they’re not in the best position to be in on the table.
She believes it’ll help the city and the Dash, having people come in and fill the stands, and having them watch the league’s greatest, whoever they may be. “People will see the level of play they aren’t really used to seeing week in and week out,” Daly explained. “That will attract people a lot more. They’ll appreciate the stadium we play in and how cool the city is and I think that will definitely help us.”
Rachel Daly and her Houston Dash teammates return to BBVA Compass Stadium on August 18 for a makeup match against the Washington Spirit. They are scheduled to make a trip up to Waco, Texas later this week to scrimmage against Baylor University's women's soccer team.