Racing Louisville on Wednesday announced its 2024 regular-season roster ahead of the National Women’s Soccer League opening weekend, with 26 players from seven different nations filling out the team for first-year head coach Bev Yanez.
Racing is set to kick off the club’s fourth campaign at home with a 4 p.m. ET Saturday matchup against the Orlando Pride at Lynn Family Stadium.
“We are so proud to announce our roster for the 2024 season,” said Racing coach Bev Yanez. “These players have worked hard every day for the past seven weeks of preseason training, and we couldn’t be more excited start the year with this group.”
This year’s Racing Louisville team consists of a number of familiar faces, retaining 16 players from the 2023 campaign who accounted for 73.5% of the team’s minutes played and 65% of the team’s scoring. All three iron women who played every minute last season – NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year finalist Katie Lund and defenders Abby Erceg and Lauren Milliet – are back in lavender. As are foundational midfield stars Ary Borges, Savannah DeMelo and Jaelin Howell, plus star fullback Carson Pickett and promising young forward Kirsten Wright.
Super sub Maddie Pokorny is back, along with defender/midfielder Elli Pikkujämsä, midfielders Jordan Baggett and Kayla Fischer and forwards Parker Goins and Uchenna Kanu. Reserve goalkeepers Jordyn Bloomer and Olivia Sekany round out the returners.
U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Taylor (Kornieck) Flint and University of Kentucky Hall of Famer Arin Wright headline the 10 newcomers on Racing’s roster. Jean, a defender who won the 2023 NWSL title with NJ/NY Gotham, bulks up Racing’s defensive corps, while veteran midfielder Marisa DiGrande became the club’s first NWSL free agent signing.
NWSL Draft picks Reilyn Turner (No. 6 overall, UCLA) and Emma Sears (No. 28, Ohio State) made immediate impacts in preseason and should be regular contributors in their first professional seasons. Another young signing, New Zealand international Milly Clegg, was the youngest player to ink a contract with Racing at just 18 years old.
Colombia international Elexa Bahr and South Africa international Linda Motlhalo – two players who made World Cup rosters last year – add firepower to Racing’s attacking corps. Japanese midfielder Yuuka Kurosaki provides passing vision and technical ability after joining Louisville from Finnish club KuPS.
Once again, Racing’s roster consists of players from six different continental confederations, matching the club’s historic first last year. No other NWSL team in league history has had such a global roster.
Louisville’s squad consists of six players who played for six different nations at last summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. Combined, Racing’s players have won five NWSL Championships (Baggett, Erceg – three, Jean); four NWSL Shields given to the regular-season first-place team (Erceg – three – and Flint); one African championship (Motlhalo); and one Copa América (Ary Borges).
Fans will get 13 chances to see the 2024 Racing Louisville squad at home, including the April 20 Thunder Over Louisville game with a 5 p.m. kickoff as part of the annual Derby kickoff celebration. Single-game and season tickets as well as flex packs and other ticket deals are available now at RacingLouFC.com/tickets or by calling 502-568-2489.
Racing Louisville FC’s 2024 roster
Goalkeepers: Jordyn Bloomer, Katie Lund, Olivia Sekany
Defenders: Abby Erceg, 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), Maddie Pokorny
Forwards: Elexa Bahr, Milly Clegg (INTL), Parker Goins, Uchenna Kanu (INTL), Linda Motlhalo (INTL), Emma Sears, Reilyn Turner, Kirsten Wright
INTL: International slot player
