Racing Louisville FC (USL W League)

Racing Louisville FC is an amateur women's soccer team that plays in the USL W League. It is affiliated and shares ownership with the eponymous professional team Racing Louisville FC, which competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Racing Louisville FC
Full nameRacing Louisville Football Club
FoundedJanuary 18, 2022 (2022-01-18)
StadiumLynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center
Louisville, Kentucky
OwnerSoccer Holdings, LLC
ChairmanJohn Neace
Head coachCallie McKinney
LeagueUSL W League
20232nd of 8
Valley Division
WebsiteClub website
For the affiliated professional National Women's Soccer League team, see Racing Louisville FC.

History

In January 2022, NWSL club Racing Louisville added an amateur team to compete in the newly formed W League,[1] becoming the first NWSL club to do so. This followed the club's academy opening in 2020 and completed its developmental pathway from youth soccer to top-division professional play.[2] The club hired an all-female technical staff to lead the team, with Kincaid Schmidt as its inaugural head coach and former NWSL player Libby Stout as assistant coach.[3]

In the 2023 USL W League season, Racing finished in a tie on points for first place in the Valley division with eventual national championship finalists Indy Eleven with a greater goal differential, but second due to the first tiebreaker being head-to-head record and did not advance to the conference playoffs. The team's only loss and draw on its 8–1–1 season record were against Indy.[4][5]

Stadium

Racing Louisville FC has played its USL W League matches at the Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center,[6] which also serves as the parent club's training facility,[7] since its inception.[1]

Players

Most of Racing's W League squad are drawn from colleges and Racing's youth academy.[8] The professional Racing Louisville club has signed players from its W League club, including Isabella Beletic[9] and Allison Whitfield[10] in 2022. Racing Academy and W League player Ella Sanchez was a non-roster invitee to the professional team's 2023 preseason.[11] Racing's Emily Madril was one of 19 W League players to sign a professional contract, with Orlando Pride, after the league's inaugural season.[12]

Staff
As of June 6, 2023.[8]
Technical
Head coach Callie McKinney
Assistant coach Libby Stout

Coaching history
  • 2022: Kincaid Schmidt[3][13]
  • 2023: Callie McKinney[8]

Year-by-year
As of July 1, 2023.[14]
Season League Division Regular season Playoffs
P W D L GF GA GD Pts. Pos.
2022
 USL WGreat Lakes 126332615+11213rd Did not qualify
2023
 Valley 10811424+38252nd[lower-alpha 1] Did not qualify
  1. Tied for first on points with Indy Eleven, but lost the first tiebreaker on head-to-head record.

References
  1. Gardner, Hayes (January 18, 2022). "Racing Louisville soccer adds 'pre-professional' USL W League squad to compete this year". Louisville Courier Journal. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  2. Hruby, Emma (January 18, 2022). "Racing Louisville first NWSL team to expand into USL W League". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  3. "Schmidt to lead Racing's all-female USL W League staff" (Press release). Racing Louisville FC. January 25, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  4. "Racing's W League team draws Indy in a top-of-the-division clash" (Press release). Racing Louisville FC. June 2, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  5. "Racing's W League team suffers first defeat of the season to Indy Eleven" (Press release). Racing Louisville FC. June 6, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  6. "Schedule". USL W League. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  7. "Training Facility". Lou City/Racing Academy. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  8. "Racing names McKinney as new USL W League coach" (Press release). Racing Louisville FC. February 28, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  9. Hayward, Len (July 7, 2022). "Carroll grad Isabella Beletic signs short-term contract with Racing Louisville FC". Corpus Christi Caller Times. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  10. "Former Manual, UofL teammates reunited at Racing Louisville FC". WLKY. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  11. Lane, Tom (May 12, 2023). "Racing Louisville academy star, Ballard senior Ella Sanchez will soon decide if to turn pro or play in college". WDRB. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  12. Yang, Steph (January 26, 2023). "Lower-division women's soccer eyes international investment, raised standards". The Athletic. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  13. "Racing sets inaugural USL W League roster with season nearing" (Press release). Racing Louisville FC. May 4, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  14. "Standings". USL W League. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.