Racing Louisville returns home this week for its third matchup of the year against the Kansas City Current, a regular-season tilt set for an 8 p.m. ET Friday kickoff at Lynn Family Stadium.
The game will be streamed on Paramount+, and fans attending the match will be treated to fireworks after the final whistle.
Racing (3-4-7, 16 points) gained a point on its primary playoff competitors in the NWSL standings with a 2-2 draw this past Saturday against OL Reign in Seattle. San Diego and Houston, sixth- and seventh-place, respectively, both lost their matches, moving Louisville within four points of San Diego, which holds final playoff spot.
But Louisville could use a win at home, where coach Kim Björkegren’s squad is 4-1-3 this year across all competitions. The Louisvillians have already beaten Kansas City twice this year, including a 2-0 regular-season win in KC and a 3-2 win in Louisville in the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup. Forward Kirsten Davis and midfielder Savannah DeMelo each scored in the May 20 regular-season win at Kansas City.
Kansas City (5-9-0, 15 points) comes to Louisville on a much better run of recent form, with three wins in its last four across all competitions. The highlight of the hot streak was a 1-0 win at reigning league champion Portland last weekend. The Current won’t have Brazilian star Debinha leading the charge, but rookie forward Michelle Cooper has scored in two of her last three appearances.
As will be the case through August, NWSL teams won’t have their full rosters as games continue around the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Racing is currently without five key players – midfielders Savannah DeMelo (USA), Ary Borges (Brazil) and Alex Chidiac (Australia) and forwards Uchenna Kanu (Nigeria) and Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa) – who are already with their national teams ahead of the tournament. Wang Shuang (China) will leave Louisville after Friday’s game to join her national team before the sport’s biggest competition.
In addition to Debinha, who is with the Brazilian national team, KC also won’t have Desiree Scott, a staple midfielder who is currently with Canada.
Follow along…
• For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @RacingLouFC on Twitter and Racing Louisville FC on Facebook. Also find us at @racinglouisvillefc on Instagram.
• The game will streamed live on Paramount+, and international viewers may watch for free on NWSLSoccer.com.
Story lines …
Best XI duo: Racing landed two players on the NWSL’s Best XI team of the month for June, with midfielder Savannah DeMelo and defender Abby Erceg picking up the honors. DeMelo is with the U.S. Women’s National Team as it prepares for the World Cup but left Louisville amid a breakout season, with 12 goal contributions across all competitions, including three goals scored in June. A veteran center back, Erceg has been immense for Racing this season, ranking first in the NWSL in blocked shots per 90 minutes, fourth in headed clearances and seventh in interceptions. She has played every minute for Racing across all competitions.
Howell on the prowl: Making an argument for the NWSL’s Best XI for the season, defensive midfielder Jaelin Howell ranks among the best in the league in a number of categories, including tackles won (first), duels won (fourth), interceptions (fifth), aerial duels won (sixth) and fouls won (11th). In the locker room, the 23-year-old has such a steady, commanding presence that she earned the captain’s arm band in just her second year in the league. Her consistent performances are a big reason for Racing’s significant defensive improvement this year.
Wang Shuang’s spot on: Ahead of her departure to play for China at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, forward Wang Shuang is rounding into form. The 28-year-old scored her second goal of the year this past Saturday, converting her second penalty this season – she’s 2 for 2 from the penalty spot – and earning Player of the Match honors. She has two goals and an assist in 13 starts this season for Racing.
Pickett passes: You won’t many better passers than Racing left back Carson Pickett, the reigning two-time Best XI selection who joined Louisville this past offseason. The 29-year-old ranks among the best in the NWSL in a number of important passing categories: Passes into the final third (first), progressive passes (second), expected assists (fifth), key passes (ninth) and chances created (11th). She has played every minute this season for Racing.
Another Paige in the books: Saturday’s draw in Seattle saw Paige Monaghan hit the scoresheet for the second time this year. The 26-year-old forward smashed in a right-footed shot from 16 yards out, giving Racing a 2-0 lead in the 76th minute. The New Jersey native has two goals and two assists across all competitions this year, making 10 starts in 17 appearances in her first year with Racing. She is a goal away from matching her career-high for a season, which she set in 2022 with NJ/NY Gotham FC.
World Cup year: This is a big year for women’s soccer, with the 2023 FIFA World Cup set for Australia and New Zealand from July 20-August 20. Racing will be well-represented at the planet’s biggest competition, with six players suiting up their national teams, the largest number of countries represented by a single NWSL team. Midfielders Savannah DeMelo (USA), Ary Borges (Brazil) and Alex Chidiac (Australia) and forwards Uchenna Kanu (Nigeria), Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa) and Wang Shuang (China) received World Cup call-ups. Wang Shuang intends to depart for China’s team camp after Friday’s match vs. Kansas City.
Global Racing: Racing Louisville is the first club in NWSL history to feature players from six different continents on its roster. The Louisvillians already had an international flavor last year, with four continents represented. But the additions of Brazilian midfielder Ary Borges as well as Nigerian forward Uchenna Kanu and South African forward Thembi Kgatlana nudged Racing to six continents. Abby Erceg, who made 146 appearances for New Zealand’s national team, reinforced Australian midfielder Alex Chidiac as a second representative from Oceania.
