Star forward Thembi Kgatlana is back in Racing Louisville’s starting lineup ahead of the team’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff against the league-leading Portland Thorns at Lynn Family Stadium.
The South African national team standout is the only change to coach Kim Björkegren’s selection following last weekend’s 0-0 draw at NJ/NY Gotham in New Jersey. Kgatlana steps into the lineup in place of Savannah DeMelo, who is suspended because of yellow card accumulation.
The match will be streamed live on Paramount+ and has serious playoff implications. Racing (4-4-9, 21 points) is only three points out of a playoff spot before kicking off tonight in the first of its final five matches of the season.
An electric presence on and off the pitch, the 27-year-old Kgatlana returned a hero from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after guiding South Africa to the knockout stages for the first time in the nation’s history. She scored twice in the World Cup group stage, including a stoppage-time game-winner in the group finale that clinched Banyana Banyana’s place in the Round of 16.
Kgatlana is making her fourth regular season start for Racing in what will be her 10th appearance, with a goal against Gotham on June 18 opening her account for Louisville. She’ll widen the field with opposite winger Paige Monaghan, who is in line to make her 11th start this year.
Kirsten Davis, with three goals and an assist in what will now be 13 starts in lavender, leads the line at center forward.
Without DeMelo, Wang Shuang slides into the central attacking midfield role, a position she is used to playing. The Chinese international will share the midfield with Brazil star Ary Borges and young Finnish defensive anchor Elli Pikkujämsä. Both Borges and Wang are starting their third straight match since returning from the World Cup.
The back line in front of goalkeeper Katie Lund remains the same. In her 46th consecutive start for Racing, Lund will have Rebecca Holloway, captain Abby Erceg, Julia Lester and Lauren Milliet carrying the team’s primary defensive duties.
Provided she surpasses the hour mark in tonight’s game, Milliet can become the first player in Racing’s young club history to reach 5,000 minutes played.
Though she was originally listed as questionable, forward Nadia Nadim (thigh) did not dress for tonight’s match. In addition to DeMelo’s suspension, captain Jaelin Howell, left back Carson Pickett, midfielder Jordan Baggett, forward Jess McDonald and goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer were all previously listed as out because of injury.
Racing Louisville Team Sheet vs. Portland Thorns
1 – Katie Lund
2 – Lauren Milliet
15 – Julia Lester
20 – Abby Erceg (c)
25 – Rebecca Holloway
4 – Elli Pikkujämsä
8 – Ary Borges
77 – Wang Shuang
11 – Thembi Kgatlana
5 – Paige Monaghan
22 – Kirsten Davis
Substitutes: 18 – Hillary Beall, 99 – Olivia Sekany; 3 – Zaneta Wyne, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 13 – Emina Ekic, 17 – Maddie Pokorny, 21 – Parker Goins, 26 – Taylor Aylmer, 29 – Uchenna Kanu
