This week we got a look at the initial roster of the NWSL’s latest expansion team, Racing Louisville F.C, following their highly anticipated draft.
Heath Says Goodbye To PTX
One of the biggest shocks of Thursday night’s draft was Louisville acquiring the rights to World Cup champion Tobin Heath.
Until now, Heath has been a core player of the Portland Thorns since its creation in 2013. As one of the original seven players allocated to the team’s initial roster. Since then, Heath has been a staple of the group and is accredited for its immense success among fans. The thorns are among the most popular teams in the league, with the highest number of ticket sales each year. Ending the 2019 season with 20, 098 with the still fairly new Utah Royals coming in behind them at 10, 774.
The Royals also took a big hit in the draft. Losing the playing rights to USWNT forward Christen Press, who they received in their expansion draft just two years ago. But like Heath, Press is currently playing overseas on a short term contract with Man United.
Is It Worth It?
So the question now becomes, when will Racing Louisville actually see the benefits? Unlike fellow draftee Alanna Kennedy, they aren’t required to come back to the NWSL. While loaned players like Kennedy must return to the league when the team issues a recall or the loan expires.
And unfortunately for Louisville, many of the sport’s most prominent insiders do not see either returning to the NWSL anytime in the near future.
Australian international, Caitlin Foord, who is currently playing for Arsenal, is in the same situation. Louisville acquired Foord’s playing rights from Orlando along with fellow Aussie Alanna Kennedy.
And with the uncertainty of the COVID -19 outbreak, it is expected that all three will opt to stay overseas where they have a better chance of getting a full season.
But of course, there are a few upsides for Louisville for taking this risk. One of the biggest being international recognition and substantial marketing opportunities. By tapping into the fanbase of not only one but two of the most popular national teams.
But with the Olympics set to take place next summer, even if Foord, Heath, and Press returned for next season, they, along with Kennedy, would miss a substantial amount of the season to represent their respective countries, leaving Louisville with an extremely young roster on their hands.
Of the other ten players selected in Thursday night’s draft, six just made their NWSL debut this past summer. But it is the addition of the reign’s 2015 goalkeeper of the year Michelle Betos and Chicago’s Yuki Nagasato, which will bring the level of experience and wisdom that will be crucial to the team’s early success.
What’s In The Future?
But with the NWSL trade window officially open there is no telling what anyone’s final roster will look like; while many teams wait to see if players will be returning or remaining overseas. And with Portland and Utah each receiving $75,000 in allocation money grants the odds may be in their favor.
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