Racing Louisville FC captain Jaelin Howell will start for the first time this season and rookie midfielder Kayla Fischer is set to make her debut professional start when Racing kicks off against Angel City at 10 p.m. ET.
The game will be nationally broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
The 23-year-old Howell started every game in 2022 but missed this year’s season opener at Houston because of a left leg injury. Howell registered 14 minutes off the bench in the 2-2 draw against Washington on April 1 and has been fully training with the team over the past two weeks.
Fischer, a second-round NWSL Draft pick, impressed in the preseason, scoring two goals against NWSL competition, and came off the bench as a substitute against Houston.
Fischer’s first start and the reintroduction of Howell are two of a number of changes to Racing’s third starting XI of the year. And there’s welcome news on the bench: Defender Julia Lester is available on the substitutes bench for Racing after missing most of preseason with an ankle injury.
Brazilian midfielder Ary Borges (illness) will begin the game on the subs bench after starting the first two matches. Same goes for forward Uchenna Kanu, who picked up a knock while on international duty with Nigeria but will be available off the bench. Wang Shuang, who started the first two matches of the year, is also not with the team while she works through the visa process to return to the United States after international duty with China.
Howell slots in for Borges. Fischer replaces Wang Shuang. And Kirsten Davis replaces Kanu.
Davis has played 61 minutes in two appearances off the bench this season. Last year, Davis scored in Racing’s win at Angel City, one of her three goals across all competitions. The former Texas Tech star started 10 regular-season games last year.
The rest of Racing’s lineup will look familiar: Katie Lund, Savannah DeMelo, Abby Erceg, Rebecca Holloway, Jess McDonald, Lauren Milliet, Carson Pickett and Elli Pikkujämsä are all in the 11.
Erceg will be playing her 150th NWSL game. Milliet will be making her 34th consecutive start for Racing. Katie Lund is set to start her 29th regular-season game as Racing Louisville’s No. 1 goalkeeper.
Emina Ekic, Nadia Nadim, Thembi Kgatlana and Jordyn Bloomer were previously listed as out due to injury.
Racing Team Sheet at Angel City
1 — Katie Lund
2 — Lauren Milliet
4 — Elli Pikkujämsä
6 — Jaelin Howell (c)
7 — Savannah DeMelo
9 — Kayla Fischer
14 — Jess McDonald
16 — Carson Pickett
20 — Abby Erceg
22 — Kirsten Davis
25 — Rebecca Holloway
Substitutes: 99 – Olivia Sekany (GK), 3 – Zaneta Wyne, 5 – Paige Monaghan, 8 – Ary Borges, 15 – Julia Lester, 21 – Parker Goins, 27 – Alex Chidiac, 29 – Uchenna Kanu, 44 – Satara Murray
