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After the NWSL’s international break, a revitalized Racing Louisville FC returns to action Sunday when hosting the Houston Dash at 3 p.m. inside Lynn Family Stadium.

While the club dropped its last two games by a combined 8-0 score — defeats at NC Courage and Portland Thorns FC — those came without the services of key players newly available for selection this weekend.

In recent weeks, English defender Gemma Bonner and forward Ebony Salmon have integrated with the team; defender Addisyn Merrick has been medically cleared for the first time this season; and forward Cheyna Matthews continued to get fit, making two starts with Jamaica’s national team while on international duty.

Racing, at 1-2-1 overall, could use the help on this upcoming stretch, which consists of three games in six days. After the Houston tilt, the Courage visit Wednesday before Louisville travels to Chicago the following Saturday.

As for the Dash, who are 2-2-1, the 2020 Challenge Cup champs have seen players’ stocks rise significantly over the last year. Midfielder Kristie Mewis and goalkeeper Jane Campbell are on the radar to represent the United States in the Olympics, while England’s Rachel Daly and Canada’s Sophie Schmidt are international standouts.

Here’s more of what to watch for Sunday…

Coach Christy Holly says…

“You know how much we love playing at Lynn Family Stadium. It is one, because the stadium is fantastic, but two for the people that are there. The fans are passionate. They are excited. We talked about this from day one. I want a connection with the fans. Now as the restrictions lift, we can grow that connection between us and the fans even stronger. That fuels us a little bit more.

“…For Houston, they are the 2020 Challenge Cup winners. They are really growing from where they left off. They have some fantastic players in the middle of the field through Kristie Mewis and Shea Groom. They have great organization at the back three with Megan Oyster and Katie Naughton. They are a very difficult team to break down. We have highlighted some areas where we need to dictate to them what is going to happen within those moments. If we allow them to control the game, if we allow them to control the tempo, it could be a long afternoon. We will go out and set the terms for them rather than letting them enjoy the stadium.”

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 Mike Watts and color commentary by Kaylyn Kyle. Internationally, fans can stream the match on Twitch. 

Notes to know

FULL CAPACITY: Sunday’s match will mark Racing’s first allowing full capacity at Lynn Family Stadium, a boost from 50% the last time the club hosted a game in May. Louisville City FC, the men’s club also operated by Soccer Holdings, drew a venue record crowd of 12,115 at its June 12 game in what was the stadium’s first 100% capacity game.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: Racing has found much more success in front of its supporters. Dating back to the preseason Challenge Cup tournament, the new club is 1-1-2 across all competitions at Lynn Family Stadium, including its 2-0 victory May 21 over the Washington Spirit. In all but one of those home games, Racing also scored multiple goals, the exception being a scoreless draw May 15 to open against Kansas City.

SCORING TOUCH: It remains to be seen how new roster additions will reshape the lineup. In the meantime, forward Cece Kizer has carried the scoring load for Racing, hitting the back of the net in three of Racing’s four home games to go with an assist. With Salmon available and Matthews healthy, Kizer may eventually gravitate to her more natural role as an attacking midfielder.

BRICK WALL BETOS: Goalkeeper Michelle Betos has been vital to Racing’s defensive efforts. She leads the league with 27 saves, an indication that she can get in the right place at the right time — but also that a young Racing team has called on her to help quite often. Betos recorded nine saves last time out against Portland, one off her season-high of 10 in the Washington game.

SUPER MOM CHEYNA: By subbing on in the 84th minute against Portland, Matthews made her return to the field for the first time since giving birth to her second child in December. Matthews’ last NWSL appearance had been in September of 2019, when she earned an assist with the Washington Spirit against the North Carolina Courage.

ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY: Following her return with Racing, Matthews joined the Jamaican Women’s National Team to compete in the Summer Series. Matthews started both matches for the Reggae Girlz, who played Nigeria and the United States in Houston. While Matthews is a Massachusetts native, her mother is from Jamaica, allowing for the dual-national status.

MORE ON THE WAY: Racing announced its latest high-profile signing during the international break in Danish international forward Nadia Nadim, who most recently won the Division 1 Féminine title with Paris Saint-Germain, chipping in 10 goals on the campaign. Similar to Bonner and Salmon, Nadim will arrive to Louisville upon receipt of her work visa.

REGULAR SEASON DEBUT: By subbing on for Erin Simon in the 84th minute against Portland, defender Sinclaire Miramontez made her NWSL regular season debut against the Thorns. Seven more Racing players on an especially young squad are still awaiting that moment, with the list including goalkeepers Katie Lund and Shelby Money; defenders Julia Ashley, Bonner and Merrick; midfielder Noelle Higginson as well as the new forward Salmon. 

MANAGERIAL MATCHUP: Racing head coach Christy Holly has faced off against the Houston Dash four times as coach. During those meetings, Holly posted a 3-0-1 record while leading the club formerly known as Sky Blue FC, now NJ/NY Gotham FC. This is his best record against any active NWSL team. Sunday’s game, however, will mark Holly’s first time going up against current Dash coach James Clarkson, who joined the club in 2019.

LONE STAR CONNECTIONS: Two players on the Racing roster — Kizer and Simon — previously played for the Dash. Both were selected by their current club in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft and have gone on to become regular starters in Louisville. Additionally, the goalkeeper Lund grew up four hours north of Houston in Plano, Texas.

Injury report

• Noelle Higginson – Out
• Taylor Otto – Out 
• Brooke Hendrix – Questionable
• Addisyn Merrick – Questionable
• Ebony Salmon – Questionable

Milestone watch

• Savannah McCaskill is two goals away from her 10th across all NWSL competitions.
• Yuki Nagasato is one appearance from her 55th in NWSL regular season play. 
• Erin Simon is one start away from her 30th in the NWSL regular season.
• Michelle Betos is two appearances away from her 100th as a professional.

Having just completed its first season, the Racing Louisville FC Academy is already providing opportunities for players that no other youth system in the region can match: the ability to train with a club in the world’s best women’s soccer league.

Sixteen-year-old Ella Sanchez is doing so on a regular basis, mixing in with Racing’s first teamers to continue a big year for the rising star.

Sanchez, who’s coming off a call up to the United States U-17 National Team’s Virtual Camp in February, trains with her academy team three times a week in the evenings. Twice a week in the mornings, she also works with a small group called the Elite Training Initiative.  

Over the past month, Racing head coach Christy Holly has also invited Sanchez to join his squad several times.

“It has been incredible,” Sanchez said, “especially in the mornings when you are training and you can see the pro teams next to you. You see how intense that level is.”

“Ella has certainly earned that opportunity with the work that she has done away from as well as in team training,” said Racing Academy Director Tim Nowak. “She has gotten a lot of respect from her teammates. I know a lot of our younger girls look up to her and hope to someday fill in her shoes.”

When Sanchez received her youth national team call up back in February — effectively putting her in the 2022 FIFA U-17 World Cup player pool — it marked a first for either the Racing or Louisville City FC academies.

“I was very surprised that we had a player already that is capable of transferring into the first team,” Holly added. “Ella has come in and done great. She wants to learn. She is asking questions. She has developed some nice relationships with the team. It is exciting for the first team, but it is fantastic as well for the academy.”

When she first trained with the first team, Sanchez noticed the speed and intensity of play immediately. While the adjustment was difficult for her, Sanchez finds focusing on what matters makes it easier for her. 

“When I get out there, I try to have the mindset that this is supposed to be fun, and I am trying to make myself a better player,” she said. “I am trying to play as quick as I can and try my because this is their job and I want to make them better too.”

In part, the Racing players are making Sanchez a better soccer player. When she competes with her academy team on the weekends, she now feels more prepared for her competition. 

“I think her being in the professional environment every day will push her to make good decisions on the ball, which she is very capable of doing at a high level,” Nowak said. 

Sanchez hails from a family deeply entrenched in the local soccer community. Her father, Mario, heads the academies and serves as assistant coach for LouCity’s first team. Her brother, Sebastian, is an all-state standout on the boys side and high-profile member of the LouCity Academy.

Growing up in Illinois, Sanchez first played for one of the midwest’s most competitive youth soccer programs in St. Louis Scott Gallagher. As with Racing, it’s a member of the top youth circuit, the Elite Clubs National League.

“No other club that I have been at is there a pathway to play with the pros,” she said. “Here, you have that opportunity to be a pro, whether it is the morning training or training with the first team. I know on the boys’ side, a couple of them train with the first team too. Here you can be a pro and you can see that. I don’t think that playing with the first team is offered at very many clubs.” 

While Sanchez may be the first player to get the opportunity to train with the Racing first team, she surely won’t be the last. The academy’s goal is to bring in the area’s top talents and produce a consistent pipeline of players deserving of college scholarships and pro contracts.

“I think it goes in lock step with our mission as an organization: prepare young women to play at the highest level,” Nowak said. “We want to give them opportunities to expose them to the professional environment.”

“We are showing that we can play at that platform here and you don’t have to move from this great city,” Holly added. “You develop as a player. You can play professionally. And you can have a fantastic career right here. This opportunity is a great stepping stone for the club.”

Soccer Holdings, LLC — parent company of Racing Louisville FC and Louisville City FC — will host a pair of Pride Night celebrations at Lynn Family Stadium in conjunction with the clubs’ upcoming games.

Racing’s Wednesday, June 23, matchup with the NC Courage and LouCity’s Saturday, June 26, showdown against Indy Eleven will serve as occasions to further align with the LGBTQ+ community and fundraise for associated local nonprofits.

Proceeds from all team Pride merchandise, now available online and in Lynn Family Stadium’s Team Store, go toward the Butchertown Neighborhood-based Louisville Pride Foundation. The foundation seeks to promote unity between LGBTQ and straight allies by engaging in a conversation with the broader community about what makes us one while celebrating what makes us different.

Additionally, supporter groups representing both clubs are actively participating in a Prideraiser, pledging to donate to the Louisville Youth Group for every Racing or LouCity goal scored in June. LYG creates a brave space for LGBTQIA+ Youth and Allies and is dedicated to providing youth with skills and experiences designed to help them thrive as community leaders now and in the future. Click here to contribute to the Prideraiser.

Players will also get in on Pride Night recognition with Racing’s kits to be decorated in rainbow numbers and LouCity wearing its 2021 Pride Warmup Jersey in pregame. A number of activations, including a pre-LouCity National Anthem performance by Voices of Kentuckiana, a chorus that celebrates diversity, will surround Pride Night games.

Following the final whistle, bring proof of your ticket purchase for free admission to PLAY Dance Bar, at 1101 E. Washington Street, for official Pride Night after parties. Proceeds from an occasion-oriented custom cocktail will be donated the Louisville Pride Foundation.

“Having the chance to be a part of our Pride Night planning and Pride Month activations has been really special,” said Lauren Schuster, the clubs’ community engagement coordinator. “As an organization, developing the growth and continuing to foster a meaningful relationship with the LGBTQ+ community is imperative to us.

“Here at Racing and LouCity we believe in equality for all. Using our platform to help create a space where those around us can be their most authentic selves is only the beginning of what we want to be a part of within the LGBTQ+ community.”

Beyond Pride Nights, Soccer Holdings is exploring a workshop and/or training from Louisville-based Queer Kentucky to educate its employees further about inclusion, diversity, intersectionality, and trans-inclusivity.