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Lynn Family Stadium’s crowd of 6,422 reached a crescendo in the 55th minute Sunday night as highly touted international forward Nadia Nadim took the field for her first Racing Louisville FC appearance.

While the result didn’t go Racing’s way in a 2-0 defeat to the Washington Spirit, Nadim’s entrance marked a watershed moment for the NWSL expansion franchise: Coach Christy Holly’s full roster is now available as the season nears its midway point.

Washington dampened the mood in the fifth minute as the league’s leading scorer, Ashley Hatch, scored her sixth goal of the season. Sam Staab doubled the lead in the 58th minute when heading home an extended play off a corner kick.

“I’ll tell you exactly what I said to the team after the game,” Holly said. “When you’re trying to make a masterpiece, you definitely spill some paint on the floor. We just have to be in love with the fact that we’re working toward a masterpiece.

“We know there’s going to be spilled paint. There’s going to be mistakes. There’s going to be lessons. There’s going to be growing pains, and we have to embrace that.

“We can’t just embrace the end product, the outcome. We have to be totally in love with the idea of everyday grinding through a process of embracing the good and bad and the ugly.”

Moving forward, however, Holly has more options in an attack lacking finishing touch Sunday. Racing could consider itself the better team much of the way outside of a few key moments, particularly in the first half as Louisville out-shot Washington 8-5 and held 58% of possession.

Highlights Sunday for Racing included a one-on-one boot from forward Cece Kizer in the 13th minute saved by a diving goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe. Following her own shot again in the 63rd minute, Kizer saw another chance fly over the bar in a Player of the Match performance.

“We controlled the first half really well and controlled the game but couldn’t put that ball in the back of the net,” Kizer said, “and gave them one opportunity. They finished and scored again in the second half. it’s on us. We’re just not getting it done on the field, and we need to look inside ourselves and figure out what’s going on and work on finishing and keeping control of the game like we did today.”

Nadim also influenced the game upon checking in. Over the course of 14 touches, she matched Kizer for a team-high four shots, two of which forced Spirit blocks.

Nadim touted an “amazing atmosphere” for her club debut.

“I think the fans are awesome — super happy the way they received me,” she said. “Obviously, after the game there’s so many fans and young girls standing. Good reception — just disappointed we didn’t deliver the three points — but there’s a lot of place for improvement.”

A loss dropped Racing to 3-5-2, with 11 points good for ninth on the table ahead of fellow expansion franchise Kansas City. Washington meanwhile moved to 5-3-3, third on the table at 18 points.

This marked Racing’s first game since July 9, a rare midseason break for the ladies in lavender. They travel next week to play OL Reign at 10 p.m. ET Saturday in Tacoma, Wash.

Game Summary: Racing Louisville vs. Washington Spirit

Venue: Lynn Family Stadium

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

Weather: 91 degrees, mostly cloudy

Player of the Match: Cece Kizer

Attendance: 6,422

Scoring

Racing Louisville (0, 0, 0)

Washington Spirit (1, 1, 2)

Goals

Washington Spirit:

5’, Hatch (assisted by McKeown)

58’, Staab (assisted by Aylmer)

Stats Summary: Racing Louisville / Washington Spirit

Shots: 17 / 18

Shots on Goal: 5 / 7

Fouls: 5 / 3

Offside: 4 / 2

Corner Kicks: 11 / 4

Saves: 5 / 5

Lineups

Racing Louisville: 1 – Michelle Betos, 14 – Nealy Martin, 4 – Gemma Bonner, 8 – Freja Olofsson (69’ 20 – Cheyna Matthews), 11 – Emily Fox, 9 – Ebony Salmon (69’ 22 – Katie McClure), 3 – Erin Simon (86’ 16 – Julia Ashley), 2 – Lauren Milliet (55’ 10 – Nadia Nadim), 5 – Cece Kizer, 17 – Yuki Nagasato, 7 – Savanah McCaskill

Subs not used: 23 – Katie Lund, 18 – Kaleigh Riehl, 19 – Taylor Otto, 12 – Sinclaire Miramontez, 13 – Emina Ekic

Washington Spirit: 1 – Aubrey Bledsoe, 3 – Sam Staab, 9 – Tegan McGrady, 21 – Anna Heilferty, 14 – Paige Nielsen, 19 – Dorian Bailey (45’ 26 – Taylor Aylmer), 12 – Andi Sullivan, 10 – Ashley Sanchez, 33 – Ashley Hatch, 2 – Trinity Rodman, 27 – Tara McKeown (88’ 25 – Karina Rodriguez)

Subs not used: 24 – Chinyelu Asher, 17 – Kumi Yokoyama, 23 – Tori Huster, 18 – Devon Kerr, 31 – Sydney Schneider, 20 – Mariana Speckmaier

Discipline Summary

Washington Spirit: Bledsoe (yellow) 90+1’

Referee: Samantha Martinez

Assistant Referees: Tiffini Turpin & Mike Nickerson

Fourth Official: Jarin Harrell

Racing Louisville FC will finally get a look at its complete team on Sunday when hosting the Washington Spirit.

In a game pushed to 7:30 p.m. due to a forecast for extreme heat, the ladies in lavender could feature newly arrived forward Nadia Nadim. Signed last month, the former Portland Thorns, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain standout joined training since Racing last played on July 9.

A two-week break followed a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Orlando Pride. After Ebony Salmon moved the visitors ahead with her team-leading third goal, Sydney Leroux equalized at the game’s last gasp.

The result moved Racing to 3-2-4 through nine games of its inaugural NWSL season, good for eighth on the table as clubs chase a sixth-place finish or better to make the playoffs.

Sunday’s game marks the second between Racing and the Washington Spirit, who first visited on May 21. Emina Ekic and Cece Kizer scored second half goals to give Louisville its first-ever victory.

The Spirt have been an up-and-down side since then, sitting seventh in the NWSL standings. They’ll also be without the services of defenders Kelly O’Hara and Emily Sonnett, who are both with the U.S. Women’s National Team’s Olympic squad. In their place, young stars such as forward Ashley Hatch — tied for the league lead with five goals — have propelled Washington.

Here’s what to watch for on Sunday…

Coach Christy Holly says…

“I think [Nadim] gives us a different look. It allows us to come at things with a few different dimensions. We’ve wanted to get Cece [Kizer] in a more natural position for her. We’ve asked a lot of her in preseason, and my goodness, she was absolutely fantastic. If we drop Cece deeper, it allows us to drop Savannah McCaskill deeper where she’s seeing a lot more of the ball. It allows us to get Yuki [Nagasato] inside the field a lot more, where she can orchestrate our attacks. Then it allows us to go with a front three, front two or with a front one. Nadia is very comfortable across those lanes. So is Ebony [Salmon], so is Cece, so is Emina Ekic — whoever it may be. There’s a lot of flexibility in how we can attack, and that’s on us in how to maximize in the coming weeks, months and years.”

Follow along

For Starting XI and in-game updates, follow @RacingLouFC on Twitter and Racing Louisville FC on Facebook. Also find us at @racinglouisvillefc on Instagram.

Watch the match on Paramount+ with play by play from Josh Tolle and color commentary by Kacey White. Internationally, fans can also stream the match on Twitch.

Notes to know

Home sweet home: In its first season, Racing has performed its best at Lynn Family Stadium, where crowds continue to grow. Last out, the ladies in lavender had a club-record 6,822 fans in attendance July 3 against Portland. Racing is 2-2-1 overall at home and 1-2-1 away.

New in town:  Racing’s latest high-profile international signing, Nadia Nadim joined the squad upon receiving her work visa. Should the Danish international make an appearance Sunday, it would mark her first in the NWSL since 2017. Nadim signed with Louisville after helping PSG to its first top-level league title in June.

Smoked Salmon: Striker Ebony Salmon made the goal in Orlando her third in five appearances for her new club. Salmon is hitting the back of the net now every 97 minutes on the pitch and, despite playing four fewer games than the league’s leading scorer, is only two goals off that mark.

Kizer connects: Building on solid form from the preseason Challenge Cup tournament, forward Cece Kizer continues to impact Racing’s results, registering two of Salmon’s three goals to date, including the strike at Orlando. A solid pickup out of the 2020 expansion draft, Kizer also has a goal to her name in the regular season.

Bet on Betos: Michelle Betos had less work to last game, tallying just one save. But much of Racing’s success can be attributed to a goalkeeper who continues to lead the NWSL with 49 saves. With her next shutout, Betos will hit 15 for her career and make her just the seventh player in league history to reach the mark.

Another addition: The former Manchester City defender Gemma Bonner played 255 minutes before her new club, Racing, conceded a goal with her on the pitch. Bonner has also boosted the play of those around her. For instance, when playing beside Bonner, Nealy Martin completes passes at an 84% rate, eight points higher than without Bonner in the lineup.

Conceding late: Racing let in a stoppage time goal at Orlando to drop points, reminding of an earlier season trend. Three of Racing’s four Challenge Cup matches were decided with goals in the final five minutes of play, including a 1-0 loss at Washington. But the July 9 result marked the first time it happened in the waning moments of a regular season game.

Spirited connections: Four of Racing’s 22 rostered players previously represented Washington. Playing rights to goalkeeper Katie Lund and forward Katie McClure were both selected by Racing during the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft. Additionally, Racing acquired defender Brooke Hendrix and forward Cheyna Matthews on waivers.

Injury report

• Noelle Higginson (out)
• Cece Kizer (questionable)
• Addisyn Merrick (out)
• Freja Olofsson (questionable)
• Kaleigh Riehl (questionable)

Milestone watch

Michelle Betos is one shutout away from her 15th NWSL regular season clean sheet and would be one of seven players to earn that stat. 

Cece Kizer is one appearance from her 25th in NWSL regular season play.

Erin Simon in one start from her 35th in NWSL regular season play.

Yuki Nagasato is one appearance from her 60th in NWSL regular season play.

Out of an abundance of caution given a hot and humid forecast, the National Women’s Soccer League has pushed back kickoff for Sunday’s Racing Louisville FC game against the Washington Spirit to 7:30 p.m. at Lynn Family Stadium.

Weather isn’t expected to surpass thresholds in the NWSL’s extreme heat policy. But parties involved approved moving the start from its originally scheduled 3 p.m. slot in order for a more comfortable environment for both teams and fans.

Those with tickets who can’t make the new time can fill out this form before kickoff to exchange tickets for another game.

Sunday marks Racing’s second meeting with the Spirit this season. Last time, Louisville native Emina Ekic and Cece Kizer scored second half goals of a 2-0 victory May 21 over Washington, marking the club’s historic first victory.

Racing enters the weekend having not played since July 9. The ladies in lavender are unbeaten in three of their last five games, sporting a 3-4-2 record, and have added to their ranks in recent days with the arrival of international star forward Nadia Nadim, who will be available for selection against Washington.

Racing versus Washington will stream live on Paramount+ and internationally on the NWSL’s Twitch channel.

International soccer powers FC Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain will leave an impact on Louisville beyond a pair of inaugural The Women’s Cup matches.

In conjunction with the tournament — to be played Aug. 18-21 at Lynn Family Stadium — players from both clubs will also help lead a unique youth camp while in town, joining their counterparts from the NWSL’s Racing Louisville FC and the Chicago Red Stars.

Camp signups are open now for children ages 6-17 at a cost of $145. The session runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, on the same fields used by professionals at the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center at Champions Park.

In addition to instruction from members of the 2020-2021 Budesliga champion Bayern and Division 1 Féminine winner PSG, each camper will receive a signed photo from a pro player and a training T-shirt.

Coaches will provide conceptual talks to campers in addition to operating stations concentrating on possession, shooting, ball coordination and other vital soccer skills.

“We want The Women’s Cup to be all about fan engagement,” said tournament director J.P. Reynal. “We’d like everyone to enjoy the games but also meet the players and learn from them. This youth camp is the perfect opportunity for local kids to train with the best women’s soccer players in the world.”

The Women’s Cup — an inaugural tournament kicking off in Louisville — consists of two doubleheader sessions.

First, on Wednesday the 18th, are Racing versus Chicago and Bayern against PSG. Then on Saturday the 21st, winners meet for The Women’s Cup trophy to go along with a third-place game.

The competition structure ensures both domestic participants will match up with one of their decorated international counterparts. Tickets remain available at TheWomensCup.world.

In addition to winning their domestic leagues, both Bayern and PSG reached this year’s UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals. The clubs will be in Louisville as part of their 2021-2022 preseason.