When Racing Louisville FC released its protected list in December for the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft, the inclusion of Kirsten Davis — who had yet to kick a ball in lavender — raised some eyebrows.
But the forward out of Texas Tech only needed her professional debut Friday night to prove why she belonged.
Getting the start on the right wing, Davis went a full 90 minutes in Racing’s 1-1 Challenge Cup-opening draw with the KC Current while looking every bit like a player fit for the world’s premier women’s soccer league.
“She’s really electric,” said fellow Racing forward Cece Kizer, who scored the club’s opening goal, of Davis. “She’s quick. She has good feet.
“…I think she’ll get good opportunities in the box. You’ve seen that she can score at the college level, and I think you’ll see that eventually at the pro level as well.”
All of that said, Davis’ arrival to Louisville seemed to fly under the radar during an offseason that saw veteran striker Jess McDonald traded here and budding national team star Jaelin Howell drafted at No. 2 overall.
Going back to last year, though, Racing used the 13th pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft on Davis knowing she was headed back to Texas Tech for a final season. The St. Louis native played a fifth year allowed under the NCAA’s COVID-19 eligibility rules before signing with Racing.
Along the way, the club showed its belief in Davis by including her on a short list of nine players it couldn’t lose in the expansion draft.
“Just from the beginning, everyone was so welcoming and so nice,” Davis said this week ahead of Racing’s first game. “That helped all of us rookies get more comfortable and be able to play like how we like know how to without being timid or uncomfortable because it’s a new environment.
“…I was very thankful and humbled that I was protected, and I just knew that no matter what when I got here I needed to put my head down and go to work.”
Mentally, Davis said, she’d had a year to prepare for faster and stronger competition in the NWSL. Along the way, she continued to excel at Texas Tech, putting together a Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year campaign in which she registered 14 goals and 6 assists in 19 appearances.
“I think she looked so ready for this,” Racing coach Kim Björkegren said after Friday’s game. “Of course, there are things that she could do better. But she’s physically ready. She worked hard for the 90 minutes. I’m really happy with her performance.”
On a roster packed with more experienced forwards, Davis got the nod against the Current. She numbered 4 crosses, tried a team-high 3 of Racing’s 8 shots and created a pair of chances.
“From Day 1 to today, I think she has improved tremendously,” said McDonald, who assisted Kizer’s goal against the Current. “It’s very impressive for a rookie at her stature to be as good as she is. She’s only going to get better as she gets more and more experience.
“She was challenged today. (KC Current defender) Hailie Mace is a great player, as you guys can see. The girl has so many strengths, and I think she was just a good matchup for Kirsten Davis today. I think that from this day forward, she’ll continue to gain confidence. It’s a confidence thing right now.
“You saw toward the end of the game she started getting to the end line. I’m like, ‘Dude, this is what we’ve been needing from you.’ You can see the fire she has within her. It’s all about consistency coming from her and building that confidence.”
