For the first time since the American Basketball Association’s Kentucky Colonels last played in 1976, Louisville is home to a top-tier professional sports franchise fielding the National Women’s Soccer League’s Racing Louisville FC.
The 2021 expansion club is run by Soccer Holdings, LLC, the same organization behind Louisville City FC, the two-time USL Championship-winning men’s side. Both Racing and LouCity play home games at 15,304-capacity Lynn Family Stadium and operate out of the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center at Champions Park.
Racing Louisville FC’s roster contains both World Cup winners and national team-caliber players, plus regularly hosts them having seen stars such as Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan and Rose Lavelle come through Lynn Family Stadium during its inaugural season.
Racing finished 2021 with a 5-12-7 record. Its 22 points earned set a new NWSL record for an expansion club — and that doesn’t count a victory in The Women’s Cup, an inaugural tournament held in August at Lynn Family Stadium that brought global powers FC Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-German to town.
Louisville ranked second in league attendance in Year 1 with an average of 6,585 fans per game and hosted the 2021 NWSL Championship with 10,360 on hand. The NWSL expanded to 12 teams in 2022, adding franchises in Los Angeles and San Diego.
KEY RACING LOUISVILLE FC DATES
October 22, 2019: Louisville announced as the NWSL’s fourth expansion market.
July 8, 2020: Racing’s name and logo — designed by the renowned Matthew Wolff — unveiled.
Oct. 26, 2020: Trade with the Chicago Red Stars made Savannah McCaskill and Yuki Nagasato the club’s first players.
Nov. 12, 2020: Racing acquired rights to 14 players during the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft.
Jan. 12, 2021: Racing led off the 2021 NWSL College Draft by selecting Emily Fox at No. 1 overall.
Feb. 2, 2021: With snow cleared off the pitch, Racing was able to hold its first-ever training session.
April 10, 2021: Cece Kizer scored first and Brooke Hendrix equalized in stoppage time as Racing drew the Orlando Pride, 2-2, in a dramatic inaugural game to open the NWSL Challenge Cup.
May 21, 2021: Louisville native Emina Ekic scored a goal and assisted another in Racing’s first victory, a 2-0 win over the Washington Spirit.
June 20, 2021: Forward Ebony Salmon scored seconds into her NWSL debut, propelling Racing to a 1-0 win over the Houston Dash with SportsCenter’s top play of the day.
July 16, 2021: Racing’s new facility, shared with Louisville City FC, officially opened as the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center.
Aug. 21, 2021: Racing defeated FC Bayern Munich on penalty kicks, with substitute goalkeeper Katie Lund scoring the game winner in the 11th round, to hoist The Women’s Cup trophy.
Oct. 16, 2021: Racing set a high attendance mark of 8,488 fans in a 3-1 victory over the Orlando Pride.
Nov. 20, 2021: Racing successfully hosts the NWSL Championship with 10,360 on hand at Lynn Family Stadium.
