Racing Louisville FC head coach Bev Yanez has made three changes to her lineup for Friday’s 10 p.m. ET road game at the Utah Royals.
With Arin Wright unavailable due to injury, Makenna Morris will start at left back while Courtney Petersen slides over in place of Wright at left center back. It will be Morris’ second start since she joined Racing in a trade in August.
Up top, Kayla Fischer starts over Sarah Weber at center forward. The duo have shared the role this season, with Weber starting over Fischer in five of the last six games.
The third change, Katie O’Kane, starts in place of Savannah DeMelo in the midfield. DeMelo is unavailable for the game after experiencing an on-field medical emergency on Sunday at Seattle, which caused the game to be suspended until Tuesday. O’Kane played from the start of Tuesday’s finish.
Elsewhere, Louisville’s lineup is unchanged.
Jordyn Bloomer starts in goal for the 15th straight game. The 27-year-old is tied for second in the NWSL in saves (68) and has made at least five stops in nine games this year.
Petersen and right center back Ellie Jean both been included in the starting lineup for 16 straight games. This will be their second time paired at center back, the first coming Aug. 29 vs. Houston.
Janine Sonis, who will wear the captain’s armband in Wright’s absence, starts at right back for the eighth straight game.
Ary Borges and Taylor Flint join O’Kane in the midfield. Together they tallied six shots and won possession 15 times against Seattle.
The bench includes just three players who have seen the field in an NWSL game this season.
That includes Lauren Milliet, who could see action in a regular season game for the first time since June 20. She was available for Tuesday’s second half at Seattle, following a weeks-long rehab to an injury she suffered in The Women’s Cup in July. Marisa DiGrande, Weber and Bethany Balcer have also contributed minutes this season.
NWSL+ and Paramount+ will carry streaming coverage of the game, with the local radio broadcast airing on Sports Talk 790 AM.
Team sheet at Utah Royals
24 – Jordyn Bloomer
4 – Makenna Morris
11 – Courtney Petersen
5 – Ellie Jean
16 – Janine Sonis
26 – Taylor Flint
8 – Ary Borges
20 – Katie O’Kane
6 – Ella Hase
13 – Emma Sears
9 – Kayla Fischer
Substitutes: 33 – Cristina Roque, 77 – Madison White; 2 – Lauren Milliet, 12 – Allie George, 14 – Marisa DiGrande, 32 – Avery Kalitta, 42 – Sarah Weber, 88 – Bethany Balcer
