Racing Louisville FC on Wednesday announced its 2024 preseason roster the day training started under new head coach Bev Yanez.
The squad features 30 players, with three new international signings (Milly Clegg, Yuuka Kurosaki and Linda Motlhalo) not yet in Louisville. Twenty-four players are under contract, including 21 who reported to camp on Monday, plus four 2024 NWSL Draft picks and two non-roster preseason invitees.
The first week of preseason includes a mix of testing, physicals, onboarding and welcome or welcome back presentations. The team had its first session Wednesday morning at the Lynn Family Sports & Vision Training Center.
As January turns over to February, Racing will start up a competitive preseason schedule that includes several high-level exhibitions against top-tier opponents and in-house scrimmages.
Louisville will play the Houston Dash in a Feb. 7 closed-door friendly in Tucson, Arizona, and the Chicago Red Stars on March 9 at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Women’s Cup Colombia will feature two games for Racing, a Feb. 27 semifinal against Colombian powerhouse América de Cali and a final or third-place game on March 1 against either NWSL champion NJ/NY Gotham FC or Colombian club Deportivo Cali.
Excluding Clegg, Kurosaki and Motlhalo, each of Racing’s offseason signings arrived in market in time to start training with the team. That list includes defenders Ellie Jean and Arin Wright; midfielders Marisa DiGrande and Taylor Flint; and forward Elexa Bahr.
Clegg is rehabilitating a leg injury at home in New Zealand and plans to arrive in late February or early March. Kurosaki and Motlhalo expect to be in Louisville in the coming days.
All four of Racing’s NWSL Draft selections – Samantha Cary (Iowa), Emma Sears (Ohio State), Reilyn Turner (UCLA) and Madison White (Texas Tech) – reported on Monday to vie for contracts and roster spots. Non-roster invitees Maggy Henschler (University of Kentucky) and Mackenzie Pluck, who spent last season with Angel City, are in camp to bolster Louisville’s defense and midfield, respectively.
Racing’s 26-game regular season kicks off March 16 and runs until early November. A full schedule is pending, with season, group and premium tickets on sale now by visiting RacingLouFC.com/tickets.
Racing Louisville’s 2024 preseason exhibitions
Feb. 7 – Houston Dash (Tucson, Arizona)
Feb. 27 – América de Cali (Cali, Colombia)
March 1 – Deportivo Cali or NJ/NY Gotham FC (Cali, Colombia)
March 9 – Chicago Red Stars (West Lafayette, Indiana)
Racing Louisville FC’s 2024 preseason roster
Goalkeepers: Jordyn Bloomer, Katie Lund, Olivia Sekany, Madison White (DRAFT)
Defenders: Samantha Cary (DRAFT), Abby Erceg, Maggy Henschler (NRI), Ellie Jean, Lauren Milliet, Carson Pickett, Elli Pikkujämsä (INTL), Arin Wright
Midfielders: Jordan Baggett, Ary Borges (INTL), Savannah DeMelo, Marisa DiGrande, Kayla Fischer, Taylor Flint, Jaelin Howell, Yuuka Kurosaki (INTL), Mackenzie Pluck (NRI), Maddie Pokorny
Forwards: Elexa Bahr, Milly Clegg (INTL/NYR), Parker Goins, Uchenna Kanu (INTL), Linda Motlhalo (INTL/NYR), Emma Sears (DRAFT), Reilyn Turner (DRAFT), Kirsten Wright
DRAFT: College Draft Pick
INTL: International slot player
NYR: Not yet reported
NRI: Non-roster invitee
