Rookie defender Macy Philippus will make her first professional start for Racing Louisville FC Friday night against Boston Legacy FC at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., as the club returns following the October international break.
The league’s lone Friday clash will be streamed on Prime Video, available online at amazon.com/primevideo. It will also be accessible to listen to on Sports Talk 790AM or 790louisville.com.
Philippus, née Blackburn, has made six appearances off the bench for Racing in her first pro campaign prior to Friday. She tallied her first goal for the club in just her second game at Seattle Reign FC on March 28. Last time out, Philippus played a season-high 26 minutes as a substitute versus Utah Royals FC. She signed a deal with Louisville through the end of the 2027 season on Jan. 16, 2026.
A Texas native, Philippus is a product of Texas Tech University, where she starred across five years and became the program’s all-time assists leader (46) in 77 games (76 starts).
The 23-year-old Philippus will slot in as one of Louisville’s two wingbacks, alongside Makenna Morris. The rookie’s inclusion is one of three lineup changes made by head coach Bev Yanez.
The other two are higher up the pitch, as club veterans Lauren Milliet and Kayla Fischer return to the starting group across the midfield and forward lines.
Milliet, the club’s all-time minutes leader (11,536), rejoins a midfield that features Audrey McKeen and Macey Hodge. McKeen, 17, and Milliet both started in the middle of the park in Louisville’s 4-1 win over Boston on Aug. 15. The duo combined for five of the 13 chances created by Racing in the first matchup. Hodge was one of three players with at least four duels won in the draw with Utah before the break.
Up front, Fischer will pair with second-year player Sarah Weber. Fischer scored her first career brace versus the Legacy in August, scoring the team’s first and final goal of the game. Her 11 goal contributions mark a career high for Fischer, who has taken a step forward in each of her four pro seasons.
Jordyn Bloomer will occupy the goalkeeper role for the 27th time this season. She recently became the seventh shot stopper in NWSL history to reach 100 saves in a single season. Bloomer could break Racing’s single-season saves record with 12 more saves in the final three games.
Just ahead of the 29-year-old goalkeeper is a backline of captain Arin Wright, first-year standout Mirann Gacioch and Courtney Petersen. Wright’s 39 clearances since the beginning of September are tied for the second most in the league. Going back to the start of July, no Louisville player has won possession more times in the defensive third than the rookie Gacioch.
The list of available substitutes includes multiple game-changing options, headlined by Emma Sears and Katie O’Kane. Sears recently returned from international duty with the U.S. Women’s National Team, while O’Kane scored the team’s last goal before the hiatus.
Savannah DeMelo is back on the bench after her memorable return against the Royals on Oct. 3, marking her first action in 384 days following a medical emergency.
Team sheet at Boston Legacy FC
24 – Jordyn Bloomer
4 – Makenna Morris
8 – Courtney Petersen
3 – Arin Wright (c)
15 – Mirann Gacioch
23 – Macy Philippus
10 – Macey Hodge
2 – Lauren Milliet
88 – Audrey McKeen
42 – Sarah Weber
9 – Kayla Fischer
Available substitutes: 1 – Maddie Prohaska; 5 – Ellie Jean, 7 – Savannah DeMelo, 11 – Taylor White, 12 – Quincy McMahon, 13 – Emma Sears, 16 – Maja Lardner, 20 – Katie O’Kane, 21 – Rachel Hill
