RACING LOUISVILLE FC JOINS THE USL W LEAGUE

In 2022, Racing Louisville FC became the first USL W League member to complete its developmental pyramid topped by a franchise from the NWSL, widely regarded as the world’s top pro women’s soccer league.

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.

Home W League games will be open to the public and free to attend at the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center, 801 Edith Road. Select home and away games may be streamed live via SportsEnginePlay.com

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.

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 Louisville FC has announced a coaching staff for the 2025 USL W League season as the club’s pre-professional squad enters its fourth campaign.

Racing will be coached this year by LouCity & Racing Academy directors Shaun Francis and Kiley Polk, who will lead a roster of college players and youth system standouts.

In 2022, Racing became the first W League member to complete its developmental pyramid ranging from 3-year-olds up to a top-tier National Women’s Soccer League club. Since then, multiple future NWSL players — including the league’s 2024 Defender of the Year Emily Sams (formerly Madril) — have come through Racing’s W League program.

This offseason, Racing’s pro team signed Louisville native Allie George to her first professional contract after three seasons in the W League program. The pre-professional squad has taken on added importance in the post-NWSL Draft era, when clubs can sign players directly from their youth ranks.

Francis, who works as the LouCity/Racing Oldham director, spent more than a decade playing professionally, including in Major League Soccer and for the Jamaican National Team. While representing LouCity in 2018, he helped the boys in purple to their second USL Championship title-winning campaign. Francis holds his USSF C License.

Polk serves as the academy’s U8-U10 director. The Louisville native spent three years playing for the University of Louisville before starting her coaching career with Racing Louisville’s first team in 2021. Polk, also an assistant coach at alma mater Sacred Heart Academy, is working toward her USSF B License. 

Home games are free to attend and open to the public at the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center, 801 Edith Road. Select home and away games may be streamed live via SportsEnginePlay.com

Fans can get the latest updates on Racing’s W League team by bookmarking RacingLouFC.com/WLeague.

Racing Louisville FC will field a 46-player team for the 2025 USL W League season as the pre-professional circuit kicks off this week.

The roster features 18 players currently competing in college at the Division I level, including 10 that play in the “Power Four” conferences. The remainder of the roster features youth players currently competing in the Racing Louisville Academy and from around the region.

LouCity & Racing Academy directors Shaun Francis and Kiley Polk will lead the team as coaches.

Francis works as the LouCity/Racing Oldham director. He spent more than a decade playing professionally, including in Major League Soccer and for the Jamaican National Team. While playing for LouCity in 2018 he helped the boys in purple to their second USL Championship title. Francis holds his USSF C License.

Polk serves as the academy’s U8-U10 director. The Louisville native spent three years playing for the University of Louisville before starting her coaching career with Racing Louisville’s first team in 2021. Polk, also an assistant coach at alma mater Sacred Heart Academy, is working toward her USSF B License.

Racing’s 10-game W League season opens at home Wednesday against the Dayton Dutch Lions. The slate includes five home games and five away games against regional opponents such Lexington SC, Indy Eleven and Kings Hammer FC.

Home W League games will be open to the public and free to attend at the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center, 801 Edith Road.

For the full schedule and other information on the Racing Louisville W League team, visit RacingLouFC.com/WLeague.

Ahead of the 2025 season, Racing’s senior team signed Louisville native Allie George to her first professional contract after she spent three seasons in the W League program while playing collegiately at Virginia Tech.

Racing’s W League teams have also featured several players who are now prominent in the NWSL, the United States Women’s National Team and abroad. They include Orlando Pride defender Emily (Madril) Sams, Utah Royals forward Ally Sentnor and defender Jenna Nighswonger of Arsenal in the English Women’s Super League.

The W League team has been a part of the club’s developmental pyramid since 2022, enhancing the player pipeline between the youth, college and the professional ranks.

Racing Louisville 2025 W League roster

Forwards: Whitney Cooper, Caitlin Chase, Fina Davy (Louisville), Nora Dimmitt, Giovanna Garza, Leah Kunde (Alabama), Jilly Higgins, Mia Lancaster, Samantha Miron, Taylor Morris, Ella Raider, Lucy von Stefenelli (Bellarmine),

Midfielders: Bella Acosta, Angelica Alzugaray, Erin Connolly (Wisconsin), Lily Crist, Breanna Dardano (Xavier), AG Gibson (Louisville), Mallory Glass (Kentucky), Blair Hartman, Ava Hendrick, Betsy Huckaby (Louisville), Riley O’Bryan (South Carolina Upstate), Kamden Pierce, Brunella Pilati, Molly Richards, Emery Skrodzki, Cooper Stiefvater, Lilia Work

Defenders: Tate Blincoe (Ole Miss), Dakota Bramer (Bellarmine), Ella Flynn, Tori Grambo (Miami), Grace Maddox (Louisville), Maggie Murphy, Trista Morris, Rylee Pritchard, Sidney Rigsby (Bellarmine), Kaitlyn Rowlett (Eastern Kentucky), Annie Walz, Adison Welsh

Goalkeepers: Jordan Brown (Georgia), Hanna Hargrave (Wright State), Amira Hendrick, Shelby Smith (Bellarmine), Emma Teague