Racing Louisville FC competes in the National Women’s Soccer League, the world’s best professional women’s soccer league that was recently named the fastest-growing sports league in the United States.
The club is the first top-tier professional sports team in Kentucky or the region since the late 1970s, playing in the only soccer-specific stadium in the state — 15,304-capacity Lynn Family Stadium in the Butchertown neighborhood near downtown Louisville.
Often just called Racing, the roster features U.S. Women’s National Team players such as Savannah DeMelo, Emma Sears and Taylor Flint in addition to regularly hosting the stars of women’s soccer on rival NWSL squads. Rose Lavelle, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe have all played at Lynn Family Stadium through Racing’s first three seasons, along with world-renowned talents such as Carli Lloyd and Marta.
Racing is run by Soccer Holdings, LLC, the same organization behind Louisville City FC, the two-time USL Championship titlists who have played in the Derby City since 2015. Both Racing and LouCity play home games at Lynn Family Stadium and operate out of the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center along River Road.
KEY RACING LOUISVILLE FC DATES
October 22, 2019: Louisville announced as the NWSL’s fourth expansion market.
July 8, 2020: Racing’s name and logo designed by the renowned Matthew Wolff were unveiled.
Oct. 26, 2020: Trade with the Chicago Red Stars made Savannah McCaskill and Yuki Nagasato the club’s first players.
Nov. 12, 2020: Racing acquired rights to 14 players during the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft.
Jan. 12, 2021: Racing led off the 2021 NWSL College Draft by selecting Emily Fox at No. 1 overall.
Feb. 2, 2021: With snow cleared off the pitch, Racing was able to hold its first-ever training session.
April 10, 2021: Cece Kizer scored first and Brooke Hendrix equalized in stoppage time as Racing drew the Orlando Pride, 2-2, in a dramatic inaugural game.
May 21, 2021: Louisville native Emina Ekic scored a goal and assisted another in Racing’s first victory, a 2-0 win over the eventual league champion Washington Spirit.
July 16, 2021: Racing’s new facility, shared with Louisville City FC, opened as the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center.
Aug. 21, 2021: Racing defeated FC Bayern Munich on penalty kicks, with substitute goalkeeper Katie Lund scoring the game-winner in the 11th round of the shootout, to hoist the first The Women’s Cup trophy.
Nov. 20, 2021: Racing hosts the NWSL Championship with 10,360 on hand at Lynn Family Stadium.
Aug. 2, 2022: Goalkeeper Katie Lund makes 12 saves against OL Reign to break the NWSL single-game record.
Aug. 27, 2022: Racing set a new club attendance record of 8,729 fans at its match against the Chicago Red Stars.
Oct. 1, 2022: Katie Lund set a new NWSL record with 112 regular-season saves.
June 8, 2023: Savannah DeMelo becomes the first Racing Louisville player named NWSL Player of the Month for May.
June 21, 2023: Savannah DeMelo named to the U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the 2023 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first uncapped player since Shannon Boxx in 2003 to go to the tournament with the U.S. She would later start two matches in the tournament.
Aug. 19, 2023: Racing Louisville sets a new attendance record with 10,214 fans at Lynn Family Stadium to see a 1-1 draw with Angel City FC.
Sept. 6, 2023: Kirsten Davis’s first-half goal against OL Reign sends Racing to the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup Final, marking the club’s first appearance in an NWSL final.
Oct. 6, 2023: Racing comes back to defeat the Orlando Pride 3-2 — the first time the club overcame a two-goal deficit to win.
Oct. 15, 2023: Racing finishes with the most points, most goals scored and fewest goals allowed in club history.
Nov. 30, 2023: Racing announces the hire of Bev Yanez, a 35-year-old former NWSL player, as its new head coach.
March 30, 2024: Racing forward Uchenna Kanu breaks the NWSL record for the fastest brace after scoring twice in six minutes against the Portland Thorns.
April 20, 2024: Racing scores five goals against the Utah Royals in front of a club record crowd of 11,365 during the annual Thunder Over Louisville celebration.
Oct. 27, 2024: Racing forward Emma Sears becomes the fourth player in USWNT history to score and tally an assist in their first international cap.
Oct. 30, 2024: Lynn Family Stadium hosts its first United States Women’s National Team match with 13,543 in attendance.
