Racing deals Reilyn Turner for Janine Beckie, continuing roster makeover

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - Racing Louisville FC has traded its 2024 first-round pick in Reilyn Turner to the Portland Thorns for another experienced attacker in Janine Beckie, the club announced Wednesday.

Turner has impressed during her rookie campaign, tallying four goals and two assists. Beckie is in her 10th season as a pro and currently has three goals and two assists for the year. She has also signed a two-year contact extension to keep her in Louisville through 2026.

Racing Louisville vs North Carolina Courage — Racing Louisville FC took on the North Carolina Courage on July 7, 2024. (WDRB photo)

The Canadian National Team mainstay brings 135 matches of club soccer experience across the Women's Super League and National Women's Soccer League. In that time, she has scored 20 goals and racked up 19 assists. She is an Olympic gold and bronze medalist who has played in two World Cups and also won league titles with Portland and Manchester City.

“We are prioritizing NWSL experience and a winning history as we add to our team,” Racing general manager Ryan Dell said. “It is always a difficult decision to trade a player, especially a young talent like Reilyn.

"We are intent on building a team that can make a serious pursuit of a playoff spot, and we know Janine will help us immensely in that effort. Her combination of playmaking ability and locker room leadership makes us a better squad.”

“I’m really grateful and excited to be joining Racing!” Beckie said. “I’m honored to have an opportunity to bring my leadership and experience to an incredibly talented group of players.

"It is a club that aligns so well with my aspirations and values as a player and person, and I am really looking forward to making a lasting impact on the field and off in the Louisville community. I can’t wait to play in front of the incredible fans at Lynn Family Stadium and look forward to many incredible moments with Racing. See you all soon!”

It's the third Louisville trade in five days for a club that is making its intentions readily clear: Racing wants to make the NWSL playoffs for the first time in its fourth season as a club. First-year head coach Bev Yanez and second-year general manager Ryan Dell believe their team needed more veterans who have won elsewhere.

“Janine has a winning mentality and is someone we’ve paid close attention to for a long time,” Racing coach Bev Yanez said. “We can’t wait for her to get here and continue to move us forward as we make a playoff push in the last half of the season. Her experiences are incredibly valuable to our group and what we’re trying to build here.”

The club dealt a veteran in Carson Pickett, who requested to be closer to home, by sending her to the league's top team in the Orlando Pride. It made a painfully hard choice to trade its 24-year-old captain, another first-round pick, in Jaelin Howell to Seattle, for one of the league's best goal scorers in Bethany Balcer. And now, it makes Turner the fourth out of five Louisville first-round picks to eventually put on a kit that isn't Racing's.

Turner was the No. 6 overall pick in this last draft. She left UCLA as the Pac-12 Forward of the Year and was the first Bruin to ever receive the honor.

"Louisville will always hold a special place in my heart," Turner said. "I will remember this place forever as the city where my professional career started and a place that made a cross-country move feel like my new home.

"I am beyond grateful to have been surrounded by such an amazing group of women who have become my closest friends. I am thankful to my coaches and all the staff at Louisville who have been supportive the whole way, and I leave this place with a full heart and many great memories that I will never forget."

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