Run With Us | Racing Louisville FC

[Caesar]

his???

It’s FIFA, bro. You expected EA to spend time cleaning that kind of stuff up?

[Agent]

NWSL Playoff Tree:

Quarter Finals Results:



Semi-Finals:

[Agent]

his???

It’s FIFA, bro. You expected EA to spend time cleaning that kind of stuff up?

I tell my players "I'm proud of you, Son!" all the time

For Asllani

The only narrative moving forward!

[Chillcavern]

Angel City knocked out the Spirit!!

Don't overlook them, but that could be just what you needed!

[Agent]

Angel City knocked out the Spirit!!

Don't overlook them, but that could be just what you needed!

That was a similar narrative last season too when Gotham was the top team in the NWSL & got beat in the first round.

It sure made the semi-finals that much easier for us not having to face Ouleymata Sarr She scored a hat trick against us in both meetings this season

Semi-Finals up next #ForAsllani

[Agent]

For The First Time In Club History, Racing Louisville FC & Filipa Patão Are Heading To The NWSL Championship!
NWSL Playoffs, Semi-Finals: November 14, 2026 - Lynn Family Stadium, Louisville, KY

2 vs. 5


Alisha Lehmann & Scarlett Camberos celebrate Lehmann's goal late in the second half.

Match Events:
12' S. Camberos (RAC)
20' K. Asllani (RAC)
52' R. Daly (ANG)
64' E. Palis (RAC)
73' R. Daly (ANG)
77' A. Lehmann (RAC)
86' E. Palis (RAC)

Up Next:

[Agent]

NWSL Playoff Tree:

Semi Finals Results:



Finals:

[Agent]

Racing to Glory: Louisville Punches Ticket to First-Ever NWSL Championship Behind Palis Brilliance and Patão’s Leadership



Louisville, KY — The purple smoke drifted through Lynn Family Stadium as the final whistle blew, confirming what had once felt like a distant dream: Racing Louisville FC are heading to their first-ever NWSL Championship. A decisive 5-2 victory over Angel City FC in the semifinals sealed the historic moment, with Ella Palis once again proving why she’s one of the most lethal scorers in the league.

Palis, who netted 20 goals in the regular season, added two more to her playoff tally against Angel City — bringing her total to three in the postseason after scoring in the 3-0 quarterfinal win over the Seattle Reign. Her blistering pace, intelligent positioning, and clinical finishing continue to redefine expectations for a second-year player.

"She plays like a veteran with the hunger of a rookie," head coach Filipa Patão said after the win. “She’s the heartbeat of our attack.”

Patão, in just her third season at the helm, has already left an indelible mark on the club. Inheriting a talented but unrefined squad in 2024, the Portuguese manager has delivered postseason appearances in all three campaigns — but 2026 has been the breakthrough. Her tactical clarity, emphasis on quick transitional play, and deep trust in young players like Ella Palis and Erëleta Memeti have transformed Racing from perennial hopefuls to title contenders.

“Filipa has changed the culture,” said veteran midfielder Savannah DeMelo. “We don’t play just to compete anymore. We play to win.”

Standing in their way now is NJ/NY Gotham FC, who edged past the Houston Dash in a gritty 2-1 semifinal to punch their ticket to the NWSL' Finals. It’s a showdown loaded with storylines — and history.

Racing opened their season with a statement 3-0 win over Gotham on March 14, a match in which Palis reintroduced herself to the league with a brace, and Memeti added a stunner of her own. The teams’ second meeting was a more balanced affair, a 2-2 draw that saw Rose Lavelle net both goals for Gotham, while Kosovare Asllani and Marisa DiGrande kept Louisville level.



That match — and this coming final — carry special weight for Asllani. The Swedish legend and Racing’s captain announced this would be her final season before retirement. Teammates have been vocal about their mission to send her off with the one thing she hasn’t yet claimed in the NWSL: a championship trophy.

“Kosovare means everything to this team,” said DiGrande. “She’s our leader. We’re going to fight for her.”



Key to Louisville’s chances will be the battle between the posts: Regina van Eijk, Racing’s Dutch international keeper, has been a revelation in 2026. Raw talent when she joined Racing in 2024 after the departure of Katie Lund, van Eijk struggled to find her place in the NWSL until now. With the second-most clean sheets in the league and a shutout already this postseason, van Eijk faces her biggest test yet against a dynamic Gotham front line led by Uchenna Kanu and Esther González.

Kanu — once a player in Louisville — scored 13 goals this season for Gotham after leaving Racing in free agency last year. Esther, though quieter this season with 8 goals, remains a major threat. Her explosive 20-goal campaign in 2025 tied Palis for the league lead and cemented her as one of the world’s most dangerous attackers. van Eijk’s ability to organize her back line and deny both forwards in high-pressure moments could be the difference.

As kickoff looms, the city of Louisville is already buzzing. The team’s Cinderella journey to the final — powered by youth, vision, and a farewell quest for their captain — has captured national attention.

From Palis’s goal-scoring clinic to Patão’s tactical masterclass, and from Memeti’s rise to Asllani’s final bow, Racing Louisville FC enters the biggest match in club history not just hoping for a title — but believing they’re ready to win one.

“We’ve earned this moment,” Patão said simply. “Now we finish it.”

[djp73]

Now finish it!

[Captain Canada]

Job's not finished. Let's go to work one last time.