Racing Louisville FC on Sunday made history in the National Women’s Soccer League, becoming the first team to field a lineup with players from six different continents.
Kickoff for Racing’s season opener at Houston is set for 7 p.m. ET tonight.
The first starting XI of the year for Racing is slightly different than expected with the news that team captain and defensive midfielder Jaelin Howell (left leg) is out for Sunday’s match. Howell was listed as questionable in the buildup to the game.
Elli Pikkujämsä, expected to primarily feature at center back this season, will start in Howell’s defensive midfield position. Rebecca Holloway slots in at center back.
With Howell out, veteran center back Abby Erceg will wear the captain’s arm band. Erceg is making her Racing Louisville debut after arriving via trade this offseason alongside fellow defender Carson Pickett, who will start at left back. Starting her ninth season in the NWSL, Erceg is on course to surpass 13,000 career minutes if she logs 59 of them tonight vs. Houston.
In all, five newcomers to the team are in the starting lineup. In addition to Erceg, Pickett and Pikkujämsä, midfielder Ary Borges and forward Uchenna Kanu will make their debuts.
Lauren Milliet continues her consecutive starts streak that dates back to Aug. 29, 2021, making her 32nd straight start for Racing. The versatile Colorado native is slated to start the game at right back.
Savannah DeMelo (central midfield) and Katie Lund (goalkeeper) also started every regular-season game last season and begin the 2023 campaign in the 11.
Emina Ekic, Thembi Kgatlana, Julia Lester and Nadia Nadim were previously listed as out due to injury.
The match will stream live on Paramount+ for U.S. viewers and via NWSLSoccer.com for international observers.
Team Sheet vs. Houston Dash
1 — Katie Lund
16 — Carson Pickett
20 — Abby Erceg (c)
25 — Rebecca Holloway
2 — Lauren Milliet
4 — Elli Pikkujämsä
7 — Savannah DeMelo
8 — Ary Borges
14 — Jess McDonald
29 — Uchenna Kanu
77 — Wang Shuang
Substitutes: 24 – Jordyn Bloomer (GK), 3 – Zaneta Wyne, 5 – Paige Monaghan, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 21 – Parker Goins, 22 – Kirsten Davis, 27 – Alex Chidiac, 44 – Satara Murray
