Coming off the club’s first playoff appearance in 2025, Racing Louisville FC head coach Bev Yanez has leaned on experience for the 2026 season opener, selecting 10 returning players for Saturday’s trip to the North Carolina Courage.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., with streaming coverage on NWSL+. The local radio play-by-play will air on SportsTalk 790 AM.
Quincy McMahon is the lone newcomer to start, taking the left back position. McMahon joined Racing in a January trade from San Diego Wave. Saturday will be the first start of her career after after making seven appearances off the bench as a rookie in 2025.
With skipper Arin Wright missing from the lineup, Courtney Petersen and Ellie Jean will take up the two center back spots. Lauren Milliet will start at right back and wear the captain’s armband, in Wright’s stead.
That back four will play in front of Jordyn Bloomer, who begins the season as the starting goalkeeper for the first time in her career. She made 83 saves, including three penalty stops, last season.
Ella Hase and Emma Sears will occupy the attacking flanks, while Sarah Weber will take the center forward spot. Each has played at the international level in recent months, with Hase and Weber earning calls to the U.S. U-23 squad, while Sears has featured heavily for the senior United States Women’s National Team.
After playing most of last season as a forward, Kayla Fischer will drop into the midfield, occupying an attacking position. She’s joined by Katie O’Kane and Taylor Flint. Fischer scored Racing’s first NWSL Playoff goal last season at the Washington Spirit, while O’Kane also earned a U.S. U-23 call-up in recent months.
A NWSL Best XI Second Team selection, Flint led the NWSL in blocks (49), interceptions (74) and aerial duels won (129) in 2025.
On the bench, all nine available substitutes will be making their Racing Louisville debuts if they come into the game. Eight of the nine substitutes would also be making their NWSL debuts.
Macey Hodge is the only available sub with any league experience, having made 16 appearances last season with Angel City.
Racing Louisville FC lineup at North Carolina Courage
24 – Jordyn Bloomer
12 – Quincy McMahon
8 – Courtney Petersen
5 – Ellie Jean
2 – Lauren Milliet (c)
26 – Taylor Flint
20 – Katie O’Kane
9 – Kayla Fischer
6 – Ella Hase
13 – Emma Sears
42 – Sarah Weber
Substitutes: 1 – Maddie Prohaska; 10 – Macey Hodge, 11 – Taylor White, 15 – Mirann Gacioch, 16 – Maja Lardner, 19 – Avery Ciorbu, 22 – Natalie Mitchell, 23 – Macy Blackburn, 88 – Audrey McKeen
