It has been a landmark year for Racing Louisville FC.
No, it didn’t conclude in a trophy lift or a champagne shower. However, it was undoubtedly a step in the right direction for a club that had spent years fighting to break into the pinnacle of NWSL competition: the playoffs.
Louisville’s 2025 campaign ended in one of the cruelest ways possible — penalties. Racing, the No. 7 seed, nearly ousted No. 2 seed Washington Spirit when Kayla Fischer’s finish in second-half stoppage time sent the match past the 90th minute, only to fall in a penalty shootout — where luck truly plays just as large a role as skill.
Though the ending was agonizing, the club’s 2025 season won’t be remembered for that. It will be more known for providing that all-important groundwork toward sustained improvement.
Louisville, under the guidance of NWSL Coach of the Year finalist Bev Yanez, set new club records in points (37), wins (10), goals scored (36) and road victories (5) en route to a historic first playoff appearance. Prior to this year, the club hadn’t finished outside of ninth position.
“We will continue to get better,” head coach Yanez said. “I think we’ve set the bar. I think when people see our logo, when they see our jerseys, they know what to expect and I think it’s a massive accomplishment to be able to say that as a group that we’ve so bought in. We know what people can expect. We know what people will look for and (I’m) really excited to continue building off of that and the opportunity to be even better next year.”
Utilizing a unified press, Racing became a team that few sides wanted to see on their schedule. No team in the regular season this year won possession more times in the attacking third than Louisville (186), giving it a distinctively bold and unmistakable personality.
“I think at the end of last season we were asking and begging for an identity,” said Arin Wright. “We had all the pieces, right? But we couldn’t — we didn’t know what we needed to be within that. And this year, I think the staff and the players, we’ve found what made us us. And we found that identity: we’re gritty, we high press, we take people on. You’re not going to win 50-50s off us. We win our aerial duels.
“… We are dogs and I’m proud of that. I think our identity has solidified us as a team and has solidified our place in this league.”
Racing’s 2025 season did have its ups and downs, like any other. The pivot point was quite clear: a humbling 4-1 loss to San Diego Wave FC at home on April 20. Everything changed after that. Louisville then surged forward, winning nine games from then on, tied for the third most in the NWSL during that span. Those included notable victories against the defending champion Orlando Pride and an October statement away at the North Carolina Courage.
Then, with the pressure mounting late in the campaign, Racing put together a five-match unbeaten run to capture a spot in the league’s top eight. The postseason first-timers faced long odds in Washington, D.C. Still, for most of that contest, Racing was undoubtedly the better team over most of the game — Louisville finished with seven more shots, 27-20, including a 21-13 shooting advantage between the second half and extra time.
Janine Sonis, one of the team’s primary chance creators in 2025, spoke on the significance of that quarterfinal loss: “If anything, this (defeat) just makes us more hungry to come back next year. Now, everybody knows who we are, knows to not write us off. … We are a team that absolutely belongs in the playoffs.”
Led by experienced veterans and bolstered by talented youngsters, this group left an indelible mark on the club. Beyond just breaking the ninth-place pattern, they sent a clear message to the rest of the NWSL: Louisville is a clear force with a plethora of reasons to be excited.
“This is just the beginning of what Racing is going to do in this league,” said Wright. “I’m just so thankful and grateful to be a part of that stepping stone into history. We’ve got a lot to look forward (to) here.”
