Racing Louisville on Monday announced its 2023 regular-season roster ahead of the National Women’s Soccer League opening weekend, with Racing set to kick off its campaign at Houston at 7 p.m. ET Sunday.
The roster consists of players from six different continents, a new mark in NWSL history. Nine Racing players are current internationals, including seven hoping to suit up for their national team at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, with four others who have national team experience in the past.
In all, Racing’s roster consists of a World Cup champion (Jess McDonald), African champion (Thembi Kgatlana), Asian champion (Wang Shuang) and multiple NWSL champions (McDonald, Abby Erceg, Nadia Nadim). The group also includes one of only five players to win the collegiate national player of the year award in back-to-back seasons in Jaelin Howell, as well as the league’s Best XI left back for two years running, Carson Pickett.
“We are in a much better place right now if I compare our roster with one year ago,” said Racing Louisville head coach Kim Björkegren. “We have a full squad of players who really want to be here and are ready to work hard, both for their own performance and development but also for their teammates, the staff, the club, their fans and our city. The players fit better into how our staff and I want us to play, and we have better depth, which will help us when we have to rotate and when we make substitutions.”
Racing’s 2023 roster features many familiar names to Louisville fans, including versatile veteran Lauren Milliet and standout goalkeeper Katie Lund, who set the NWSL record for saves in a season with 112 last year. Nadim, the team’s top returning scorer from last season, is rehabilitating a knee injury suffered in September. The team’s top assists producer, McDonald, is hoping to add to her total while carrying the mantle as the NWSL’s all-time assists leader.
After a standout debut campaign that saw her win NWSL Rookie of the Month last July, Savannah DeMelo returns to partner with Howell in the midfield. Both players received call-ups to the U.S. Women’s National Team last year.
Third-year attacker Emina Ekic is aiming for a spring return after fracturing her ankle while on loan this winter in Australia. Same goes for Kgatlana, the 2018 African Player of the Year who signed with Racing last summer.
The impressive additions to Louisville’s roster — and a 2-1-1 preseason record vs. NWSL opponents — give Racing reason for optimism about the 2023 campaign.
The decorated defenders Erceg and Pickett headline the list of new names that also includes Kgatlana, Brazilian midfielder Ary Borges, Nigerian striker Uchenna Kanu, Finnish defender Elli Pikkujämsä, rookie Kayla Fischer and NWSL veteran Paige Monaghan.
“We had a really young group last year,” Björkegren said. “They now have one year of experience, and I’m sure that will help. We also have signed some interesting new players, such as Ary Borges, Uchenna Kanu, Thembi Kgatlana, Kayla Fischer and Elli Pikkujämsä, but also players with experience in the NWSL in Abby Erceg, Carson Pickett and Paige Monaghan. I think the balance of some young, hungry players with some with more experience will help the team in moving forward and taking the next step.”
Louisville’s home opener is set for 3 p.m. Saturday, April 1, against the Washington Spirit at Lynn Family Stadium. Single-game and season tickets as well as flex packs and other ticket deals are available now at RacingLouFC.com/tickets or by calling 502-568-2489.
Racing Louisville FC’s 2023 roster
Goalkeepers: Hillary Beall (LOAN), Jordyn Bloomer, Kelsey Daugherty, Katie Lund
Defenders: Abby Erceg, Rebecca Holloway (INTL), Julia Lester, Paige Monaghan, Satara Murray, Carson Pickett, Elli Pikkujämsä (INTL), Zaneta Wyne
Midfielders: Ary Borges (INTL), Alex Chidiac (INTL), Savannah DeMelo, Kayla Fischer, Jaelin Howell, Lauren Milliet, Wang Shuang (INTL)
Forwards: Kirsten Davis, Emina Ekic, Parker Goins, Uchenna Kanu (INTL), Thembi Kgatlana (INTL), Jessica McDonald, Nadia Nadim (INTL/SEI), Riley Parker (LOAN)
INTL: International slot player
LOAN: Currently on loan, not with club
SEI: Season-ending injury list
