Racing Louisville FC and defender Mirann Gacioch have agreed to a new contract, ensuring the rookie remains at the club through the 2028 season.
Gacioch joined Racing ahead of the 2026 campaign after a standout four-year collegiate career at the Ohio State University. Her previous deal — signed on Jan. 9, 2026 — was slated to expire at the end of the season.
“I am so excited to be extending my contract with Racing! My first year with the club has provided such an amazing opportunity where I have experienced so much growth,” said Gacioch. “I am looking forward to continuing my journey with the team and building upon the foundation we have built. It’s an honor to be a part of this group and to be supported by this community, and I am eager for what we are chasing moving forward!”
Gacioch, 22, has made 16 appearances as a rookie, including 15 starts in Racing’s backline. Among the seven Louisville rookies this year, her 1,322 minutes played are the most.
Primarily serving as a center back, Gacioch made her professional debut for the club on March 20 — a 2-2 draw at Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit. Months later, she scored her first pro goal on Aug. 1, which opened the scoring in a 2-1 win over Chicago Stars FC.
“Mirann has been exciting to watch this season as she continues to grow and develop,” said Racing head coach Bev Yanez. “She has tremendous potential and an incredibly high ceiling, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for her. We’re thrilled she has extended and look forward to continuing to support her growth and development within our environment.”
She has rapidly grown into a reliable defensive force during the second half of the campaign. Since the beginning of July, she ranks first on the team in possessions won in the defensive third (42) and second in blocks (16) and clearances (41). She is one of four field players during that span to play at least 1,200 minutes.
“Mirann has come in and proven herself at this level all season long,” Racing general manager Caitlyn Flores Milby said. “We know she has a very bright future ahead of her in this league and we’re excited she’s chosen to continue her career with the club.”
Collegiately, Gacioch played a key role for the Buckeyes from 2022-2025, playing over 7,100 minutes across 83 games (81 starts) and recording five assists. She was a team captain in her final two seasons and started in each of her last 45 games played as a Buckeye. She led a backline during her senior season that set a new record for consecutive shutouts in program history (7).
Her performance at Ohio State earned numerous accolades, including First Team All-Big Ten (2025), Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2022), and a Fourth Team All-American recognition by United Soccer Coaches after her senior season.
Gacioch grew up less than 25 miles south of Buffalo in West Falls, N.Y., attending Nichols School, where she was a star multi-sport athlete in soccer, basketball and track. In soccer, Gacioch played a key role in propelling Nichols to the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association (MMHSAA) championship match four years in a row. Even as a defender, she registered 136 points in her high school career.
She plied her trade at the club level early on at the Western New York Flash Academy for 11 years, guiding the club to three straight appearances in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) National Championships.
