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Expansion franchise Racing Louisville FC bolstered its roster during Wednesday night’s NWSL Draft by making six additions, highlighted by University of North Carolina defender Emily Fox’s selection at No. 1 overall and University of Louisville forward Emina Ekic at No. 5.

Coach Christy Holly was flanked by club chairman John Neace and James O’Connor, executive vice president of development, while sending Racing Louisville’s choices to the league in a socially distant, virtual format. This process added to last November’s expansion draft and a handful of other signings in recent months.

The club’s other selections led off the second round at No. 11 (midfielder Taylor Otto, UNC), the third round at No. 21 (forward Parker Goins, Arkansas) and the fourth round at No. 31 (defender Emily Smith, California). Additionally, Racing Louisville traded midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe in exchange for the 13th overall pick and $35,000 in allocation money. Texas Tech forward Kirsten Davis was taken with the extra selection.

“We had a very clear set of plans that we wanted, and we’re delighted with the players we’ve acquired,” Holly said. “I think our situation is a little bit unique compared to the other nine teams in the sense that we need players immediately. That’s the approach that we took. We were looking for the best possible players immediately available for preseason as opposed to planning down the line for those that may come out in the spring or this time next year.”

A University of North Carolina standout, Fox played in two College Cups while working herself into the United States Women’s National Team player pool. She’s currently with the USWNT at camp in Orlando as it prepares for a pair of games next week.

“I’m super excited,” Fox said. “I know Christy from when he was on the national team as an assistant. So talking to him and him telling me about the culture and everything that they have in store — the facilities, the girls on the team. Especially since it’s a new club, I feel like it’s a very unique opportunity for me to be able to go in there and try to do as best as I can and work my way up and do anything I can for the team.”

Ekic, the first former Cardinals player ever taken in the NWSL Draft, was named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2020. She had a hand in all but one of UofL’s 11 goals last season, scoring seven goals to go with three assists.

“It’s a fairytale ending as they say,” Ekic said. “This is exactly perfect. I’m at home. I’m with the professional team here. I’m so excited to be playing for Racing Louisville and Christy Holly as head coach and the staff and I’m really excited.”

Wednesday night’s picks add to a growing group of players set to report to Louisville on Feb. 1 ahead its inaugural season. The NWSL is planning for a mid-April Challenge Cup, which will take place in multiple bubbles in various team markets. A 24-game season will then begin in mid-May with the schedules to be released later. 

Exiting the NWSL Draft, Racing Louisville holds rights to 24 players. Here’s a closer look at who’s newly coming to Louisville…

First Overall: Emily Fox (Defender, North Carolina)

Fox enjoyed a decorated career as Tar Heel, leading her team to College Cup appearances 2018 and 2019. As a four-year starter for her school, Fox paced UNC with 11 assists in 2019, earned three-straight First Team All-ACC honors and was named a Hermann Trophy semifinalist, all while overcoming two ACL tears in three years. Internationally, the Ashburn, Va., native helped the U-20 U.S. National Team to its fifth straight CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship in 2015 and competed with them in both the 2016 and 2018 U-20 FIFA World Cups. The defender earned her first senior team call up in 2018, making two starts in friendlies against Portugal and Scotland before earning a spot on the 2019 SheBelievesCup roster. Fox is currently in training with the USWNT in Orlando ahead of games against Colombia both at 7 p.m. Monday on FS1 and 7 p.m. Jan. 22 on ESPN2.

Fifth Overall: Emina Ekic (Forward, Louisville)

The 2020 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Ekic is the first Cardinals player ever taken in the NWSL Draft. She left UofL having tallied the fourth-most goals in program history with 29 and second-most assists with 19. The Louisville native, who attended duPont Manual High School, played a part in 10 of the Cardinals’ 11 goals last year with seven goals and three assists. Ekic also led UofL in scoring in 2017 and 2019, with seven of her goals game winners. She quickly established herself at the college level, named ACC Co-Freshman of the Year after claiming numerous high school accolades, including Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016.

Second Round, No. 11: Taylor Otto (Midfielder, North Carolina)

Named to the first, second or third All-ACC teams in each of her four collegiate seasons, Otto, as with Fox, comes from a championship-caliber background. Otto started all 12 of the Tar Heels’ games in 2020 — they went 10-0 in the regular season and won the league title — plus made her lone goal a game winner. The central midfielder played for the U.S. youth national teams from the U-14 through U-20 levels, including the 2016 U20 National Team’s trip to the World Cup in Papua, New Guinea. An Apex, N.C., native, Otto was a three-time All-American selection before her college days while coming up through the Elite Clubs National League ranks.

Second Round, No. 13: Kirsten Davis (Forward, Texas Tech)

Voted to the All-Big 12 First Team and All-Academic in 2020, Davis played nearly every minute of a campaign shortened to nine games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, Davis was the league’s Offensive Player of the Year having tallied 16 goals and 7 assists during a traditional full campaign. The St. Louis native was often called up to the U-18, U-19 and U-20 teams as a high schooler who went on to play immediately at the Division 1 level.

Third Round, No. 21: Parker Goins (Forward, Arkansas)

A First Team All-SEC performer in both 2019 and 2020, Goins tallied 25 collegiate goals. As a senior, her team rose to No. 6 on its way to challenging Vanderbilt for the SEC Tournament Final — marking the Razorbacks’ fifth straight appearance in the game. Goins played a part in each of that runs, as going back to 2017 she made the SEC All-Freshman Team after leaving high school as a four-star recruit. Goins, one  of three high school athletes selected to participate in the U.S. team camp prior to the 2018 FIFA U-20 World Cup, is from Broken Arrow, Okla.

Fourth Round, No. 31: Emily Smith (Defender, California)

Smith, co-captain for her team during its most recent season in 2019, appeared in 21 games on a defense that posted a 0.692 goals against average, good for second in the Pac-12 and 25th in the nation. Offensively, she also contributed the first five points of her career totaling three assists and a goal. In a standout campaign, she became the first player in league history to be named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week three times in a single season and received First Team All-Pac-12 and All-Region honors for it. Smith, from Los Gatos, Calif., has spent time with both the U-18 and U-19 USWNT.

As Christy Holly prepares for his second draft while piecing together Racing Louisville FC’s inaugural roster, the head coach hasn’t wavered from his core goal of building for the club’s long-term future.

Racing Louisville is back on the clock, set to select at No. 1 and No. 5 overall in Wednesday’s NWSL Draft for college players. The event will stream live at 7 p.m. on the league’s Twitch channel and at www.racingloufc.com/racingloufc.

“There’s many different challenges, but for us, it’s making sure that rather than focusing on creating the best team for tomorrow morning, we want to create a club that will be sustainable for years and years to come,” Holly said. “Getting that structure right and getting the right people here is going to be everything.”

As an expansion club, Racing received the first pick and will also lead off the second round at No. 11, third at No. 21 and fourth at No. 31. The fifth overall pick arrived to Louisville via a trade last fall that also added Chicago Red Stars forwards Yuki Nagasato and Savannah McCaskill to the prospective roster.

In return, Chicago received protection from Racing in November’s NWSL Expansion Draft, through which Louisville claimed rights to 14 players. Similarly, clubs will select for college seniors’ rights in Wednesday’s draft.

The league moved to forgive the NWSL Draft registration requirement given the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of college seasons will play out this spring, and some student-athletes have the option not to count the current school year against their college eligibility.

“You open up your net in terms of the width and depth of the pool that you’re looking at, so it’s a good opportunity,” Holly said. “I like to get a little bit geeky, and I like to be able to methodically go through every type of player. So maybe that gives us an advantage.”

Also not forgotten by Holly and his staff is the reality that Racing Louisville — run by the same group as two-time USL Championship winner Louisville City FC — is a newcomer to the women’s professional game.

“They look at it and think OK, what is going to happen there?’” Holly said. “We know what’s going to happen. We feel very strongly about the club — about the people, about the resources — and we have to prove that point.”

Heading into Wednesday, Racing holds the rights to 19 players, with the most recent acquisition that of defender Brooke Hendrix, a world traveler who was claimed on waivers having played last for the Washington Spirit.  

Aa the league’s Feb. 1 report date quickly approaches, Racing will soon have players in Louisville and on the pitch to prepare for a mid-April NWSL Challenge Cup, which will take place in multiple bubbles in various team markets. Following the Challenge Cup, a 24-game season will begin in mid-May with a schedule to be released later. 

Season ticket memberships for Racing Louisville FC now total more than 3,000 as the club enters its inaugural season. Visit www.racingloufc.com/racingloufc/tickets or call (502) 568-2489 during regular business hours to secure your seats today.

Furthering the Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC academies’ mission to create a clear pathway to professional soccer, Director Mario Sanchez has appointed Kincaid Schmidt as Junior Academy Director, it was announced Friday. 

Schmidt, who worked most recently for the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club, will oversee the addition of U5-7 levels in Louisville and strengthen the existing U8-10 age groups. Those interested in enrolling a child within the new teams this year can receive the latest information by signing up for the academies’ newsletter.

“For the bulk of my career I have committed to developing players at the foundation of youth soccer,” said Schmidt, a defender during her own playing days. “At these ages we can capture the interest of young kids and inspire them to be lifelong soccer players and fans. I take great pride working to build a pipeline from these foundation age groups to the top levels of soccer.”

The Florida native came up through the IMG Academy youth program and competed collegiately at Division II Flagler College in her home state. After graduating, she began what has so far amounted to 11 years in coaching for a Florida club before her move to Colorado.

With the Rapids, Schmidt concentrated on the junior academy before taking a leadership role in 2017 as a Zone 1 Technical Director overseeing ages 5-10 player development.

“Kincaid’s passion for kids and, most importantly, her love for the game of soccer comes through as you spend more time with her,” Sanchez said. “Her experience, specifically in the younger age groups, put her at the forefront of our search.”

Schmidt holds a National A License, National Youth License and Grassroots Instructor License. In addition to working within the academies’ youngest age groups, she will be tasked with seeking forward-thinking development opportunities to inspire a new generation of soccer players.

“The vision of the youth academy to develop more professional, collegiate and national team players than any other academy in the U.S. is inspiring,” Schmidt said. “I am so excited for the opportunity to build on my experience within this organization that provides a clear pathway to high-level soccer for young players.”

The LouCity and Racing academies began play in 2020 with about 700 girls and boys wearing the colors and crests of their respective first teams. Both compete within the Elite Clubs National League, a premier youth circuit, and will house operations alongside the professional clubs within the new soccer training facility under construction at Champions Park in 2021.

Last month, Oldham County native Elijah Wynder became the first player to complete LouCity’s path to pro, signing a professional deal with the club after two years on a USL Academy contract. Similar first team opportunities are expected when expansion side Racing Louisville FC begins National Women’s Soccer League play this year.

Soccer Holdings, LLC, parent company of Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC, will host the third installment of its Diversity, Opportunity and Inclusion Committee’s speaker series focusing on Social Justice in the Workplace at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14.

The event will stream live on both LouCity and Racing’s websites and Facebook pages, with those unable to watch live able to view the discussion on demand.

Panelists were chosen to examine best practices for companies hoping to be more socially responsible. At the same time, Soccer Holdings will discuss its own policies and improvements toward a more diverse, productive and harmonious work environment.

Expert Panelist Dr. Donathan Brown:

Receiving his PhD in Communication Studies and Political Science (Race and Public Policy focus) from Texas A&M University, Brown is the inaugural Assistant Provost and Assistant Vice President for Faculty Diversity and Recruitment at Rochester Institute of Technology. In his role, he provides institutional leadership for the effective recruitment and advancement of a diverse and excellent faculty body.

Academically, Dr. Brown has conducted extensive research and wrote on voting rights, immigration reform and civil rights, making him an expert on race and public policy as it pertains to African Americans and Latinos.

Soccer Holdings Panelists:

Erin Wilkins – Human Resources Manager

Eiman Zuberi – Partnership Fulfillment Coordinator

George Davis IV – LouCity Forward/Midfielder, Team Administrator

Moderator:

Evan Floyd – Director Of Community Engagement

The National Women’s Soccer League announced Wednesday that its board of governors has voted to expand the pool of collegiate athletes eligible for the 2021 NWSL Draft by eliminating the registration requirement for seniors.

Now, all “senior” collegiate athletes are deemed eligible for the draft, which will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, and stream live on the NWSL’s Twitch channel.

The move — due to the COVID-19 pandemic and postponement of some collegiate women’s soccer seasons to the spring — ensures that the most possible athletes have the opportunity to enter the NWSL Draft and play in the league this year.

Division 1 players who exhausted three years of eligibility before the 2020-2021 academic year are now draft-eligible. Clubs will hold the rights to each athlete selected in the draft for a period of time as set by the league.

“Since the beginning of this pandemic, we have consistently made the adjustments necessary to ensure that the best women soccer players in the world have the opportunity to play in the best women’s soccer league in the world, “ said NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird. “By modifying our draft eligibility requirements, and removing barriers during these unprecedented times, we’ll ensure our clubs have a more expansive opportunity to identify the best collegiate athletes for their teams and enable those athletes to join the NWSL when it makes sense for them.”

An NWSL expansion side entering the year, Racing Louisville FC is slated to pick at No. 1 and No. 5 overall in addition to leading off the second round at No. 11, third round at No. 21 and fourth round at No. 31.

Aside from those athletes deemed automatically draft-eligible, registration remains a necessity for other players who wish to enter NWSL in 2021.

“The last year has obviously been disruptive and difficult for student-athletes as they navigate their future plans,” said NWSL Managing Director of Competition and Player Affairs Liz Dalton. “This change is a reflection of that fact and will help all of us move forward in a positive direction.”

The rights to any players selected in the NWSL Draft will be assigned to the drafting team’s College Protected List until the start of the 2022 NWSL preseason. Rights to players on a team’s College Protected List are assets of the team and may be kept, waived or traded at the team’s discretion during the Protected Period. Rights to players on a team’s College Protected List who have not been signed a standard player agreement at the end of the Protected Period will be waived.

Racing Louisville FC, a 2021 National Women’s Soccer League expansion team, continues to expand its inaugural roster having acquired the rights to defender Brooke Hendrix, the club announced Wednesday.

Claimed on waivers from the Washington Spirit, the 27-year-old totaled five appearances across the NWSL’s Challenge Cup and Fall Series in 2020, boasting an 86% pass completion rate during an abbreviated campaign.

“We are delighted to be able to add Brooke to our squad,” said Racing Louisville FC’s head coach, Christy Holly. “Her experiences playing around the world, coupled with her physical presence and willingness to put it on the line for the club, is something we are very excited to incorporate into the team.”

Before signing on for her debut NWSL season, Hendrix competed for West Ham United in the FA Women’s Super League. She saw time in 35 games for the English club, including in the 2019 FA Cup Final, during her two years there.

The Sharpsburg, Ga., native also has on her professional resume a stint with Serie A club Brescia Calcio Femminile. Crucial to the club’s 2017-2018 campaign, Hendrix helped lead her Italian side to a league runner-up finish, Round of 16 Women’s Champion League run and Women’s Super Cup victory. 

Hendrix competed in 23 Brescia games, bagging two goals with two assists in her back line role. 

“We are excited to be able to bring Brooke on board,” said James O’Connor, Racing Louisville’s executive vice president of development. “She is an experienced defender with solid attributes, and I’m sure she will prove herself to be a good addition to our team.”

Hendrix enjoyed a decorated college career as a four-year starter for the University of Southern Mississippi, netting seven goals during her time there while serving as the Golden Eagles’ minutes leader in 2014, her senior season.

Following her time at Southern Miss, Hendrix signed with Women’s Premier Soccer’s Atlanta Silverbacks in 2016 and won a Southeast Division title. Well-traveled, Hendrix also spent time with the Glasgow Rangers of the Scottish Women’s Premier League, Swiss Nationalliga A club FC Staad and Iceland’s Úrvalsdeild Kvenna side Fylkir FC. 

With Hendrix’s addition, Racing Louisville has the playing rights to 19 players, with most of those obtained through the NWSL Expansion Draft back in November. The expansion side is also set to select at No. 1 and No. 5 overall in the Jan. 13 NWSL Draft for college players.

NWSL competition is expected to begin mid-April with the second iteration of the Challenge Cup, which will take place in multiple bubble environments, team markets, or some combination of the two before a 24-game regular season starts in mid-May.

Racing Louisville FC is actively selling season ticket memberships for its inaugural campaign. Visit www.racingloufc.com/racingloufc/tickets or call (502) 568-2489 during regular business hours to secure your tickets today.

In a landmark agreement, GE Appliances, a Haier company, will be the exclusive front jersey sponsor for the entire Soccer Holdings, LLC, family of clubs, which now includes 2021 National Women’s Soccer League expansion franchise Racing Louisville FC and youth academy teams. The long-term partnership will continue to see an iconic brand that’s in half of American homes associated with the USL Championship-winning side Louisville City FC.

LouCity will make 2021 its seventh season, while Racing will become the NWSL’s 10th member in its debut year. Both clubs’ youth academies, comprised of about 700 boys and girls, began play this past fall featuring elite local talent.

“We are proud to further align Soccer Holdings with GE Appliances, a Louisville-based company with a timeless brand,” said Soccer Holdings President Brad Estes. “Having their iconic logo on the front of every jersey within our clubs provides synergy and staying power. We look forward to working with GE Appliances to lift up and serve our community for years to come.”

As part of the deal, Louisville-based GE Appliances will name an academy field at Soccer Holdings’ new training facility under construction at Champions Park off River Road. Located about two miles east of Lynn Family Stadium, the facility will bring all branches of the organization under one roof when it opens next year.

Additionally, GE Appliances will increase its investments toward the community that surrounds Racing Louisville and LouCity:

• GE Appliances is backing Racing Louisville camps and clinics and will offer a full scholarship to support a member of the girls academy at no cost to her family.

• With each 2021 LouCity and Racing replica kit purchase, GE Appliances will donate to a fund for additional academy scholarships creating opportunities for underserved youth to reach their full potential by competing at the highest level.

• GE Appliances will continue work with Soccer Holdings to develop additional community-based charitable events and initiatives in the coming years.

“It’s so important for GE Appliances to recognize and support the good things happening in our own hometown,” said GE Appliances Vice President of Marketing & Brand Mary Putman. “We are excited to extend our support to the new women’s team and youth programs while continuing our relationship with LouCity.

“As a female athlete in my own youth, I’m passionate about equal opportunities for all youth in sports. Today’s commitment is one way we can help inspire kids in this community to reach for goals and drive success in their futures.”

Schedules are still to be determined for LouCity and Racing in 2021. New kits will be unveiled and go on sale in weeks preceding the clubs’ respective season openers.

GE Appliances strives to make the world a better place, and its team is committed to leading in the communities where employees live and work. A purpose-rooted and passion-driven organization, GE Appliances believes there is always a better way. It sells products under the Monogram®, Café™, GE Profile™, GE® Appliances, Haier, and Hotpoint brands. Products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, air conditioners, water filtration systems, water heaters, wine and beverage and small appliances. For more information, visit www.geappliances.com.