Jump to content

Racing Louisville FC (USL W League)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Racing Louisville FC
Full nameRacing Louisville Football Club
FoundedJanuary 18, 2022; 2 years ago (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
Websitehttps://www.racingloufc.com/
Current season

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).

History

[edit]

In January 2022, NWSL club Racing Louisville FC added an amateur team to compete in the newly formed USL 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

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

Coaching history

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

Year-by-year

[edit]
As of July 1, 2023.[14]
Season League Division Regular season Playoffs
P W D L GF GA GD Pts. Pos.
USL W Great Lakes 12 6 3 3 26 15 +11 21 3rd Did not qualify
Valley 10 8 1 1 42 4 +38 25 2nd[a] Did not qualify
  1. ^ Tied for first on points with Indy Eleven, but lost the first tiebreaker on head-to-head record.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "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.