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Racing Louisville FC struck late to draw with the Orlando Pride, 2-2, on Saturday at Lynn Family Stadium when opening its NWSL era in the Challenge Cup. Along the way were a few milestones…

• A stadium-record 5,300 fans were on hand. Lynn Family Stadium, opened in 2020, hosted about 4,850 per game at Louisville City FC home matches amid the COVID-19 pandemic but was able to relax restrictions just a bit Saturday. All seats were sold out in advance.
   
• Freja Olofsson, Emina Ekic, Emily Fox, Nealy Martin and Jorian Baucom made their NWSL debuts with four of those five in the starting lineup. Baucom came on as a substitute.
   
• Racing’s 12th-minute goal went down as the first for Cece Kizer in the NWSL along with the first assist for Emily Fox.
   
• Brooke Hendrix’s first NWSL and club goal came three minutes into stoppage time.
   
• Forward Savannah McCaskill marked her 55th career NWSL appearance.

What coach Christy Holly said…

“If you look back at the game there, that said everything about this team. We’re young. They’re hungry. We got a lot of work to do, a lot of growing to do, but they’re not going to stop until the very last minute.”

What defender Brooke Hendrix said…

“It was incredible: The lights, the sounds, the fans. It was unreal, honestly, and kind of took my breath away at first. We’re not going to give up until the very end as you saw. I think there’s a lot to be said about our character tonight and we learned a lot when we were put under the pressure.”

What forward Cece Kizer said…

“It’s just great to be back out on the field with a great pitch. The fans were really loud and rowdy, and we definitely can feel that love and passion behind us. It means a lot to me personally and I know it means a lot to the club, so it’s just great to be a part of something like this.”

Some 536 days after the National Women’s Soccer League announced expansion to Louisville, Racing Louisville FC will make its debut Saturday, marking the return of top-tier professional sports to its city for the first time since the 1970s.

Racing hosts the Orlando Pride at 7 p.m. at Lynn Family Stadium, a soccer-specific venue also home to USL Championship side Louisville City FC. The club’s first four games will be played within the NWSL’s Challenge Cup, a tournament preceding the regular season starting mid-May.

Since Oct. 22, 2019, Racing has last July unveiled its crest and colors, in August hired coach Christy Holly and through the fall, winter and now into spring built a roster to compete in the world’s best women’s soccer league.

It has been since 1976 that the American Basketball Association’s Kentucky Colonels ceased operations, leaving Louisville as a town known for the Kentucky Derby — an inspiration behind the Racing moniker — and its college sports.

Racing will bring a different sort of athlete to Louisville. That’s on its own roster, with forward Yuki Nagasato a World Cup winner for Japan and Emily Fox within the U.S. Women’s National Team player pool. But it also applies to opponents, as Orlando is expected to field national team defender Ali Krieger and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris along with Marta, a Brazilian legend whose 17 career goals in World Cup play are the all-time record.

Here’s more of what to watch for Saturday…

Coach Christy Holly says…

“Ultimately, going into this game, the focus is on ourselves. We are focused on providing the fans a good demonstration of what we have been working towards and hopefully putting a strong foot forward from the very start.

“The best way we can learn about ourselves is in the heat of battle. I think we are going to learn a lot about ourselves. We will find out a lot about ourselves on Saturday evening.”

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.

Stream the match on Paramount+ and internationally on Twitch with play by play from Mike Watts and color commentary by Lori Lindsey.

Notes to know

The Challenge Cup: This tournament — first held last season when the NWSL returned to play amid the COVID-19 pandemic — gives Racing four games to tune up for the regular season starting mid-May. Orlando, the Washington Spirit, North Carolina Courage and Sky Blue FC make up the rest of the East Division, with the top points earner to play the winner of the West Division including the Chicago Red Stars, Houston Dash, Kansas City, OL Reign and Portland Thorns FC for a trophy.

Fans in the stands: While the NWSL staged games in 2020, they were all behind closed doors. Now the Challenge Cup is moving into local markets, setting the stage for a warm welcome for Racing in front of its home supporters at Lynn Family Stadium. Fans will continue to follow stadium operator ASM Global’s Venue Shield safety protocols, which make donning a mask/face covering mandatory at all times except when actively eating and drinking.

Oh, captain(s): Coach Christy Holly this week named goalkeeper Michelle Betos captain and forward Savannah McCaskill vice captain of Racing for the 2021 season. Betos, a senior leader in lavender, is a Queens, N.Y., native with more than a decade of professional experience across various leagues, most recently with the NWSL’s OL Reign. McCaskill, a younger pro, came to Racing via a trade with the Chicago Red Stars last fall.

International experience: McCaskill is one of a few Racing standouts to have represented her country at the senior national team level, boasting multiple U.S. Women’s National Team caps. Defender Emily Fox was in USWNT camp in January when selected by Racing at No. 1 overall in the 2021 NWSL Draft, while forward Yuki Nagasato owns the club’s most decorated international resume. With her native Japan, Nagasato won the 2011 World Cup and was runner-up in 2015.

Waiting in the wings: While Racing finalized a 22-player roster heading into the Challenge Cup, Holly actually has 21 players to choose from when selecting a squad. Forward Cheyna Matthews has signed with the club and will join training later this spring as she gets back in playing shape following the birth of her second child in December. Matthews in 2019 joined Jamaica for the World Cup months after having her first child.

Summing up preseason: Racing will play its first game against a professional rival Saturday after meeting four NCAA Division 1 opponents in preseason. The club defeated the University of Louisville, Vanderbilt University and West Virginia University before a pair of closed-door scrimmages with No. 1-ranked Florida State. In the open-door games, five players found the back of the net: Cece Kizer (4 goals), Katie McClure (2 goals), Lauren Milliet (2 goals), Jorian Baucom (1 goal) and Emina Ekic (1 goal).

Opposition Breakdown: Having missed the 2020 Challenge Cup due to COVID-19 complications, the Orlando Pride returned to go 0-2-2 during the Fall Series, scoring five goals and conceding eight. This season, Orlando is returning 15 players from that squad, seven of which started the Pride’s final match against the North Carolina Courage. This includes Krieger, Harris and Marta along with star forward Alex Morgan, who will miss Saturday’s game while on international duty with the U.S.

Managerial matchup: Racing coach Christy Holly has faced off against the Orlando Pride five times as a manager. During that those meetings, Holly posted a 2-2-1 record while leading Sky Blue FC. This will be the first time Holly goes up against current Pride coach Marc Skinner, who joined his club in 2019.

New to the league: While Racing Louisville may not have competed in last year’s Challenge Cup, the club has two trophy winners on its roster after defender Erin Simon and forward Cece Kizer both subbed on in the Houston Dash’s victorious effort. Half of Racing’s roster, however, is awaiting its NWSL debut. The list includes goalkeepers Katie Lund and Shelby Money; defenders Julia Ashley, Emily Fox and Nealy Martin; midfielders Noelle Higginson, Freja Olofsson and Taylor Otto; as well as forwards Jorian Baucom, Emina Ekic and Vanessa Kara.

Injury report

• Cheyna Matthews (Out)
• Addisyn Merrick (Out)
• Julia Ashley (Questionable)
• Emina Ekic (Questionable)
• Cece Kizer (Questionable)
• Lauren Milliet (Questionable)
• Taylor Otto (Questionable)

Milestone watch

Erin Simon is 4 appearances away from 60th professional appearance.

Michelle Betos is 1 appearance from making her 50th NWSL regular-season appearance. 

Savannah McCaskill is 2 goals away from her 10th goal in the NWSL across all competitions.

Head coach Christy Holly announced to his team Thursday its on-field leadership for the club’s inaugural season, naming goalkeeper Michelle Betos as captain and forward Savannah McCaskill as vice captain.

Racing will make its NWSL debut Saturday in the Challenge Cup, a tournament preceding the start of the regular season in mid-May. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Lynn Family Stadium.

“She has earned the respect of the players and fellow professionals around the league,” Holly said of Betos, whose career between the post has spanned more than a decade. “She has been through tough times. She has been through good times. She has won titles. She understands what it means to ultimately be a performing professional in this league. We think that is a great example for our players to follow.”

He added of McCaskill: “Her intensity and everything that she does around the training ground and off the field have been tremendous. She has the respect of the team. She is young, but she is hungry. She has just been a fantastic trendsetter within this club. It is important for us to recognize that when people do well.”

From Queens, N.Y., Betos has played seven years in the NWSL, including a 2015 season in which she was named Goalkeeper of the Year. Through 97 professional appearances, she has made 139 saves and earned 27 clean sheets.

Racing Louisville picked up Betos from OL Reign in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft.

“It is exciting and a huge privilege,” Betos said of her captaincy. “This is a special club trying to do big things in this league. We really have a lot of belief in what we are doing top to bottom. It is a huge honor. It is a huge privilege.”

“Michelle has been in clubs that have won the title and has been through pretty much everything that you can go through in this league,” McCaskill said of her counterpart. “I think as captain, she has a wealth of experience to teach me and everyone else. It is really exciting for me to lead alongside her.”

McCaskill, one of the first players added to Racing’s roster last fall when acquired via a trade with the Chicago Red Stars, is just 24 years old. But she owns a wealth of experience between the NWSL, Australia’s W-League and multiple caps with the U. S. Women’s National Team. 

“I have watched Sav grow into a leader over the past few months, so it is really exciting to lead this group with her,” Betos said of McCaskill.

The vice captain added, “I think being some of the only players here with a lot of pro experience, we have a lot to teach the younger ones about it being a long season, how to manage games and what to expect on Saturday.”

A limited number of tickets remain for Racing-Orlando, with more information available at www.racingloufc.com/racingloufc/Challenge-Cup. Racing is also scheduled to visit the Washington Spirit on April 15, host the North Carolina Courage on April 26 and travel to Sky Blue FC on May 2.

At last, it’s time to unveil the kits.

Two days before its National Women’s Soccer League debut, Racing Louisville FC on Thursday showed off bold home and timeless away tops to be worn starting with Saturday’s 7 p.m. game against the Orlando Pride at Lynn Family Stadium.

Crafted by Matthew Wolff, the distinguished soccer designer behind the Racing Louisville crest and colors, both kits feature a play on the fleur de lis, a symbol firmly embedded in this city’s history and culture.

Fleur de lis, which translates to “lily flower,” appear in bloom on Racing’s midnight violet home kit. It’s speckled with butterflies and bees, an ode to Louisville native Muhammad Ali — known as “The Greatest” not just for his feats in the boxing ring but also for the social change he fostered. The white away kit, meanwhile, patterns a more traditional fleur de lis symbol in Racing’s primary color, lavender.

Due to supply chain issues, the kits — which can be customized to include a player’s name and number — have opened for retail on pre-order at Shop.www.racingloufc.com/racingloufc. They are expected to ship later this spring.

A line of kit-inspired merchandise items is available now online and at the club’s Team Store inside Lynn Family Stadium. The Team Store is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

“We are thrilled to be revealing the inaugural Racing Louisville FC kits to the world,” said club president Brad Estes. “Collaborating with Matthew was an awesome experience from beginning to end. From the home top with beautiful lilies and a nod to Ali, to the clean and classic away shirt, these are true works of art.”

Racing Louisville’s inaugural kits, which will be worn for at least two seasons, carry primary sponsorship from Louisville-based GE Appliances, also the front jersey partner for the USL Championship side Louisville City FC and the local pro clubs’ youth academies. An iconic brand that’s in half of American homes, GE Appliances will donate to a fund toward academy scholarships for each kit purchased in 2021.

PNC Bank and Prüvit supplements appear on the back of Racing’s jerseys with Kentuckiana Toyota Dealers on the sleeve.

“We are so proud to be a partner of Louisville City FC as well as the new women’s team, Racing Louisville FC. We can’t wait to cheer on the athletes of both teams this season in their new kits,” said Mary Putman, GE Appliances’ vice president of marketing and brand. “We are passionate about supporting our local Louisville community at all levels, and that includes our commitment to youth academy scholarships. For each 2021 LouCity and Racing kit purchased in 2021, you too are helping to create additional opportunities for underserved youth.”

Tickets are in short supply but remain on sale for Racing Louisville’s historic first home games, which will be played as part of the NWSL’s Challenge Cup tournament. Following the Orlando showdown, Racing also hosts the North Carolina Courage at 7 p.m. April 26. Visit www.racingloufc.com/racingloufc/Challenge-Cup for more information.

Racing’s away Challenge Cup games fall on April 15 (at Washington Spirit) and May 2 (at Gotham FC, formerly known as Sky Blue FC). After group play, the top team from Racing’s East Division meets the West Division winner in a May 8 final, with the West consisting of the Chicago Red Stars, Houston Dash, Kansas City, OL Reign and Portland Thorns FC.

The NWSL’s regular season will kick off in mid-May with the schedule to be announced later.

In anticipation of Racing Louisville FC’s inaugural game, head coach Christy Holly and executive vice president of development James O’Connor have worked to build the club’s current roster.

Dating back to last year, here’s a look back at how it formed…

Oct. 26, 2020

Acquired forwards Savannah McCaskill and Yuki Nagasato from the Chicago Red Stars, an international slot for the 2021 and 2022 seasons as well as the Red Stars’ first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft in exchange for exemption from the 2020 expansion draft. 

Nov. 2, 2020 

Acquired forward Cheyna Matthews through Re-Entry Wire as part of the NWSL’s End of Season Process.

Nov. 12, 2020

Selected eventual signees Addisyn Merrick, Julia Ashley, Jennifer Cudjoe, Cece Kizer, Katie Lund, Lauren Milliet, Kaleigh Riehl, Katie McClure, Erin Simon and Michelle Betos in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft. Additionally, Racing acquired NWSL playing rights to Alanna Kennedy, Caitlin Foord, Tobin Heath and Christen Press.

Dec. 2, 2020 

Signed midfielder Freja Olofsson to a two-year contract from KIF Örebro in Sweden. 

Dec. 30, 2020

Acquired the rights to defender Brooke Hendrix through the waiver process. 

Jan, 12, 2021

Selected Emily Fox (No. 1), Emina Ekic (No. 5), Taylor Otto (No. 11), Kirsten Davis* (No. 13), Parker Goins* (No. 21) and Emily Smith* (No. 31) in the 2021 NWSL College Draft. 

Traded Jennifer Cudjoe in exchange for the 13th overall pick and $35,000 in allocation money. 

*Davis, Goins and Smith will join Louisville following the completion of their NCAA eligibility.

Jan. 21, 2021

Claimed NWSL playing playing rights to Jada Talley, Sarah Sodoma and Taylor Malham. They too will complete NCAA eligibility before joining the club.

April 5, 2021

Signed Jorian Baucom, Noelle Higginson, Vanessa Kara, Nealy Martin and Shelby Money to contracts after preseason trials. Also, Cheyna Matthews signed before the NWSL roster deadline prior to the 2021 Challenge Cup and will join the club this spring as she comes back from the birth of her second child.

Racing Louisville FC is days away from its inaugural NWSL game, to be played at 7 p.m. Saturday against the Orlando Pride, as part of the Challenge Cup tournament. For the expansion side, there are several questions to answer in its first competitive matchup in the league to be played at Lynn Family Stadium. Here are the story lines to watch.

Opportunity outside the regular season

As the new club jumps into NWSL competition, it doesn’t have to worry about one thing in particular: points. The Challenge Cup will allow Racing four competitive games against pro competition before games start counting in the standings when the regular season begins in mid-May.

Sure, it’s not ideal to launch a new side amid a pandemic. But this is one benefit Racing will receive for the timing given past NWSL expansion teams were thrown right into their respective seasons. The Challenge Cup will allow Racing the chance to go through some growing pains before it’s time to start stressing points.

The international window beckons

The NWSL is loaded with star power, but the brightness diminishes during international call ups that opposing sides will have to deal with as soon as Game 1 in the Challenge Cup. Before Racing-Orlando kicks off, the U.S. Women’s National Team will play at Sweden in a game that will include the Pride’s former FIFA World Player of the Year, Alex Morgan. The UWSNT also plays April 13 in France, calling into question whether the Washington Spirit will have available defenders Kelly O’Hara and Emily Sonnett when Racing visits on April 15.

That said, big names will be visiting Lynn Family Stadium, particularly the duo of Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and defender Ali Krieger, who aren’t away on international duty, and Marta, the Brazilian striker who with 17 goals holds the record for most scored in FIFA Women’s World Cup history.

Who starts for Racing Louisville FC?

Racing should prove to be a tough scout for at least its initial Challenge Cup opponents given the mystery of its lineup. Sure, there are apparent sure things, such as inclusion of experience goalkeeper Michelle Betos and Yuki Nagasato. But the bulk of Racing’s roster consists of young players looking to become regular NWSL starters for the first time.

In particular, the forward position is crowded on Racing’s roster, begging the question of who will appear up top alongside Nagasato. Each of Savannah McCaskill, Cece Kizer, Emina Ekic and Katie McClure have featured during the preseason, adding to Racing’s most competitive position battle.

Let’s see how they play

While seeing his inaugural roster in action throughout Racing’s preseason, head coach Christy Holly strived to play quick and press opponents. During its preseason scrimmages against college teams (Louisville, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, and Florida State twice) this style of play rewarded Racing with plenty of goals.

While it was a successful approach against some top college sides, how will that translate in the toughest women’s soccer league in the world? At least until it proves otherwise, Racing will be considered an underdog expansion club. Louisville can shed that label if it’s able to continue playing quickly, press and translate to a viable attack in the NWSL.

And finally, there will be fans

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the sports industry immensely, especially when it prevented fans from seeing their teams. The NWSL went without any public attendance all of 2020, but thankfully the league has allowed home market play and supporters in the stands for the Challenge Cup.

Lynn Family Stadium, also home to USL Championship side Louisville City FC, successfully hosted about 4,850 fans per game, near 30% capacity, last year. Racing will likewise play in front of lavender-clad supporters against Orlando and on April 26 against the North Carolina Courage. Could the support boost the home side?

Racing Louisville FC signed five trialists to contracts ahead of the NWSL’s latest roster deadline, continuing to build its squad before this weekend’s start to the Challenge Cup, presented by Secret Deodorant.

Joining Racing Louisville are forwards Jorian Baucom and Vanessa Kara, midfielder Noelle Higginson, defender Nealy Martin and goalkeeper Shelby Money. Each were standouts as non-roster invitees to Racing’s preseason camp, with Martin also having emerged from the club’s earlier open tryout.

Racing’s roster now stands at 22 players ahead of a 7 p.m. Saturday kickoff in the Challenge Cup, a preseason NWSL tournament, against the Orlando Pride at Lynn Family Stadium.

“The whole idea as we built out through preseason was trying to ingrain how we could be successful on the field and identifying the players who moved us in that direction,” said Christy Holly, Racing Louisville’s head coach. “We had a tremendous trialist group, and from that we’ve had these players join us on full-time contracts. They complement what we have on the field and the culture we’re trying to cultivate off it.”

Baucom, who scored during Racing’s preseason victory over West Virginia University, adds prior professional experience to Racing’s group having most recently played for Bundesliga side MSV Duisburg in Germany, where she tallied four goals in seven appearances. Collegiately, she registered 33 goals in 61 appearances at Louisiana State University before transferring to the University of Colorado for her senior season, adding 12 more goals in 20 games.

Baucom previously played in the NWSL for the Houston Dash, signing as a national team replacement player in the summer of 2019. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native came up as a youth international, logging time with the United States’ U-15, U-16, U-19 and U-20 teams.

Kara, a winger from Burlington, N.J., spent last season with Tikkurilan Palloseura in Finland’s top division, netting two goals in 10 appearances. She was decorated in college, setting a Drexel University program record for points in a season as a freshman when numbering 11 goals and three assists. After missing her senior year due to injury, Kara transferred to the University of Florida, racking up 10 goals and an assist for the Gators.

Kara earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Drexel before receiving a master’s in sport management at Florida.

The New Orleans native Higginson played four years for Yale University and in three of those was recognized as an All-Ivy League selection. The midfielder made 62 appearances, scored 14 goals and logged 11 assists.

Off the field, Higginson was a 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year nominee for her athletic performance, academic achievement, service and leadership. She has been accepted to law school but deferred to first pursue a professional soccer career.

Martin, a defender from Birmingham, Ala., received her preseason invitation after impressing in January’s open tryouts. The University of Alabama product appeared in 76 collegiate games, 17 of which were clean sheets for the Crimson Tide.

A chemical engineering major, Martin was also named 2019’s SEC Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year, to the CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team and the SEC Community Service Team.

Money, who attended Division III Rowan University, set a program record for career shutouts with 36, plus posted goals-against-average of .47 per game and a .870 save percentage. A two-time Goalkeeper of the Year in her league (2016, 2018), she was also recognized as a United Soccer Coaches All-American in 2018. Money previously spent time as a reserve player for the NWSL’s Washington Spirit and worked as a non-rostered goalkeeper for Sky Blue FC and OL Reign. 

When Money isn’t playing, she’s teaching, serving most recently as Division I Saint Joseph University’s goalkeepers coach. Before that, she coached at the Keeper Institute, a training school founded by former U.S. National Teamer Jill Loyden that aims to educate young, aspiring players at the position.

Each new Racing Louisville signing will be eligible for selection as the club moves through the Challenge Cup. Following the Orlando game, Racing plays away April 15 against Washington Spirit, hosts the North Carolina Courage on April 26 and finishes group play May 2 at Sky Blue FC.

Tickets to home games are available now at www.racingloufc.com/racingloufc/Challenge-Cup. After the tournament, the 24-game regular season — with a schedule to be announced — begins in mid-May.

2021 Racing Louisville FC Roster

Goalkeepers (3): Michelle Betos, Shelby Money, Katie Lund

Defenders (7): Julia Ashley, Emily Fox, Brooke Hendrix, Nealy Martin, Addisyn Merrick, Kaleigh Riehl, Erin Simon

Midfielders (4): Lauren Milliet, Noelle Higginson, Freja Olofsson, Taylor Otto

Forwards (8): Jorian Baucom, Emina Ekic, Vanessa Kara, Cece Kizer, Cheyna Matthews*, Katie McClure, Savannah McCaskill, Yuki Nagasato

* Matthews, a forward working back into shape after the birth of her second child in December, has signed with Racing Louisville and is expected to report to training later this spring.