This list was tough to compile, but not for the same reasons that the Louisville City was tough. This list was actually tougher because Racing has not had the same level of success and there was a theme prevalent throughout it: injuries, not getting the best version of a player, or just general underperformance. For better or worse, here is your Racing Louisville top ten.
Honorable Mentions:
Ebony Salmon: Ebony had a brilliant single season in Louisville, the 2021 inaugural year. She signed in May, after the season had already started, but upon debuting she scored within 74 seconds to beat the Houston Dash. She would go on to tie for the team lead in NWSL Goals scored at 6 with Cece Kizer. She would leave Racing the following year as her playing time diminished under new Coach Kim.
Taylor Flint: Though only with Racing for this past season, what an impact Flint has already made! All she did was step in and take control of the Racing midfield and own the center of the park. If there was a ball in the air, it was hers to head. Flint is only 26 and hopefully has many more successful Racing seasons ahead of her.
Kirsten Wright: Part of the original 2021 NWSL Draft class for Racing, Wright was selected in the second round out of Texas Tech. Though she missed all of last year with previous injury, Wright still has 6 goals to her name in her career and can hopefully come back strong for the 2025 season.
Others for Honorable mentions: Themi Kgatlana, Ary Borges, and Gemma Bonner.
Dishonorable Mention: Christen Press and Tobin Heath. No back story needed. They know what they did. (i.e.: refused to ever appear or suit up for Racing Louisville though under the rights of Racing thru the Expansion Draft)
10. Michelle Betos: The first Captain in franchise history, Michelle Betos was essentially a target at a shooting range in goal as the team gave up 46 goals in 28 games. Betos started 20 of those games and was second in the league in saves with 95. She somehow collected 4 clean sheets along the way, but the reason she makes this list is her professionalism in a tough situation, both on and off the field, for exhibiting tremendous toughness battling injuries that initial year, and well, a small dose of pity as well for all those shots she had to face! Michelle will now be going in to her 4th season with Gotham as their primary backup keeper and being closer to home as a Queens native.
9. Jessica McDonald: Jess came to Racing at the tale end of her legendary NWSL career, in which she scored 58 goals and won three championships. Jess came to Louisville as the result of a series of trades that saw Savannah McCaskill depart, Racing receive the 6th pick in the draft, and then flip that pick for McDonald. Jess would go on to score 3 goals in her 26 appearances, but she struggled to stay healthy during her time in Louisville. When she was on the field, her and Nadia Nadim formed a dynamic partnership, including two beautiful link-ups in a comeback effort at the Washington Spirit. For better or worse, Jess ended her NWSL career in Louisville, and as was the case a number of times sadly, we never got to see her at her best.
8. Jaelin Howell: Howell came to Racing as the second overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft out of Florida State as a two-time winner of the top collegiate player. Unfortunately Howell would struggle with health and only appeared 50 times across her three seasons in Louisville. She made great strides between her rookie and second year and took much more control of the midfield but could never consistently stay on the field. She was named Captain for the 2023-2024 season. Sadly, Howell never scored a goal for Racing and was part of the Bethany Balcer trade during the 2023-2024 season. She went from Seattle in the offseason to Gotham as part of a trade.
7. Abby Erceg: Abby came to Louisville with Carson Pickett as part of the Emily Fox deal. Erceg was an ironwoman for Racing, playing every minute of her two seasons with the team. Her first season at the heart of the defense saw the team set a new record for lowest goals allowed at 24. She was named a co-Captain for the 2024 season with Jaelin Howell, but the team struggled to keep goals out and allowed 39 in. Abby was a model of consistency, but I never really saw or felt her leadership out there. It was announced she would not be returning at the end of the 2024 season.
6. Emma Sears: Though the second pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft for Racing, Sears had the biggest impact. Though she didn’t receive her first start until May of this year, Emma still went on to score five goals in her rookie campaign, with back-to-back efforts winning NWSL Goal of the Week honors. Her blazing pace is her biggest asset, and caught the eye of the USWNT and Coach Emma Hayes, who called her up. Sears would ultimately score during her USWNT camp and start in front of the Louisville faithful as the city hosted the USWNT for a friendly.
5. Emily Fox: Fox was the first overall pick of the 2021 NWSL Draft out of North Carolina. All she did her rookie season was led all rookies in minutes played and led the entire league in interceptions. Her efforts earned her an NWSL Second XI achievement. She was routinely called up and utilized by the USWNT during her tenure in Louisville, the first Racing Louisville player to be capped by the USWNT. Her time in Louisville came to end after two seasons as she was traded to North Carolina for Erceg and Carson Pickett. It just always felt to me like we never truly saw the best of Emily, especially as an attacking option during her time here.
4. Nadia Nadim: Nadia was the first true star for Racing Louisville. She came to Louisville from Paris Saint-Germain and with a background that you could only respect and revere as her family fled Afghanistan when she was 11. She arrived in Louisville as an accomplished NWSL goal-scorer with 32 goals in 64 games. She would go on to score 10 goals across 25 appearances for Racing, but Nadia struggled to stay fit and healthy and suffered two very serious knee injuries in her time here. She departed after three seasons in Louisville in 2023. While she was prolific when she was on the field, Nadia arguably made just as big of an impression and impact off of it as a great ambassador for the franchise. Oh, did I forget to mention she is also doctor and speaks 8 languages? One of my favorite all-time Louisville soccer moments was hearing her being subbed on and “the Dr. is in.” Nadia is still the solo second for goals scored in franchise history. One of the biggest what ifs in Louisville soccer history is what could have been if she didn’t have health issues?
3. Katie Lund: Katie has been here since Day 1, though she served as the primary backup to Michelle Betos year 1, she still helped the franchise win the inaugural Women’s Cup. She took over in year 2 and has not relinquished the starting job since. Along the way all she did was set the record for saves in a season in both 2022 and 2023, which is the sort of record you normally don’t want associated with you, but at the end of the day it is a record in a Racing Louisville player’s name that isn’t entirely terrible. Lund was a finalist for Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023 and has been on the fringes of the national team. She is second in games played for the franchise and is the clean sheets leader at 12.
2. . Lauren Milliet: The energizer bunny/jockey of the Racing Louisville franchise! Lauren Milliet is the symbol of Racing Louisville and our day 1. Milliet was chosen in the 2020 Expansion Draft and became our workhorse at Right Back. She had only made 6 appearances for North Carolina, but instantly slotted into Racing’s lineup. She has gone on to become Racing’s all-time leader in games played at 94 NWSL appearances and 115 appearances total, and has logged over 9,000 minutes in a Racing uniform. About the only thing missing from her Racing resume is a goal to her name.
- Savannah DeMelo: DeMelo came to Racing Louisville as their second player selected in the 2022 NWSL Draft, as the 4th overall pick out of USC. All DeMelo has done since coming to Louisville is lead the attack. She is the all-time goal scoring leader at 17 total with 14 in the NWSL. DeMelo is the leader in assists for the franchise as well at 8. Her prowess has included making Sportscenter top 10 and being the NWSL Player of the Month for May in 2023. While Savannah was not the first Racing player called up to the USWNT, she was the most impactful. On the strength of her 2023 season, DeMelo was named to the 2023 World Cup squad, though she had not appeared for the team yet, and started the first two group stage games. As the leading attacker for the franchise in our history, and the strongest showing for the national team, Savannah DeMelo was an easy selection for the top player in Racing history.
Corner Kicks with Cecil 
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