First chance to clinch comes this weekend with a win against Chicago
By Lesley Ryder
Racing Louisville has finished in 9th place in every season of the club’s existence. On Friday, they’ll get their first shot at clinching their first-ever playoff berth with a win against the Chciago Stars.
Louisville currently sits in 7th place on the league table with 32 points. Last season, that would’ve been enough to secure a place in the playoffs. With 3 games left in the 2025 season, it won’t be enough to guarantee a top-8 finish. But the good news is the club is in a position right now to control their own fate. A win on Friday won’t clinch a playoff spot outright—they’ll need some help from the Washington Spirit, and Angel City FC—but they’ll need all 3 points if they want to stay in control going forward.
Racing’s next opponent is the last-place Chicago Stars. Players and coaches alike know how difficult this league can be. You won’t catch them underestimating the Stars, especially when they’ve been able to mount multi-goal comebacks in the second half multiple times. This month’s Stars team is not the same team they played to a 1-0 win back in March.
Head coach Bev Yanez feels the team is ready for the challenge ahead. “They’ve changed a bit from an identity perspective with a new coach coming in. I think it’s always something you prepare for, and look at,” Yanez told the media at open training.
Yanez’s time with the team was cut short this week thanks to a bout a food poisoning. “I’m feeling so much better, and I trust in the staff and the team that everything carried on great without me,” said Yanez “Three games left, and like I said with five games left—it’s crunch time.”
Playoff chatter is unavoidable as the season’s finish line draws closer. The team is well aware of their place on the table, but their focus remains on what they can control. “With each training in these last few weeks we’re just taking it one game at a time,” said Louisville forward Emma Sears.
The second-year forward has come alive for the club, setting the single-season goal scoring record with 10 goals and counting. The double-digit figure was a goal for Sears at the beginning of the season. “I’m super happy to have that come to fruition. I think it can seem daunting thinking about 10 goals in the league that we play in. But now I’m kind of like, maybe 15? We’ll see, you never know!”
Photo credit: NWSL/Racing Louisville
Earlier this week, Emma Sears signed a three-year contract extension. She’ll be with the club through the 2028 season. “I think she’s a great player, and she’s showcasing in all moments of the game,” Yanez praised the young forward. “I think she’s just scratching the surface. I think there’s more to her.”
There’s one more goal from preseason that the club is trying to reach: win three games in a row. Friday’s match presents the team’s third opportunity to hit that mark. “We’re so excited to have another crack at it,” Yanez sees the moment as an opportunity, but doesn’t want to weigh it down with pressure. “It’s just going out there and controlling what we can control, and being optimistic to what we’re being presented throughout the match.”
Racing Louisville will kick off against Chicago Stars FC tonight at 6:30PM CT on NWSL+.