Racing Louisville FC kicks off the busiest month of its inaugural season Sunday looking for some momentum. And perhaps a matchup with fellow NWSL expansion side Kansas City could do the trick.
Louisville will play five games — four in NWSL competitions, plus either FC Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain as part of The Women’s Cup — all this month. While Racing has statistically improved in recent weeks, the ladies in lavender are looking to get over the top and earn some points.
The club had one of its best statistical outings last weekend in Tacoma, Wash., dropping a 2-0 result to OL Reign in a game where it out-shot and out-possessed a quality opponent. But a pair of first half defensive breakdowns led to goals.
Racing enters Sunday at 3-6-2, ninth on the NWSL table.
Kansas City, meanwhile, is still looking for its first victory since the former Utah Royals moved locations this season. A recent trade with the NC Courage sent captain Amy Rodriguez to North Carolina in exchange for goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland along with forwards Hailie Mace and Kristen Hamilton.
KC is 0-8-4, with one of those draws the May 15 season opener also at Lynn Family Stadium when the visitors played Racing to a scoreless draw.
Kansas City has added offensive pieces via the trade, and Racing has bolstered its attack with signings since then such as forwards Ebony Salmon and Nadia Nadim. With both sides looking for a breakthrough moment, kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Sunday.
Here’s more of what to watch for…
Coach Christy Holly says…
“They are a big threat going forward. They have some good experience at the back. For us, it is the same as every game. We have to come in and set the tempo of how we want to play. Regardless of where a team sits in the NWSL, there is no such thing as an easy game. We have to focus on the little details that have been skipping us in the game.”
“You can see the energy around the team. The players want to work. That is something we are very pleased about. We are pleased about the application and growth that they have shown individually and collectively. The fact we are able to go into these games and impose ourselves is something we are very excited about. That is a testament to the work that these players have done since February 1. We will not become consumed by the results of these games. We will not become consumed by the outcome.”
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 Matt Pedersen and color commentary by Marion Cole. Internationally, fans can also stream the match on Twitch.
Notes to know
By the numbers: A goal has been key for Racing. If Louisville gets at least one, the club is 3-0-1. But the ladies in lavender are 0-6-1 in games when they haven’t scored. All three victories have come in shutout performances, with the draw when scoring a 1-1 result July 9 against Orlando when the Pride equalized in stoppage time.
Expansion success: As Racing approaches the midpoint of its first season, the club is on track to finish with the best record of any expansion club in NWSL history. Louisville has tallied 11 points with 13 games to go. Orlando, which joined the NWSL in 2016, finished with 19 points, and the Houston Dash joined in 2014 to tally 18 points.
Kansas’ internationals: Of the 10 teams competing this year in the NWSL, Louisville and Kansas City are the only two without a U.S. Women’s National Team player missing during the Tokyo Olympics. However, Kansas City did see Katie Bowen (New Zealand), Chloe Logarzo (Australia) and gold medalist medalist Desiree Scott (Canada) competing for their respective countries.
Sister act: She hails from Lenexa, Kan., but Racing defender Sinclaire Miramontez has a deeper connection to Sunday’s foe than that. Her older sister, Sydney, is also a professional defender for Kansas City. The Miramontez siblings are one of two sets of sisters actively playing in the NWSL along with Sam (Courage) and Kristie Mewis (Dash).
From the Sunflower State: While no members of Racing’s roster have played professionally for Kansas City, two other than Miramontez grew up in the area with defender Addisyn Merrick from Lee’s Summit, Mo., and forward Cece Kizer from Overland, Park, Kan. Additionally, forward Katie McClure, who is from Wichita, Kan., attended the University of Kansas with Merrick.
Nadim’s ninety: Last weekend’s OL Reign game marked forward Nadia Nadim’s first start for Racing. She registered four shots and a game-leading four key passes, including the closest scoring opportunity for the new club on a 51st-minute header flicked just wide of the post. The international star Nadim arrived in July after winning a title with PSG.
Lineup rotation: Through Racing’s first 11 matches, its lineup has changed seven times, seeing 19 different players start at least once. Three players — goalkeeper Michelle Betos, defender Erin Simon and forward Savannah McCaskill — have started every game.
Trophy on the line: After Sunday’s game, the next time Racing plays at home on Aug. 18, the club will be competing for hardware. The Chicago Red Stars, Bayern and PSG will converge on Louisville for The Women’s Cup, a first-year event that consists of four games concluding Aug. 21 at Lynn Family Stadium. Visit thewomenscup.world for tickets and more information.
Injury report
- Katie Lund (questionable)
- Addisyn Merrick (out)
- Katie McClure (questionable)
- Ebony Salmon (questionable)
Milestone watch
Michelle Betos is one shutout away from her 15th NWSL regular season clean sheet and would be one of seven players to earn that stat.
Freja Olofsson is one appearance from her 85th as a professional.
Nadia Nadim is two goals from her 30th in NWSL regular season play.
