Midfielder Jordan Baggett is set to make her debut start for Racing Louisville FC in tonight’s UKG NWSL Challenge Cup match against the Kansas City Current.
Baggett, 26, arrived in Louisville via trade in late April and has made three appearances off the bench for Racing in the NWSL regular season. She will start in place of Ary Borges, a regular starter who opens the match on the substitutes bench.
Racing is making its Challenge Cup debut tonight, kicking off the league-wide competition at Lynn Family Stadium, taking on a KC Current squad that won its first match of the tournament. The Challenge Cup will run concurrently with the NWSL regular season and culminate with semifinals and the final set for early September.
The entry of Baggett into the starting lineup is one of four changes made by Racing coach Kim Björkegren since Friday’s NWSL regular-season win over Chicago, with winger Alex Chidiac and defenders Satara Murray and Zaneta Wyne preparing to make their first starts in the new year.
Murray and Wyne will replace Julia Lester and Lauren Milliet, respectively, along the defensive back line, joining Abby Erceg and Carson Pickett.
Baggett is in the midfield three with captain Jaelin Howell and Savannah DeMelo.
In the attacking three, Chidiac replaces Wang Shuang in the 11. The Australian international will pair with Paige Monaghan and Uchenna Kanu up front.
Katie Lund will once again start in goal for the home team.
Jess McDonald, Nadia Nadim, Emina Ekic and Jordyn Bloomer were all previously listed as out.
Racing Louisville Team Sheet vs. KC Current
1 – Katie Lund
16 – Carson Pickett
20 – Abby Erceg
44 – Satara Murray
3 – Zaneta Wyne
6 – Jaelin Howell (c)
7 – Savannah DeMelo
19 – Jordan Baggett
5 – Paige Monaghan
29 – Uchenna Kanu
27 – Alex Chidiac
Substitutes: 99 – Olivia Sekany; 2 – Lauren Milliet, 4 – Elli Pikkujämsä, 8 – Ary Borges, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 11 – Thembi Kgatlana, , 21 – Parker Goins, 25 – Rebecca Holloway, 77 – Wang Shuang
