This year’s preseason tournament at Providence Park saw the Portland Thorns hosting OL Reign, Racing Louisville, and the U-23 Women’s National Team.
While Seattle and Portland finished first and second in the league, respectively, in 2022, Racing Louisville had a chance showcase the ways they have improved since last season.
In 2021 and 2022, Racing Louisville finished ninth in the NWSL.
As a club entering their third season, making the playoffs is a goal they feel is attainable, and rightfully so. Their welcome to the NWSL has resulted in a rough first two seasons, thus far.
Racing Louisville are closer than ever, and this could be the year it all comes together.
Blockbuster trade & backline
This team completed a blockbuster trade this offseason by sending superstar Emily Fox to the North Carolina Courage for one of the greatest defenders of all time in Abby Erceg and left back Carson Pickett.
After having a shaky situation at center back in their first two years, they’ve made it a strength in one offseason.
Although it is impossible to replace a USWNT left back starter in Emily Fox, they somehow still managed to get an elite one in Pickett.
The backline was Racing’s biggest question mark after surrendering the the third most goals in 2022, and it has looked remarkably improved in 2023.
Erceg’s partnership at center back with Finnish defender Elli Pikkujämsä was excellent in preseason. Her leadership was been on display: she’s vocal, directs the defense, and showcased her superb play.
“I enjoy coming in and helping people,” Erceg said. “I like seeing people reach their potential and get better as a player. I enjoy that aspect of it.”
Pickett and Lauren Milliet have been tremendous coming forward and delivering dangerous crosses. The fullbacks have more reign in attack, and it’s paid off in preseason. Defensively, their speed has been on display. The recovery runs have been impressive. This pair is going to cause problems all season.
Goalkeeper Katie Lund has been lights-out and will only get better from here. After leading the league in saves, she has solidified herself as a top NWSL goalkeeper.
Head Coach Kim Björkegren has been extremely impressed with Lund, who he says has made so many world class saves.
“The funny thing with [Lund] is she still has much higher potential,” he said. “In three to four years, I don’t know how good she could be because in my opinion she’s already one of the best goalkeepers in this league.”
These four players have a chance to make this backline from a question mark into a strength.
Familiarity with the system
Björkegren will be entering his second season as the head coach. In 2022, the team had to adjust to a brand new system, and we saw a ton of growing pains as a result.
For most of 2022, they struggled to adapt to what Björkegren was asking of them. Players who did not fit the system, struggled and some were let go or traded away.
In order to get more information on the system, I reached out to Michael Shaw who covers Racing Louisville for Fleur-de-lis FC. One key note is that they play a traditional 4-3-3 formation, which is a staple for both Lou City and Racing Louisville.
Björkegren’s expectations and system is explained in detail by Shaw: “Staring with the front line, he expects defensive effort to try to force the issue when opponents have the ball deep in their territory. When you think about the forwards that Racing released last season, I believe it was more for their defensive effort than their goal scoring ability.”
Shaw expects the midfield to have some versatility, but the main pieces are in place. “At times, the midfield played with two in front of the back four, and that may be how they play at times this season, but Howell is a classic central defensive midfielder, DeMelo is a classic No. 8, and Wang is a classic center-attacking mid,” he said. “I expect him to play to their strengths.”
On the defensive end, this team is looking for players who fit the philosophy.
“The full backs will push forward,” Shaw said, “especially now with Pickett. Indications are that Milliet could start on the back line, too. More than any other player, Milliet explains [Björkegren’s] type of player. She always gives full effort and doesn’t shut off mentally. That’s why she has been ever-present in his lineups.”
At the end of the day, the talent and ability of each player will be highlighted and valued. “When playing out from the back, [Björkegren] values the technical ability to allow the team to keep possession,” Shaw said. “I would say that he tends to prefer the wide areas when building from the back. Now that he has Pickett, Milliet, and [Paige] Monaghan as options on the wings, expect that to continue.”
Even after the team’s 13-game winless streak last year, they never wavered or stop believing in one another. The team’s belief in each other is powerful.
Down the stretch of 2022, Racing Louisville started to figure it out. They won three of their final four games, including the finale over NWSL Championship finalist, Kansas City Current.
That seems to have carried over into the preseason tournament. They narrowly lost to Portland 0-1 on a late set piece goal by Meaghan Nally. Louisville rebounded nicely by coming out 2-0 over OL Reign. Closing out their final preseason game against the U23WNT, they won again.
This is the first time, the staff will have the players they need to make it work. Everyone is going to be more confident and have their roles clearly defined going into Coach Kim’s second season.
Talented roster
This team also returns two of the best young players in the league: Savannah DeMelo and Jaelin Howell. Both also signed long-term contract extensions to remain with the club. DeMelo and Howell have already had stints on the USWNT and will be part of the the squad after this 2023 WWC cycle.
DeMelo said she wants to keep improving in her second NWSL season. “I have some things that I want to take from year one and apply to year two, but also add a couple pieces to my game,” she said.
In regards to the her and Howell’s role, DeMelo said, “I think just us being so young, I think we want to just provide energy and that little spark that the team needs.”
The club has made numerous high-profile player acquisitions in recent years: Monaghan, Nadia Nadim, Wang Shuang, Pikkujämsä, Ary Borges, Rebecca Holloway, Thembi Kgatlana, Alex Chidiac, Satara Murray, and most recently Uchenna Kanu.
Racing Louisville’s roster is very talented, and they possess one of the top rosters in the NWSL.
The Bev Yanez Effect
In a league where former players are now starting to become coaches, one of the highest-regarded ones is Bev Yanez. As a player, Yanez was a former best XI and won multiple NWSL shields. When she is ready, there will be a head coaching job waiting for her.
The respect she has from the team has been very apparent.
“She’s awesome,” Erceg said. “I think, especially for such a young team, to have a coach come in and just drill us on technique and technique and technique, it’s really good. I really enjoy her style of coaching. It’s very direct; there’s a lot of information, and it’s really good that she breaks things down. And I’ve really enjoyed that the training is different. Each time we go in, the drills are different, they’re challenging, [and] you’ve got to think.”
Yanez has made sure it a priority to help players as much as possible. She is also known to bring a lot of clarity to the squad, if needed. Whenever there may be any confusion or questions, Yanez makes herself available.
“She’s given us a lot of feedback, a lot of detail around our performances and the shape of the team,” Erceg said. “I think the girls are really thriving with that. She’s just a really good personality to have on the team as well… So I think people enjoy having her on the field and off the field.”
Team unity
A NWSL season requires you to be around your teammates for nearly the entire calendar. There are teams who are close, but the 2023 Racing Louisville squad has something special.
Their training sessions are filled with laughter, fun, and joyful vibes. They enjoy being around each other so much, and most of them want to be around each other all the time.
“I think just us being so close makes us want to work for each other,” DeMelo said. “We all want to win for each other [and] for our coach. So I think it just adds that level of family to it and makes it a little bit more special and more meaningful. And it’s not really about like one specific player. We all like want to do well just for the club and the team.”
The final lap
In 2022, the Kansas City Current went from last to nearly winning the NWSL championship. They were one game from a fairy tale ending.
After everything Racing Louisville players and fans have been through, it would be quite the story if they were to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
“What would that mean?” DeMelo said. “The world. I think we’re trying to grow something really special here in Louisville. And I think we’ve been like puzzling in a lot of good players, and then extending people’s contracts. And I think we really want to build something here.”
“It would be pretty cool,” Erceg said. “I think playoffs for any team is cool. You lose that specialness, a little bit, when you’re repetitively doing it. So I think for a team like this, they just, they just want it so bad.”
Erceg said the team’s positive culture helps. “The team culture is really good,” she said. “And I want nothing more than for this team to be rewarded for that. You don’t get that all the time. It’s not common, especially in pro teams.”
This team has all the ingredients to be a playoff contender: improved backline, studs in the midfield, and options on the frontline.
Racing Louisville supporters, be proud of the team you have because they’re going to make you proud this season.
