Team News: Lavelle, McCaskill Return to Gotham FC Lineup at Racing Louisville

Rose Lavelle is set to return to the Gotham FC lineup after missing the past two games while in concussion protocol, starting for the first time since being named a Ballon D’or nominee.

The 31-year-old star midfielder joins Savannah McCaskill as the two changes made by Gotham FC coach Juan Carlos Amorós after Denver Summit FC spoiled his return from parental leave with a 3-0 upset of his first-place squad this past Sunday. Gotham FC aims to bounce back from that defeat with a road tilt at Lynn Family Stadium against Racing Louisville FC, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. ET.

NWSL+ will carry the broadcast of the match. Viewers can access NWSL+ for free online and via the NWSL+ app on Apple TV, Fire TV and Roku TV.

Gotham FC (13-4-6, 45 points) enters the NWSL’s weekend opener atop the league standings, two points clear of rival Washington with seven games left in the regular season. To maintain that spot, Gotham FC turns to an almost-identical setup from its 1-0 home win over Racing back on May 3, the only difference being Sam Kerr’s addition up front.

Kerr, who turned 33 yesterday, leads the line tonight in Kentucky, flanked by 21-year-olds Jaedyn Shaw on the left and Jordynn Dudley on the right. The trio has 11 goals and eight assists between them. Dudley assisted Shaw for the lone goal in the first meeting between teams this year.

Lavelle and McCaskill, who is making her 22nd start this year, take up the central midfield, pairing with mainstay holding midfielder Jaelin Howell. It’s the 18th time across all 2026 competitions that the trio will start together; the team is 10-3-4 with that starting midfield.

Lavelle wasn’t the only Gotham FC standout to receive Ballon D’or recognition: Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, making her 21st start of the NWSL regular season, was nominated the Yashin Trophy, given to the world’s top goalkeeper at the annual Ballon D’or ceremony. The German shot stopper finished second in voting last year, the first season in which the trophy included a women’s category.

Midge Purce and Guro Reiten line up at fullback in Amorós’s latest lineup, with captain Tierna Davidson partnering with England international Jess Carter in the center of the defense.

Gotham FC’s bench includes goalkeeper Shelby Hogan; defenders Bruninha and Mandy Freeman; midfielders Tess Boade, Denise O’Sullivan, Talia Sommer, Meredith Speck and Taryn Torres; and forward Andrea Kitahata,.

Defender Kayla Duran (knee) and defender Emily Sonnett (knee) are both on the season-ending injury list. Midfielder Sofia Cook (lower leg) was previously listed as out for the Racing Louisville match.

Gotham FC lineup at Racing Louisville

30 – Ann-Katrin Berger (GK)

23 – Midge Purce

27 – Jess Carter

15 – Tierna Davidson (c)

18 – Guro Reiten

7 – Jaelin Howell

13 – Savannah McCaskill

16 – Rose Lavelle

2 – Jordynn Dudley

20 – Sam Kerr

10 – Jaedyn Shaw

Substitutes: 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK), 3 – Bruninha, 5 – Denise O’Sullivan, 8 – Taryn Torres, 14 – Talia Sommer, 22 – Mandy Freeman, 24 – Andrea Kitahata, 25 – Meredith Speck, 28 – Tess Boade