Racing Louisville FC midfielder Taylor Flint is back in the starting XI as head coach Bev Yanez’s lone change for Wednesday’s encounter against Seattle Reign FC at Lynn Family Stadium.
The crucial midweek meeting kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed on the free NWSL+ app, or via plus.nwslsoccer.com.
Louisville rides a three-match win streak into Wednesday for a meeting with Seattle, the team in the league’s final postseason place.
Flint, the club’s leader in interceptions (53) and duels won (126), makes her return to the Racing starting group for the first time since the Aug. 1 win over Chicago Stars FC. She earns the nod after playing 28 minutes off the bench last Saturday — her first appearance since a thigh injury kept her out of the Aug. 7 trip to the Orlando Pride. Flint is set to make her 99th career NWSL regular-season start.
She will slot into the Racing midfield, taking the place of 17-year-old Audrey McKeen, who will start Wednesday on the bench.
Lauren Milliet and Katie O’Kane will line up alongside Flint in the middle of the park. O’Kane scored a penalty and collected an assist in last week’s 4-1 win over Boston Legacy FC. She is one of three Racing players with at least seven goal involvements on the campaign.
Jordyn Bloomer starts in net for the 19th time this season for Racing. Per Opta, she is one of four goalkeepers with at least 65 saves at this point in the season.
Still looking for the club’s first clean sheet of the year, Yanez stays with the same backline from the last three winning results.
Ellie Jean, club captain Arin Wright and rookie Mirann Gacioch provide the solidity in the defense’s center. Wright led the team in clearances (7) last week in a defensive display that saw the visiting Legacy held out of the net until the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. The wingback positions will be filled by Quincy McMahon, the club’s leader in duels won versus Boston (8), and Makenna Morris.
The in-form Ohio State University tandem of Emma Sears and Kayla Fischer will start up front. Sears and Fischer have starred in the attack for Louisville, especially recently, combining for 11 goals and eight assists on the year. Fischer recorded her first professional brace last time out versus Boston, while Sears delivered a brace of her own the week prior at the Orlando Pride.
In addition to McKeen, the club’s youngest-ever goal scorer, the list of available substitutes includes the return of Macey Hodge. Hodge is back on the Louisville team sheet, making her return after an arm injury sustained on July 26 sidelined her. Macy Philippus, who scored versus the Reign back in March, is also an option off the bench.
Team sheet vs. Seattle Reign FC
24 – Jordyn Bloomer
4 – Makenna Morris
5 – Ellie Jean
3 – Arin Wright (c)
15 – Mirann Gacioch
12 – Quincy McMahon
20 – Katie O’Kane
26 – Taylor Flint
2 – Lauren Milliet
13 – Emma Sears
9 – Kayla Fischer
Available substitutes: 1 – Maddie Prohaska; 6 – Ella Hase, 8 – Courtney Petersen, 10 – Macey Hodge, 16 – Maja Lardner, 21 – Rachel Hill, 23 – Macy Philippus, 42 – Sarah Weber, 88 – Audrey McKeen
