Finnish international Elli Pikkujämsä returns to the Racing Louisville starting lineup for today’s nationally televised 4 p.m. matchup against NJ/NY Gotham FC.
The 23-year-old defender is part of a Racing squad that is hoping to start the second half of the 2023 regular season with a big win on CBS. Louisville (2-3-6, 12 points) is six points out of a playoff spot and still very much in the race for a top-six position, but the wins need to start coming for the home team.
Pikkujämsä’s addition to the starting lineup is the only change coach Kim Björkegren made to his team’s lineup from the last regular-season match, a scoreless draw against league-leading San Diego. The team includes four changes from the mid-week UKG NWSL Challenge Cup win over Houston, a 3-0 victory on Wednesday night.
Making her fifth start of the regular season, Pikkujämsä will pair with veteran center back Abby Erceg to form the defending battery in front of goalkeeper Katie Lund, who is making her 38th consecutive regular-season start for Louisville. Lauren Milliet and Carson Pickett will once again be the outside backs for Racing. The duo, along with Erceg and Lund, has played every minute of the regular season so far.
Captain Jaelin Howell will anchor the midfield in front of the back line, starting with the familiar midfield trio of Ary Borges and Savannah DeMelo, the NWSL’s Player of the Month for May. The midfield three will start its seventh match together this year as the group continues to build chemistry as one of the league’s top midfields.
Thembi Kgatlana, Kirsten Davis and Wang Shuang make up the front line for Racing.
Jordyn Bloomer, Jess McDonald and Nadia Nadim were all previously listed as out on the player availability report. Alex Chidiac (excused absence) was added to the availability report ahead of today’s game.
Racing Team Sheet vs. NJ/NY Gotham
1 – Katie Lund
16 – Carson Pickett
20 – Abby Erceg
4 – Elli Pikkujämsä
2 – Lauren Milliet
6 – Jaelin Howell (c)
7 – Savannah DeMelo
8 – Ary Borges
11 – Thembi Kgatlana
22 – Kirsten Davis
77 – Wang Shuang
Substitutes: 99 – Olivia Sekany; 3 – Zaneta Wyne, 5 – Paige Monaghan, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 15 – Julia Lester, 19 – Jordan Baggett, 21 – Parker Goins, 25 – Rebecca Holloway, 29 – Uchenna Kanu
