In response to the tight turnaround from Sunday’s win in Los Angeles, Racing Louisville FC head coach Bev Yanez makes eight lineup changes for Wednesday’s midweek contest against the Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, MO.
Among the slew of alterations, rookie forward Audrey McKeen and Avery Ciorbu are set for milestones, both making their first career NWSL starts Wednesday.
McKeen, 17, will notably become the youngest player ever to start for Racing. Ciorbu is a University of Michigan product who started off as an injury replacement player for Louisville before earning a full-time contract last year. She has four appearances off the bench this season.
The U.S. youth international, McKeen, finds herself starting in the midfield alongside two league veterans: Lauren Milliet and Taylor Flint. Milliet will don the captain’s armband Wednesday, as Arin Wright starts on the bench. Flint notably returns to the lineup after serving a suspension for yellow card accumulation versus Angel City FC. She is one of two NWSL players with at least 100 duels won this season.
Ciorbu enters the fray in a defense that includes only one returnee from the previous contest out West. The lone player staying put is Mirann Gacioch, who finished tied for the team lead in successful duels (5) and tackles won (3) over the weekend. Rounding out the backline is Rachel Hill and Courtney Petersen. This will be Hill’s first start in lavender since coming over as a free agent in the offseason.
Goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer will anchor that Louisville backline between the sticks once again. She complied five saves in the 2-1 victory at Angel City, including a crucial one late on that earned a nomination for NWSL Save of the Week.
Emma Sears, after coming off the bench after week, will start in a threatening frontline trio that also features Sarah Weber and Ella Hase — two second-year players. The 25-year-old former Ohio State University standout, Sears, netted a goal in Kansas City during her rookie season in 2024. Wednesday will be Hase’s and Weber’s first time back in the starting XI since July 10 against Bay FC.
Reigning NWSL Player of the Week Maja Lardner headlines those available off the bench for Louisville. The rookie bagged a brace to lift Racing past ACFC Sunday night. Kayla Fischer, who provided the assist to Lardner on the second goal in L.A., is also among the substitutes list that includes five players with at least one goal this year.
Team sheet at KC Current
24 – Jordyn Bloomer
8 – Courtney Petersen
15 – Mirann Gacioch
19 – Avery Ciorbu
21 – Rachel Hill
2 – Lauren Milliet (c)
26 – Taylor Flint
88 – Audrey McKeen
6 – Ella Hase
42 – Sarah Weber
13 – Emma Sears
Available substitutes: 1 – Maddie Prohaska; 3 – Arin Wright, 4 – Makenna Morris, 5 – Ellie Jean, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 12 – Quincy McMahon, 16 – Maja Lardner, 20 – Katie O’Kane, 23 – Macy Philippus
