Attackers Emma Sears and Audrey McKeen are slated for a return to the Racing Louisville FC starting XI, as the club plays host to fourth-place Utah Royals FC at 4 p.m. Saturday at Lynn Family Stadium.
The match — Racing’s penultimate home game this season — is the opener of ION’s Saturday tripleheader in the NWSL. Fans can also listen to the contest on Sports Talk 790AM or 790louisville.com.
The inclusion of both Sears and McKeen into the lineup represents two of the four changes made by head coach Bev Yanez Saturday. It marks the second straight week that Yanez has elected to make four personnel tweaks.
Sears earns the nod days after receiving her fifth call-up to the U.S. Women’s National Team this year. She will rep the Stars and Stripes during the upcoming international break, where the U.S. will meet Spain twice. Sears, who is Racing’s joint top goal scorer this season with seven, came off the bench for 27 minutes in last week’s 2-0 defeat versus San Diego Wave FC. She is set to make her 60th career NWSL start.
The Ohio native, Sears, will partner with Sarah Weber in the Louisville frontline. Saturday will be Weber’s fourth straight start, following a gap of just over six weeks between starts. Weber won more aerial duels than any Racing player last week (3).
McKeen, 17, returns to the starting group for the first time since returning from the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. Louisville’s youngest-ever signing has appeared twice off the bench since coming back. McKeen will occupy the attacking midfield position in her fifth professional start.
Katie O’Kane and Macey Hodge round out Racing’s trio in the middle of the park. The two tied for the team lead in possessions won versus San Diego (7). In fact, O’Kane and Lauren Milliet share the team lead in possessions won (132), though Milliet will open the match on the bench for the first time in almost a year (Oct. 4, 2025).
The final two changes are on the defensive side, as Courtney Petersen and Quincy McMahon make their way back into the lineup. Petersen, who slots into central defense with captain Arin Wright and Mirann Gacioch, takes the place of Ellie Jean. Petersen led Racing in total clearances (7) in her most recent start at Bay FC.
McMahon will occupy the right wingback position, opposite Makenna Morris. Morris will make her 55th NWSL appearance Saturday, while McMahon is set for her 22nd this year — 15 more than she had as a rookie last season with San Diego.
Jordyn Bloomer continues in goal for Louisville, just two saves shy of 100 for the season. Bloomer made seven saves against the Wave last Friday, giving her 13 across the last two matches. Saturday will be her 26th start of the year and 46th of her professional career.
Among the reinforcements on the bench is the long-awaited return of one of the club’s most influential players: Savannah DeMelo.
DeMelo, who signed a new deal earlier this week through 2027, with a 2028 option, is back available for selection off the bench Saturday for the first time since a medical emergency forced her out of a Sept. 14, 2025 match at Seattle Reign FC.
Fellow Racing veterans Kayla Fischer and Milliet, who have combined for 20 goal involvements this season, are also included in Yanez’s list of bench options.
Team sheet vs. Utah Royals FC
24 – Jordyn Bloomer
4 – Makenna Morris
8 – Courtney Petersen
3 – Arin Wright (c)
15 – Mirann Gacioch
12 – Quincy McMahon
20 – Katie O’Kane
10 – Macey Hodge
88 – Audrey McKeen
42 – Sarah Weber
13 – Emma Sears
Available substitutes: 1 – Maddie Prohaska; 2 – Lauren Milliet, 5 – Ellie Jean, 7 – Savannah DeMelo, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 11 – Taylor White, 16 – Maja Lardner, 21 – Rachel Hill, 23 – Macy Philippus
