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Houston Dash won their first National Women's Soccer League title by beating Chicago Red Stars 2-0 in the Challenge Cup final on Sunday.

Sophie Schmidt scored an early penalty before Shea Groom sealed victory in injury time from a Rachel Daly assist.

It meant Daly won the Golden Boot award, having already been named most valuable player for the standalone tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"It's a massive honour for me and my family," said the England forward, 28.

Daly, who helped England reach the 2019 World Cup semi-finals and has 35 caps for her country, claimed three goals and two assists in the month-long competition.

She has been with Houston for "a difficult five years", without reaching the NWSL play-offs.

And despite losing two of their four pool games, Daly's side progressed through the knockout stages before upsetting Chicago, runners-up in the 2019 championship game.

"It wasn't luck, it wasn't fluke. We showed up and we believed," she said.

"We're such a special team this year. These girls are special people - absolutely phenomenal."

The NWSL was the first team-sport league to resume in the United States amid the coronavirus pandemic.

There were no positive Covid-19 tests out of more than 2,000 during the tournament. However, there is still no confirmation of when the new NWSL season will begin.