Since starting play in 2021, Racing Louisville FC has blazed a trail as its city’s only top-tier professional sports team.
Named as an ode to Louisville’s Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, Racing competes in the National Women’s Soccer League, the world’s premier women’s professional soccer league. NWSL stars regularly take part in the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, among other notable international competitions.
Racing Louisville plays in the largest soccer-specific stadium in the state — 15,304-capacity Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville’s Butchertown neighborhood just east of downtown. The stadium also houses Racing’s brother club, Louisville City FC of the USL Championship.
In 2021, Racing won the inaugural Women’s Cup at Lynn Family Stadium, defeating German power Bayern Munich in a penalty kick shootout. In 2023, the team finished runner-up in the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup, marking the club’s first appearance in an NWSL final.
Racing’s roster features multiple senior internationals, including U.S. Women’s National Team members Savannah DeMelo, Taylor Flint and Emma Sears, as well as Ángela Barón of Colombia, Ary Borges of Brazil, Uchenna Kanu of Nigeria, Elli Pikkujämsä of Finland and Janine Sonis of Canada.
Both LouCity and Racing maintain daily operations from the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center, located at Champions Park about two miles east of the stadium. The facility also houses the LouCity & Racing Academy and the LouCity & Racing Foundation, the organization’s charitable arm.
John Neace heads a local ownership group as chairman of Soccer Holdings, LLC — the parent company of Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC. Former LouCity coach James O’Connor serves as the organization’s president.
KEY RACING LOUISVILLE FC DATES
October 22, 2019: Louisville announced as the NWSL’s fourth expansion market.
July 8, 2020: Racing’s name and logo designed by the renowned Matthew Wolff were unveiled.
Oct. 26, 2020: Trade with the Chicago Red Stars made Savannah McCaskill and Yuki Nagasato the club’s first players.
Nov. 12, 2020: Racing acquired rights to 14 players during the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft.
Jan. 12, 2021: Racing led off the 2021 NWSL College Draft by selecting Emily Fox at No. 1 overall.
Feb. 2, 2021: With snow cleared off the pitch, Racing was able to hold its first-ever training session.
April 10, 2021: Cece Kizer scored first and Brooke Hendrix equalized in stoppage time as Racing drew the Orlando Pride, 2-2, in a dramatic inaugural game.
May 21, 2021: Louisville native Emina Ekic scored a goal and assisted another in Racing’s first victory, a 2-0 win over the eventual league champion Washington Spirit.
July 16, 2021: Racing’s new facility, shared with Louisville City FC, opened as the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center.
Aug. 21, 2021: Racing defeated FC Bayern Munich on penalty kicks, with substitute goalkeeper Katie Lund scoring the game-winner in the 11th round of the shootout, to hoist the first The Women’s Cup trophy.
Nov. 20, 2021: Racing hosts the NWSL Championship with 10,360 on hand at Lynn Family Stadium.
Aug. 2, 2022: Goalkeeper Katie Lund makes 12 saves against OL Reign to break the NWSL single-game record.
Aug. 27, 2022: Racing set a new club attendance record of 8,729 fans at its match against the Chicago Red Stars.
Oct. 1, 2022: Katie Lund set a new NWSL record with 112 regular-season saves.
June 8, 2023: Savannah DeMelo becomes the first Racing Louisville player named NWSL Player of the Month for May.
June 21, 2023: Savannah DeMelo named to the U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the 2023 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first uncapped player since Shannon Boxx in 2003 to go to the tournament with the U.S. She would later start two matches in the tournament.
Aug. 19, 2023: Racing Louisville sets a new attendance record with 10,214 fans at Lynn Family Stadium to see a 1-1 draw with Angel City FC.
Sept. 6, 2023: Kirsten Davis’s first-half goal against OL Reign sends Racing to the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup Final, marking the club’s first appearance in an NWSL final.
Oct. 6, 2023: Racing comes back to defeat the Orlando Pride 3-2 — the first time the club overcame a two-goal deficit to win.
Oct. 15, 2023: Racing finishes with the most points, most goals scored and fewest goals allowed in club history.
Nov. 30, 2023: Racing announces the hire of Bev Yanez, a 35-year-old former NWSL player, as its new head coach.
March 30, 2024: Racing forward Uchenna Kanu breaks the NWSL record for the fastest brace after scoring twice in six minutes against the Portland Thorns.
April 20, 2024: Racing scores five goals against the Utah Royals in front of a club record crowd of 11,365 during the annual Thunder Over Louisville celebration.
Oct. 27, 2024: Racing forward Emma Sears becomes the fourth U.S. national teamer to score and tally an assist in their first international cap.
Oct. 30, 2024: Lynn Family Stadium hosts its first USWNT match with 13,543 in attendance for a friendly win over Argentina.
