'I gave everything': Houston Dash midfielder Gabby Kessler announces retirement

On Monday morning, Houston Dash midfielder Gabby Kessler (nee Seiler) announced her plans to retire from professional soccer, effective immediately.

"Dear soccer, you changed my life in ways I didn't think were possible," said Kessler via social media.

"You gave me a platform to use my voice and speak up about things that are important to me. You have me many highs and lows. You were a constant and my life for 23 years. I have everything I had to you and put my heart and soul into you. All the fitness tests, blood, sweat, tears, injuries, forever friendships, wins, losses, all of it was beyond worth it and I would do it a million times over again.

"As this chapter closes I want to thank my phenomenal husband for supporting my dream, my amazing family, incredible friends, coaches (even the ones that told me I would never be a pro). I want to thank the Houston Dash for taking me in and making my last year incredible, the Portland Thorns for making my dream come true.

"To some this may seem too soon, but for me I have never been more excited for what's to come. ATL, I'm coming home."

Kessler joined the Dash in a trade with the Portland Thorns before the 2021 NWSL season. The 27-year-old made 28 appearances across all completions for Houston in 2021. Defensively, she excelled as a blocking and disrupting number 8, contributing 30 clearances and 40 interceptions. The Peachtree, Ga. native also scored two goals for the Dash in 2021. 

Dash fans will forever savor a historic moment when Kessler scored her first-ever NWSL goal to give Houston its first-ever regular season win against the North Carolina Courage. Prior to that match, the Texas club had lost all of its meetings in Cary, North Carolina.

Kessler entered the league as the ninth overall selection in the 2018 NWSL College Draft by the Thorns, coming from the University of Florida. While in Portland, she made 15 appearances, starting 13 of those games in the 2019 season. In August 2019, Kessler's season was cut short when she tore her ACL in training. She wouldn't play in the NWSL again until featuring for the Dash in 2021. 

Kessler becomes the third key player from the 2021 season to leave Houston in just the past two weeks, after Veronica Latsko was traded to the OL Reign and Megan Montefusco was swapped for Marisa Viggiano with the Orlando Pride.

The news of Kessler's retirement adds some context to last week's unexpected trade that saw defender Montefusco depart in exchange for the Pride midfielder Viggiano. Assuming that Kessler informed the team of her decision prior to Monday morning, then the Dash were already seeking out replacements before today's news became public. 

Read more: Montefusco traded to Orlando, Dash defense takes a huge hit