Racing Louisville FC’s players have reported back to town in preparation for their 2023 NWSL campaign. Preseason training opens Wednesday, with these story lines to follow leading up to a new campaign opening March 25.
Keep it rolling: Racing finished the 2022 season on a high, winning three of its final four matches. Jess McDonald sent Louisville into the offseason with a buzz in the season finale, scoring a 92nd-minute game-winning goal to nudge Racing past eventual NWSL runner-up Kansas City. The victory followed a 3-1 win at Angel City and a 2-0 triumph over Orlando in the penultimate home match of the year.
The kids are all right: Racing Louisville had the second-youngest roster in the NWSL last year, with 11 players 26 years old or younger playing in double-digit games. Another seven players 26 or younger also played for Louisville. A year later, Racing brings back seven regular starters who are all 26 and under, giving coach Kim Björkegren’s squad a combination of experience and youth.
A World Cup year: The biggest soccer competition in the world is set for July 20-August 20 in Australia and New Zealand, and Racing expects to have significant representation among the 32 teams at the World Cup. Ary Borges (Brazil), Alex Chidiac (Australia), Satara Murray (Jamaica) and Wang Shuang (China) are all likely selections for their national teams, while Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa) and Nadia Nadim (Denmark) are working their way back from injuries and hoping to be included. Young American stars Savannah DeMelo, Jaelin Howell and Katie Lund are also hopefuls for the U.S., as is newly-acquired fullback Carson Pickett, with DeMelo, Howell and Pickett receiving recent call-ups for friendlies.
Encore, encore! After a sensational rookie season in which she scored four highlight-reel goals, including two on direct free kicks, 24-year-old midfielder Savannah DeMelo hopes to continue on her trajectory as one of the top young players in the NWSL. The California won NWSL Rookie of the Month honors for July and was also named to May’s Best XI team. She ranked first in the league in chances created and fouls won.
Lunderful year as No. 1: Katie Lund moved into the starting lineup as Racing’s No. 1 goalkeeper and immediately shined, posting six clean sheets and setting a new league record for saves in a single season (112). The 25-year-old played every minute of the 22-game regular season and earned Best XI team honors for September/October.
Set piece snipers: Between Savannah DeMelo and Emina Ekic, Racing Louisville had two of the best direct free kick specialists in the NWSL. Carson Pickett, the league leader in assists last season, is well-known for her set piece service, with three assists from dead balls in 2022. DeMelo scored twice on direct free kicks and provided an assist, while Ekic converted another free kick with her left foot. For almost the entire season, Racing was the only team to score on a direct free kick.
Get well soon: Racing is hoping to have attackers Emina Ekic (ankle) and Thembi Kgatlana (Achilles) back in lavender and mint soon as the two work their way back from injuries. Ekic is expected to miss the two-month preseason while she rehabilitates an injury suffered while on loan in Australia, while Kgatlana is eyeing a spring return after getting injured in the Africa Cup of Nations last summer. Star forward Nadia Nadim (knee) was injured late last season and is currently rehabilitating a torn ACL.
Running with us: The project is clear at Racing as the club builds its foundation around young talent, extending the contracts of Savannah DeMelo, Jaelin Howell, Katie Lund and Lauren Milliet this offseason, all through the 2025 season. Each player, all under 26 years old, is a critical presence in the locker room and on the field.
Fresh faces: Racing traded for NWSL stars Abby Erceg and Carson Pickett and acquired four newcomers ahead of the 2023 season, inking Brazilian midfielder Ary Borges, South African forward Thembi Kgatlana, former Gotham FC winger Paige Monaghan and Finnish defender Elli Pikkujämsä. Louisville also drafted four collegiate stars in January’s NWSL Draft: Ohio State forward Kayla Fischer, Notre Dame defender Brianna Martinez, New Mexico forward Jadyn Edwards and Alabama forward Riley Parker.
Global Racing: With the additions of Brazilian midfielder Ary Borges and South African forward Thembu Kgatlana, Racing Louisville now has players from six continents and is exploring the signing of a penguin from Antarctica to complete its international collection of talent. Racing added Alex Chidiac (Australia) and Wang Shuang (China) last season to expand its continental count to five.
