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The United Soccer League (USL) on Tuesday announced Racing Louisville FC’s youth academy as the latest club to join the USL W League — the nation’s premier pre-professional women’s soccer circuit — for its inaugural 2022 season kicking off in May.

This also makes Racing the first W League member to complete its developmental pyramid topped by a franchise from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), widely regarded as the world’s top pro women’s soccer league.

With more than 35 teams signed on, the W League has a goal to form the next generation of women’s talent both on and off the field, enhancing the player pipeline between college and the pro ranks. It also strives to use women’s soccer as a force for societal good by creating a national platform to increase opportunity, gender equity and career development.

“We see the W league as a way to complete our path to pro model on the Racing side,” said the club’s interim president, James O’Connor. “We plan to get meaningful minutes for our top academy prospects and also use the league to see the best local and national collegiate talent. There will be a number of players who will play in this league on their way to the NWSL, so it provides an excellent development opportunity for our best young talent.”

Racing Louisville is operated by the same group, Soccer Holdings, LLC, as two-time USL Championship title winner Louisville City FC. The fast-growing organization hosts senior team games at 15,304 capacity Lynn Family Stadium and plans to play W League competitions at its nearby state-of-the-art practice facility, the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center.

Both Racing and LouCity formally launched their youth academies in the fall of 2020. Similar to the USL Academy League on the boys side, the W League rounds out the path to pro for the girls system, which begins for those as young as age 4, by providing an elite platform for prep-professional players to showcase themselves.

Racing’s W League coaching staff will be named later. The roster is expected to include a mix of high-level academy performers and college standouts who could one day sign with Louisville’s NWSL side. Those interested in playing for Racing’s W League team can fill out this form to be considered.

“We are excited to add the final piece of our pathway for Racing Louisville Academy,” said Mario Sanchez, the program’s director. “The USL W league will provide our Racing Academy players the opportunity to further their development in a very competitive, pre-professional environment. We are looking forward to watching our academy members and other top collegiate stars work toward representing Racing in the NWSL.”

Racing’s pro squad is coming up on its second season after a debut year in which accumulated 22 points, a record for an NWSL expansion club. The youth academy competes within the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), which has a reputation or producing college prospects and youth national team players.

Racing Louisville FC will double its U.S. Women’s National Team representation during the upcoming January training camp with both defender Emily Fox and recently drafted midfielder Jaelin Howell called up as part of coach Vlatko Andonovski’s 25-player roster announced Wednesday.

This marks the first time in Racing’s short history that two players expected to be on its NWSL roster will join the same senior national team for a camp. While no competitions are scheduled for the USWNT during the window, training starts Jan. 19 in Austin, Texas, where the Americans will begin preparing for a busy year of international games.

That includes next month’s SheBelieves Cup. The round robin tournament will also include the Czech Republic, New Zealand and Iceland in Carson, Calif., and Frisco, Texas.

The United States is looking to win the event for a sixth time.This summer, the USWNT will begin qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The 2022 Concacaf W Championship takes place in July to determine four teams earning automatic bids, plus could also cement the U.S. a spot in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

“Without any matches that we need to taper for, we can get in some more intense trainings and full-field scrimmages, which is great as we need to give this group as many chances as possible to play together in a National Team environment,” Andonovski said. “We understand that some of the players are coming off a break, so we’ll keep that in mind as we hit the ground running in 2022 for what will be a very important year for these players and our team.”

Fox, whose 1,856 minutes played were the most of any NWSL rookie last year, appeared in 23 of 24 regular season games and landed a spot on the league’s Best XI Second Team. The outside back also received three call ups in 2021, culminating with a Player of the Match performance against Australia in the USWNT’s final game of the year.

Fox has totaled eight USWNT caps across her career.

Howell, whose NWSL playing rights were selected second overall in last month’s draft, also recently captained Florida State to its second national championship in her four years there. She has twice won the MAC Hermann Trophy for Division I player of the year, is the back-to-back ACC Midfielder of the Year and a first team All-American.

Howell earned her first cap in November of 2020 and made a second USWNT appearance during the 2021 SheBelieves Cup final, coming off the bench to help the squad defeat Argentina.

With USWNT camp running through Jan. 28, the duo of Fox and Howell are then expected into Racing’s preseason that opens Feb. 1.

U.S. Women’s National Team January Camp Roster

Goalkeepers (3): Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

Defenders (9): Alana Cook (OL Reign), Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave FC), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Imani Dorsey (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit)

Midfielders (7): Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Jaelin Howell (Racing Louisville FC), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Samantha Mewis (Kansas City Current), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)

Forwards (6): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Margaret Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Lynn Williams (Kansas City Current)

Racing Louisville FC has completed a trade with the Chicago Red Stars sending forward Yuki Nagasato back to the Windy City, the clubs announced on Tuesday.

In exchange, Racing received Chicago’s natural third-round pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft along with an international roster slot for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

“I was extremely pleased to work with Racing Louisville during its first season,” Nagasato said. “I actually didn’t want say goodbye so soon, but this decision was needed for my personal life, not just my soccer life. I got engaged to my partner who lives in Chicago, and we decided to build our life there. But I also wanted to keep playing, so I really am grateful for Racing’s understanding.

“The club has been super supportive before, during and after the season. I’ll keep wishing them success in their journey. I really loved to play at our incredible stadium in front of our amazing fans. Thank you so much for your love and bringing energy to the game.”

Having arrived from the Red Stars as one of Racing’s first players in a fall 2020 trade, Nagasato made 21 Racing appearances in 2021. She scored two regular season goals, including one against the Red Stars in a June 26 victory.

Nagasato — a 34-year-old Japanese international who won a World Cup with her home nation in 2011 — also numbered a pair of assists and found the back of the net for a late go-ahead goal in The Women’s Cup final against FC Bayern Munich.

“Yuki and her agent approached us saying she wanted to return to Chicago for personal reasons,” said James O’Connor, Racing’s interim president. “Obviously after the impact Yuki made here, we are sad to see her go but understanding of the situation.

“We thank the Red Stars for their help and professionalism in this deal. Yuki obviously goes with our very best wishes, and we thank her for all her contributions here in Louisville.”

Recent Racing Louisville FC draft pick Jaelin Howell on Friday became the sixth back-to-back female winner of the MAC Hermann Trophy, the most coveted individual award in NCAA Division I soccer.

The Florida State star prevailed in a vote of NCAA Division I soccer coaches over fellow finalists Mikayla Colohan (Brigham Young) and Kelsey Turnbow (Santa Clara), with the winner announced during a banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

Selected at No. 2 overall in the recent NWSL Draft, Howell joined elite company by claiming her second Hermann Trophy. Others to have won it in consecutive years include Mia Hamm (1992-1993), Cindy Parlow (1997-1998), Christine Sinclair (2004-2005), Morgan Brian (2013-2014) and Catarina Macario (2018-2019).

Also a United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American and Atlantic Coast Conference Midfielder of the Year for the second straight season, Howell helped Florida State to a national title in 2021. She appeared in all 25 of the Seminoles’ games, numbering 3 goals and 4 assists as a deep-lying midfielder.

Howell put an exclamation point on the campaign by scoring a game winner against Rutgers in the NCAA tournament’s national semifinal. She then converted a penalty kick against BYU en route to the Seminoles’ title.

A Lone Tree, Colo., native, Howell has also worked herself into the United States Women’s National Team with two caps, the latest coming in the final match of the 2021 SheBelieves Cup.

Racing Louisville FC has re-signed three members of its inaugural team, the club announced Wednesday, with goalkeeper Katie Lund set to return alongside defenders Addisyn Merrick and Erin Simon.

Lund agreed to a two-year contract, while Merrick and Simon have one-year deals with options for the 2023 season.

“We’re delighted to bring back three players we feel can play an important role next season,” said the club’s interim president, James O’Connor. “Katie was phenomenal when she played last season. Obviously, it was a tough year for Addisyn, so we’re excited to get a clear runway for her. And Erin was a consistent performer we’re happy to have back.”

Taking advantage of the opportunities presented to her in 2021, Lund started with a legendary pro debut, making four penalty kick stops and scoring the game-winning kick to defeat FC Bayern Munich in The Women’s Cup. She went on to make her NWSL debut Oct. 6 against the North Carolina Courage and took over the starting job to end the season, tallying 11 saves as Racing went 1-0-2 over its final three games.

“I am beyond grateful to be re-signing with Racing Louisville,” Lund said. “It’s an honor to represent this club and city, and i’m looking forward to many more amazing moments with my teammates. This season is going to be a special one, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Selected first by Racing in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft, Merrick experienced a stop-and-start first year in Louisville. The former NC Courage center back first missed time due to a back injury, then suffered an ankle injury that ended her season.

“I’m really excited to be returning,” Merrick said. “Last year was a long season for me personally, so I can’t wait to get back on the pitch and have some fun.”

Simon, who numbered 18 starts in 21 appearances, featured primarily at right back but was known to push up in the attack, registering an assist in the club’s NWSL Challenge Cup game against the Courage. She arrived via the expansion draft from the Houston Dash and previously played for England’s West Ham United, helping the Hammers reach the 2019 FA Cup Final.

“I am so excited to be coming back to Louisville and represent this city,” Simon said. “We made a tremendous amount of progress last year, and I’m looking forward to what we are going to accomplish this season.”

Soccer Holdings, LLC, President Brad Estes will depart the club in the coming weeks to pursue a local business opportunity outside of soccer, it was announced Monday. James O’Connor has been appointed Soccer Holdings’ interim president amid the transition.

Since Estes began work with Louisville City FC in 2016, Soccer Holdings has grown to include the NWSL’s Racing Louisville FC and a burgeoning youth academy. Teams also call home the new Lynn Family Stadium and Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center.

“We thank Brad for his efforts these last five years and know that we wouldn’t be where we are today without his diligence and leadership,” said John Neace, Soccer Holdings’ chairman and CEO. “We wish him well and know that he will continue to do great things in his career. As we all know, you don’t replace a Brad. He will always be a part of the purple family.”

Estes, 43, is a Louisville native who originally connected to the club as a consultant through his previous role as Neace Ventures’ president. He soon afterward came on full time, leveraging a finance background during LouCity’s swift ascent on and off the field.

The boys in purple won USL Championship titles in 2017 and 2018 as a Butchertown stadium development became reality. In 2019, the NWSL granted Louisville an expansion spot in the world’s top women’s soccer league. The respective youth academies began play in 2020 before Racing hit the pitch in 2021.

COVID-19 may have dulled Lynn Family Stadium’s opening games, forcing limited capacity. But Soccer Holdings continued its growth in spite of the pandemic, investing in a state-of-the-art training facility at Champions Park that opened this past summer.

“Working for this organization has been the most rewarding five years of my career,” Estes said. “I’m excited to start my next adventure, which will allow me to be a supporter on the weekends. I owe a massive debt of gratitude to our board, ownership, players, staff, supporters, sponsors and Metro government. I’m proud of what we have been able to accomplish together.

“I wouldn’t be leaving unless this business was set up for success. It is thriving, and it will continue to do so under John and James’ leadership.”

O’Connor, LouCity’s first head coach from 2015-2018, returned in 2020 as Soccer Holdings’ executive vice president. He has spearheaded the soccer side of the clubs, including roster construction for Racing Louisville and formation of the youth academy that now numbers more than 1,000 players.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with Brad over the years,” O’Connor said. “He has brought so much to the organization and has played a huge part in our success with tireless work over the last few years. We wish Brad, his wife, Emily, and the rest of his family every success in the future. We are all better for having Brad work with us, and he will be missed.

“However, we are all determined to continue moving our organization forward to achieve even more success in 2022.”

Racing Louisville FC has added another attacking threat to its roster with the signing of Texas Tech forward Kirsten Davis to her first professional contract, the club announced Wednesday.

Davis, whose playing rights were acquired through the 2021 NWSL Draft, returned to college for a final season having heard her name called 13th overall. She will join Racing after a Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year campaign in which she registered 14 goals and 6 assists in 19 appearances.

Davis and Racing agreed on a two-year deal with an option for a third year.

“We are thrilled to have Kirsten join us,” said James O’Connor, Racing’s executive vice president of development. “We have watched her have another standout season in college and are excited to agree to this deal. We can’t wait to see what she can add to our club.”

Davis, who scored 45 career collegiate goals, boasted a strong enough resume for Racing to count her among its nine protected players in the recent 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft, preventing league newcomer San Diego Wave FC from plucking her rights away.

The St. Louis native has also represented the United States as a youth international at the U-18, U-19 and U-20 levels, participating in tournaments with U.S. Soccer in Honduras and Ireland.

“It was a dream come true to be drafted earlier this year,” Davis said. “That’s just something I’ve been looking forward to since I was a little girl. Staying for my fifth year of college, I knew in the back of my mind I’d have an opportunity after that and just needed to develop and be the best person I can.

“Now it feels real. I’m excited to get to Louisville, meet everyone and do whatever I can to help the team.”

A two-time All-American, Davis is making her move to the pro ranks after a big year off the field, too.

Her 4.0 GPA and start to grad school in interdisciplinary studies led to Big 12 Soccer Fall Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. Davis also recently became engaged to her boyfriend, Garrett, with a December 2022 wedding in the works.

“We made sure there would be no possible conflicts,” she said with a laugh.

Contract completed, Davis will join Racing for its Feb. 1 start to preseason training. She departs Texas Tech ranking second all-time in points (112), goals (45) and game-winners (16).

Davis describes herself as “a facilitator,” saying she’s comfortable in just about any attacking role “scoring goals and helping set people up for goals.”

“Racing has a real gem with Kirsten,” added the Red Raiders’ head coach, Tom Stone. “She has the mentality and commitment of a pro already, and her desire to be a productive attacker in the NWSL environment will serve her well at this level.”

Others who were selected by Racing in the 2021 draft but returned to school — midfielder Parker Goins and defender Emily Smith — are likewise expected to be in for preseason as they vie for pro deals of their own.

Racing Louisville FC will next month host open tryout sessions allowing aspiring players the chance to be evaluated by the NWSL club’s technical staff.

Registration has opened here at a cost of $125, which includes sessions Jan. 29 and 30 (Saturday-Sunday) at the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center, 801 Edith Road. Those 17 and older pursuing a professional soccer career are eligible.

The club’s executive vice president of development, James O’Connor, head coach Kim Björkegren and other members of the technical staff will be on hand. Just last year, defender Nealy Martin emerged from Racing’s inaugural tryouts to eventually earn a pro contract with the club.

“We look forward to welcoming players who feel they can make the jump to join our squad,” O’Connor said. “Nealy Martin was a big success for us last year, and we are excited to see who can follow in her footsteps.”

All tryout participants will receive a T-shirt. Note that the sessions will be conducted outdoors on turf fields. Players are expected to bring the gear necessary to compete, including personal water bottles.

Tryout times and other information will be relayed to participants once they’re registered. Email Caitlyn Flores (cflores@https://www.racingloufc.com) with any questions.

First round, No. 2: Florida State midfielder Jaelin Howell

A two-time NCAA champion, Howell, from Lone Tree, Colo., comes to Louisville following a heavily decorated four-year run with the Seminoles. The 2021 MAC Hermann Trophy winner for national player of the year, Howell tallied 96 Florida State  appearances on her way to earning All-ACC First Team Honors in 2019, 2021 and 2021. The 22-year-old midfielder also shows promise on the international stage having already competed with the United States Women’s National Team at the 2020 SheBelieves Cup as well as the U-17 and U-20 FIFA World Cups. Howell was also selected to the Best XI at the 2016 and 2018 CONCACAF Championships.

First round, No. 4: USC midfielder Savannah DeMelo

The three-time All Pac-12 honoree joins Louisville following a successful collegiate career at USC. A Bellflower, Calif. native, she poured in 17 goals paired with 28 assists across 75 appearances as a Trojan. DeMelo was a youth international who climbed the ranks to compete in the 2016 and 2018 U-20 FIFA World Cups with the United States. She started three games during the Americans’ 2018 run and poured in four goals, including a hat trick in a 6-0 win against Paraguay.

Second round, No. 16: Oklahoma State defender Charmé Morgan

A two-time All-Big 12 Conference selection who helped the Cowgirls win a pair of league titles in 2017 and 2019, Morgan tallied 11 goals and 9 assists across 86 career starts with Oklahoma State. The defender from Frisco, Texas, took home all-region honors from the United Soccer Coaches in three consecutive seasons, with selections in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Second round, No. 26: Wisconsin goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer

An All-American between the posts, Bloomer joins Louisville fresh off three years starting for the Badgers. The back-to-back Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year and all-conference first team selection finished off her college career leading the conference in shutouts with seven and ranked third in goals against average (.682). A Hartland, Wis., native, Bloomer recorded 246 saves across 79 appearances for Wisconsin to average a save percentage of .823. Bloomer’s 73 saves during the 2018 season put her in the top 10 in school history for most in a single season.

Third round, No. 30: Wake Forest forward Jenna Menta

The 2020 Big East Offensive Player of the Year at Georgetown, Menta transferred to play last fall at Wake Forest, where she poured in 6 goals and a team-leading 7 assists as the Demon Deacons recorded the program’s best season with a trip to the NCAA Tournament’s second round. From Somers, N.Y., Menta tallied 5 goals and 8 assists in her final, shortened season due to COVID-19 with the Hoyas.

Fourth round, No. 42: Georgetown defender Sydney Cummings

An All-Ivy League performer in 2017, 2018 and 2019 with Brown University, Cummings transferred to Georgetown for her senior season to net 5 goals across 22 appearances as a defender. At Brown, the Millstone Township, N.J., native played 4,803 minutes out of a possible 4,822 in her three seasons. A center back, Cummings tallied 2 goals and 8 assists while starting all 52 games during her time at Brown.