March 15, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Racing Louisville FC News Release
Racing Louisville celebration
(Racing Louisville FC, Credit: USA TODAY Sports Images)
The 2024 NWSL season kicks off this weekend, and Racing Louisville is set to host a season opener at Lynn Family Stadium for the first time since 2021.
If any of the previous seven meetings are any indication, the 4 p.m. Saturday matchup against the Orlando Pride should be a cracking way to start the new campaign. The teams have produced 22 goals between them in those prior clashes, and they’re both entering the 2024 season with their sights set on the new eight-team NWSL Playoffs.
For Racing, it’s a fresh start under new head coach Bev Yanez, who slid over a seat on Louisville’s bench after spending the 2023 season as the team’s assistant coach. After a busy preseason that included three exhibitions against NWSL competition, Yanez’s squad is starting to take shape in her preferred way, with an emphasis on possession and free-flowing, attacking soccer.
The Louisvillians return a number of key players from last season, including U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Savannah DeMelo, who is coming off an NWSL Best XI second-team performance last season. Captain Jaelin Howell is back for her third year with the club, too, and Racing originals Katie Lund and Lauren Milliet are ready for their fourth year in lavender and mint. Star defenders Abby Erceg and Carson Pickett are back for second years, as is young Brazilian star Ary Borges.
Yanez and Racing had a busy offseason adding key pieces to the 26-player roster, including U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Taylor (Kornieck) Flint and NWSL veterans Marisa (Viggiano) DiGrande, Ellie Jean and Arin Wright. Jean joins Racing after winning the NWSL Championship with NJ/NY Gotham, and Flint comes to Louisville after claiming the NWSL Shield (regular-season first place) with San Diego. Wright, a University of Kentucky Hall of Famer, is considered the best soccer player ever produced by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Orlando opens the 2024 campaign with high hopes of its own. The Pride roared into playoff contention late last year under second-year coach Seb Hines, with the help of a breakthrough campaign from star forward Adriana, a teammate of Borges on Brazil’s national team.
Last year, Orlando topped Racing, 1-0, over Derby weekend in May. Racing returned the favor in its home finale, storming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in front of a…