Emma Sears
Chris Carter

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - Racing Louisville FC goalkeepers coach Sergio Gonzalez leads the team's college scouting to keep an eye on potential draft prospects. 

As Racing tried to start the process very early last season, a forward from Ohio State named Emma Sears kept impressing Gonzalez. Head coach Bev Yanez recalled him consistently pointing her out.

"He was big on identifying her the previous year and kept his thumb on the idea of her throughout that entire recruitment process," Yanez said. 

The 2024 NWSL Draft arrived and the picks kept coming in with no announcement of Sears. She was still available by the time the 28th overall pick had arrived and Louisville was on the clock.

"Please be available, please be available," Yanez remembered in the moments leading up to that pick. "But there was a moment of, 'Who are we going with at this point?' And it was very much so we're going with Emma. And looking back at that now, I'm so freaking happy that that's who we went with."

Happy enough to reward the standout rookie with a new contract that keeps her in Louisville through 2026. According to the club, the deal includes improved terms and bonuses for Sears, who ranks fourth in the NWSL in shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, fifth in goal-creating actions per 90 and sixth in shots on target per 90. She is the only player in the NWSL to rank in the top six of each of those categories.

Emma Sears

"It definitely was a pleasant surprise," Sears said of the contract news. "You never know what to expect. But in terms of my performance, I think that I've come a long way since the beginning of preseason.

"I think that Ryan (Dell) acknowledged that, not only him, but the coaching staff and also my teammates. So yeah, it definitely was a special feeling. And I'm super excited to stay here longer."

The speedy Sears, who originally had an one-year deal, has been difficult to ignore. She has proven to be a dangerous dribbler thanks to her pace, which helps her push down the wing to make Louisville's attack more dangerous. Defenses have to account for the first-year star, who is currently second in the NWSL in successful dribbles per 90 minutes, fourth in carries into the penalty area and fifth in progressive carries.

"I feel like I kind of have something to prove," Sears, who tallied 25 goals and 15 assists over her Buckeye career, said. "Coming in, I think that people didn't really know me as a player as much as maybe some of the other players that got drafted. So I think that gave me a little bit of a chip on my shoulder."

"There was something about just seeing her in person in the environment that I'm like, 'Dang,'" Yanez said. "I think she's shown her ability through her physique as well as how she doesn't run, she glides.

"And on top of that, she's very technically good. So I think a lot of her attributes scream so much ability in this league. She's also very coachable."

The result has been a growing trust between the first-year head coach and her breakout rookie. Sears has made three straight starts, scoring two goals over that stretch, and played 455 minutes this season. 

"When opportunities open up and opportunities present themselves, their jobs as players is to to take advantage of them," Yanez said. "And I think she's done a good job of taking advantage of her opportunity that has presented itself."

A good enough job for the 23-year-old to quickly earn enough confidence from the club to keep her long term and reward some early scouting. 

"You never really know what to expect," Sears said. "So I've kind of just been rolling with it and just taking things as they come. I think that as I've started to settle in a little bit more into my professional career, I definitely thought that it was possible."

"I definitely think the sky's the limit for her and I'm just so glad she's here in lavender," Yanez said.

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