Midfielder Katie O’Kane will return to the Racing Louisville FC starting lineup for the first time since April 19 in Friday’s 8 p.m. ET meeting with Gotham FC at Lynn Family Stadium.
O’Kane, rookie out of the University of Utah, is head coach Bev Yanez’s only change from last week’s rallying 2-1 road victory at the Houston Dash. She will make her fourth start of 2025, taking the place of Marisa DiGrande in Louisville’s midfield.
Taylor Flint and Savannah DeMelo, who assisted the game-winning goal at Houston, will accompany O’Kane to form Racing’s midfield trio. Flint won 15 duels in the win over the Dash, making it just the third time this NWSL season that a player managed to reach that mark in a match.
Yanez continues with the same back four for the third week running in front of goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer, the recipient of the league’s Week 7 Save of the Week. Captain Arin Wright and Ellie Jean act as the center back duo, while Lauren Milliet and Courtney Petersen provide the width on the right and left, respectively.
Both goal scorers from the Houston win — Kayla Fischer and Emma Sears — will join Canadian Janine Sonis as the club’s forward threats. Fischer is set to play the striker role with Sears and Sonis flanked opposite one other in the wide forward positions.
Sears and Fischer, both of whom have scored in two consecutive games, could make history by becoming the first Louisville players to score in three straight matches with a goal Friday night.
The available substitutes for Louisville include rookie midfielder Avery Kalitta, who signed a new contract for the remainder of the 2025 season this week. The always-dangerous Nigerian international Uchenna Kanu and Ella Hase, the attack-minded rookie defender, are also available.
Racing’s first May home match will be streamed on Prime Video, which is available online at amazon.com/primevideo or via the app on multiple platforms, including Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV. Fans can also listen to the match on Sports Talk 790AM or 790louisville.com.
Team Sheet vs. Gotham FC
24 – Jordyn Bloomer
11 – Courtney Petersen
3 – Arin Wright (c)
5 – Ellie Jean
2 – Lauren Milliet
26 – Taylor Flint
20 – Katie O’Kane
7 – Savannah DeMelo
16 – Janine Sonis
13 – Emma Sears
9 – Kayla Fischer
Substitutes: 71 – Maddy Anderson; 4 – Elli Pikkujämsa, 6 – Ella Hase, 12 – Allie George, 14 – Marisa DiGrande, 15 – Ángela Barón, 29 – Uchenna Kanu, 32 – Avery Kalitta, 42 – Sarah Weber
