Nadia Nadim is set to make her first start of the 2023 campaign when Racing Louisville kicks off at 7:30 p.m. against Angel City at Lynn Family Stadium.
The 35-year-old striker recently returned to action after recovering from a torn ACL and knee surgery, making her first appearance this year in the July 7 win over Kansas City. She has since appeared in three UKG NWSL Challenge Cup matches, coming off the bench for increasingly more minutes.
Nadim’s insertion into the starting lineup is one of five changes to Racing’s lineup since the last time out, an August 5 Challenge Cup game at KC. The NWSL and Louisville (4-4-7, 19 points) rekindle the regular season this weekend, with coach Kim Björkegren’s squad two points out of a playoff spot with seven matches to play. Racing is anticipating a club record crowd tonight as four of the team’s six 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup stars return from national team duty.
A decorated international star, Nadim will be making her 15th start for Racing since joining the club in 2021. She has nine regular-season goals in 20 appearances. She’ll start up front alongside wingers Paige Monaghan and Wang Shuang, who returned to training this week after scoring twice for China in the World Cup. The 26-year-old Monaghan has scored in each of her past two regular-season games and was a July Team of the Month selection.
Racing’s promising young midfield trio reunites in the starting lineup, too, led by captain Jaelin Howell, who returns to the fold after missing the Challenge Cup group stage finale because of injury. U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Savannah DeMelo and Brazil midfielder Ary Borges are both back from the World Cup and in the starting 11 again. Borges made waves in Australia with a tournament-opening hat trick, while DeMelo started twice for the Americans in group stage play.
The back line is familiar for Louisville fans, with Abby Erceg, Lauren Milliet, Elli Pikkujämsä and Carson Pickett in front of goalkeeper Katie Lund. The quartet has started seven games together this season, helping Racing tie for second in the league in goals conceded on home turf. Lund will make her 42nd regular season start. The 26-year-old is the only player in the league to play every minute of the regular season and Challenge Cup this year.
Racing Louisville Team Sheet vs. Angel City
1 – Katie Lund
2 – Lauren Milliet
4 – Elli Pikkujämsä
20 – Abby Erceg
16 – Carson Pickett
6 – Jaelin Howell (c)
7 – Savannah DeMelo
8 – Ary Borges
77 – Wang Shuang
5 – Paige Monaghan
10 – Nadia Nadim
Substitutes: 99 – Olivia Sekany; 9 – Kayla Fischer, 13 – Emina Ekic, 15 – Julia Lester, 17 – Maddie Pokorny, 21 – Parker Goins, 22 – Kirsten Davis, 25 – Rebecca Holloway, 29 – Uchenna Kanu
