Racing Louisville made one change to its starting lineup ahead of tonight’s UKG NWSL Challenge Cup semifinal against OL Reign at Lumen Field in Seattle, with Savannah DeMelo replacing Wang Shuang in the lavender and mint’s XI.
DeMelo returns to the fold after a one-match suspension that forced her to sit out of Racing’s 2-1 comeback win over the Portland Thorns on Saturday evening, while Wang Shuang departed for international duty with China’s national team after the weekend victory.
Working their way back from injury, forward Nadia Nadim and captain Jaelin Howell, the anchor of Racing’s midfield, will be available off the bench as substitutes.
Tonight’s match is the first time in Racing’s young history as a club that it will play in an NWSL-sponsored knockout tournament, having qualified for the Challenge Cup semifinals as the top second-place team in the competition’s group stage. The match kicks off at 10 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
DeMelo has been one of the stars of the Challenge Cup despite missing three games while she was with the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, tallying three goals and an assist in three Cup matches. The 25-year-old played an integral role in helping Racing tie a Challenge Cup record by winning four consecutive games to open the competition.
Coach Kim Björkegren’s midfield will partner DeMelo with Brazilian international Ary Borges and young Finnish star Elli Pikkujämsä. This will mark the fourth time the trio has started a match together this year.
Up front, the Week 18 Bud Light NWSL Player of the Week is back in the fold on the right wing. Thembi Kgatlana was electric in Racing’s win over Portland, scoring the game-winner in the 64th minute after creating a number of chances through the first hour of the match. She’ll be joined by Kirsten Davis and Paige Monaghan, who has scored twice this year in two regular season matches against OL Reign.
The defensive grouping remains the same, led by Abby Erceg, who scored the equalizer against Portland this past weekend. Erceg will wear the captain’s arm band again tonight in place of Howell. Rebecca Holloway, Julia Lester and Lauren Milliet, who recently surpassed a record 5,000 regular-season minutes played for the club, will work alongside Erceg.
Goalkeeper Katie Lund, who is tied for first in the Challenge Cup with three shutouts, will once again set up shop between the posts for Racing. The 26-year-old has eight saves in six Cup starts.
Left back Carson Pickett, midfielder Jordan Baggett, forward Jess McDonald and goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer were all previously listed as out, while Taylor Aylmer is suspended for the game.
Racing Louisville Team Sheet at OL Reign
1 – Katie Lund
2 – Lauren Milliet
15 – Julia Lester
20 – Abby Erceg (c)
25 – Rebecca Holloway
4 – Elli Pikkujämsä
7 – Savannah DeMelo
8 – Ary Borges
11 – Thembi Kgatlana
5 – Paige Monaghan
22 – Kirsten Davis
Substitutes: 18 – Hillary Beall; 3 – Zaneta Wyne, 6 – Jaelin Howell, 9 – Kayla Fischer, 10 – Nadia Nadim, 13 – Emina Ekic, 17 – Maddie Pokorny, 21 – Parker Goins, 29 – Uchenna Kanu
