November 20, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Racing Louisville FC News Release
Racing Louisville FC huddle
(Racing Louisville FC, Credit: USA TODAY Sports Images)
Racing Louisville FC announced several roster moves before the National Women’s Soccer League’s end-of-season process kicks off on Monday.
Forwards Jess McDonald and Nadia Nadim are unrestricted free agents and will not re-sign with Racing Louisville. The club waived midfielder Alex Chidiac and defender Rebecca Holloway as their contracts expire, making their playing rights for 2024 and beyond available to other NWSL teams. Midfielder Taylor Aylmer is a restricted free agent through the end of her contract on Dec. 31.
Racing remains in contract discussions with three others who have expiring deals – goalkeeper Olivia Sekany and forwards Parker Goins and Wang Shuang.
The end-of-season roster status update comes after Racing previously announced the departure of forward Emina Ekic, who signed as a free agent with Australian club Melbourne City, and three weeks ahead of the 2023 NWSL Expansion Draft, presented by Ally, set for Dec. 15.
In September, Racing exercised the 2024 options on the contracts of forwards Thembi Kgatlana and Kirsten Davis and defender Julia Lester. Midfielder Maddie Pokorny also signed a new contract through 2025, while goalkeepers Hillary Beall and Jordyn Bloomer inked new deals through 2024 with options for 2025.
Monday marked the first day of the league’s free agency period. Unrestricted free agents may sign with any team. With restricted free agents, their current team has the right to match an offer from another NWSL club for up to seven days after the player informs their current team of the other team’s offer.
Released NWSL players who are not free agents go through the end-of-season waiver wire period, which runs from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Details for the 2024 NWSL Draft have not yet been set, but the event is expected to be held in January.
The ninth-place Louisville club narrowly missed out on the playoffs, competing for one of the six postseason spots through the final day of the regular season.
Racing Louisville FC’s current roster:
Goalkeepers (4): Hillary Beall*, Jordyn Bloomer, Katie Lund, Olivia Sekany^
Defenders (5): Abby Erceg, Julia Lester, Lauren Milliet, Elli Pikkujämsä, Carson Pickett
Midfielders (7): Jordan Baggett, Ary Borges, Savannah DeMelo, Kayla Fischer, Jaelin Howell, Maddie Pokorny, Wang Shuang^
Forwards (5): Kirsten Davis, Parker…