Preview: Chicago Red Stars vs Racing Louisville

The Chicago Red Stars (5-1-4, 16 points, 5th NWSL) are back at home after being dealt their first road loss of the season in the final moments of last weekend’s match at Gotham.

Racing Louisville (1-6-2, 9 points, 10th NWSL) comes to town this weekend and it will be a homecoming of sorts for former Red Stars defender Arin Wright, who was traded on draft day after spending her first eight professional seasons in Chicago.

Chicago looks like they will once again be without starting goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher as she deals with a thigh injury, leaving Mackenzie Wood as the expected starter for the second consecutive week. Nádia Gomes is finally out of her walking boot, so she has a chance of featuring against Louisville after missing the last month with an ankle injury.

The Red Stars’ defensive marking let them down in Gotham. Both goals came from solid aerial service that Chicago didn’t handle well. That’s been an emphasis in training this week, according to head coach Lorne Donaldson.

“We definitely addressed it and will address it more,” Donaldson said during his weekly media availability. “We started the season with a lot of box defending and stuff, we have to just remind ourselves that it’s very important.

“We can win or lose a game in the box whether it’s offensively or defensively. That’s where you win or lose the game. If you’re not good in the box, you’re going to lose a lot of games. I think the players will look at some stuff, we’ve looked at tapes and we’ll just make sure that we can deal with stuff in the box.”

Who: Chicago Red Stars vs Racing Louisville

Where: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Illinois

When: May 25, 2024. 6:30 p.m CT

How to Watch: ION

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