Racing Louisville coach Bev Yanez made no changes to her starting lineup for today’s 5 p.m. showdown with reigning NWSL champions NJ/NY Gotham FC, though the XI will look very different from the teams’ meeting in The Women’s Cup Colombia final at the start of March.
Racing pummeled the Utah Royals, 5-1, last weekend to register its first win of the 2024 campaign and of Yanez’s coaching career. The Louisvillians are hoping momentum from that offensive outburst carries over to the first of four road games over the next five weeks. It’s a rematch of the TWC Colombia final that saw Gotham win, 3-1, but Racing was without star midfielder and team captain Jaelin Howell as well as its entire starting front line.
The match will be broadcast over the air on WAVE’s The 365 channel and streamed on the WAVE News app, WAVE3.com or NWSL+ for free with a sign-up. Fans can access NWSL+ online at plus.nwslsoccer.com or via the app on Apple, Fire or Roku services. News Talk 1080 AM or online at talkradio1080.iheart.com, and the iHeart Radio app will carry the radio broadcast.
Howell headlines the starting group for Yanez’s Racing (1-0-4) that has yet to trail in a match this season. The 24-year-old Colorado native has been integral in Louisville’s midfield solidity and defensive posture, which have produced two clean sheets and the third-best expected goals against total in the NWSL.
Early MVP candidate Taylor Flint pairs with Howell in the middle of the park, providing additional physicality and ball-winning. Flint has been outstanding in her first five matches with Louisville, ranking first in the NWSL in duels won, interceptions and tackles won, second in possession recoveries and third in aerial duels won.
Ahead of Flint and Howell, playmakers Ary Borges and Savannah DeMelo pair together in pulling the strings for Racing. It’s the second consecutive start for Borges, who returned to the lineup last weekend after coming back from a preseason ankle sprain. DeMelo climbed atop Racing’s all-time scoring list with two goals against Utah, nudging her career total to 11 scores in 43 games.
Borges is one of three new front-line starters for Racing who did not play in the TWC Colombia final. The league’s leading goal scorer, Uchenna Kanu, is in the lineup, as is forward Elexa Bahr. All three of those players were on international duty during The Women’s Cup in late preseason.
The defensive group remains the same for a third straight match: Lauren Milliet will make career start No. 69 for Racing, with goalkeeper Katie Lund set to make her 54th career start. Vice-captain Abby Erceg will pair with Arin Wright in the middle, with Carson Pickett, one of the top passers in the NWSL, on the left-hand side. Pickett ranks second in the NWSL in chances created this season.
The substitutes list includes goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer; defenders Ellie Jean and Maddie Pokorny; midfielders Marisa DiGrande, Kayla Fischer and Linda Motlhalo; and forwards Parker Goins, Emma Sears and Reilyn Turner.
Yuuka Kurosaki, Elli Pikkujämsä and Kirsten Wright were previously announced as out on Racing’s availability report. Jordan Baggett was listed as questionable with a back ailment and was ultimately ruled out of inclusion in the team.
Racing Louisville lineup at Gotham
1 – Katie Lund
2 – Lauren Milliet
3 – Arin Wright
6 – Jaelin Howell (c)
7 – Savannah DeMelo
8 – Ary Borges
16 – Carson Pickett
20 – Abby Erceg
23 – Elexa Bahr
26 – Taylor Flint
29 – Uchenna Kanu
Substitutes: 24 – Jordyn Bloomer; 5 – Ellie Jean, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 10 – Linda Motlhalo, 13 – Emma Sears, 14 – Marisa DiGrande, 17 – Maddie Pokorny, 21 – Parker Goins, 66 – Reilyn Turner
