Emma Sears

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Racing Louisville Football Club star rookie Emma Sears will represent the organization and the city of Louisville while playing for the United States Women's National Soccer team. 

The USWNT announced Sears as one of 26 players for its training camp roster Thursday morning ahead of three international exhibitions in Austin, Texas, Nashville, Tennessee, and Louisville. Lynn Family Stadium will host the reigning Olympic gold medalists Oct. 30 for a friendly vs. Argentina, marking their first match in Louisville since 2004.

"I think it's going to be super emotional for me," Sears said of walking out at Lynn Family Stadium with the USWNT. "I'm sure it'll be a little bit of a roller coaster, but I'm super honored for the opportunity and to not only represent the club, but the city of Louisville.

"I've really enjoyed my time here, and it feels like home for me now. So, I couldn't be more excited for the opportunity. And my initial reaction was kind of like, 'What are the odds for my first call up to be not only in the States, which is super exciting, but to also be coming here to Louisville?'"

Sears admits this was unexpected, first hearing of the possibility from Racing general manager and former USWNT staffer Ryan Dell two weeks ago. Her first U.S. National team call-up for this training camp group, which includes six uncapped players and three who have never gotten a call-up, finally came on Oct. 9. 

"Leading up until that Wednesday, I was pretty anxious," Sears said. "Obviously, I was happy about the original news. But then obviously, you're kind of like, 'Okay, well, if I'm this close, you never know what can happen."

She said she didn't sleep much for the week leading up to learning the news, only telling family and close friends she could work with the four-time World Cup champions soon. Racing's last U.S. Women's National Soccer Team representative was midfielder Savannah DeMelo, whose last cap came at the 2023 Women's World Cup. And both players are similar in being somewhat unexpected additions to the roster.

Savannah DeMelo

United States’ Savannah DeMelo in action during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Group E match against the Netherlands in Wellington, New Zealand on Thursday (John Cowpland / Associated Press)

At the time of DeMelo's call-up, she was the first player since Shannon Boxx in 2003 to make a U.S. World Cup roster without a previous appearance for the team. For Sears, she was not previously involved at all with any level of the U.S. National Team.

"I didn't have any expectations for anything like that at all," Sears said. "But I think, in a way, that probably helped me a little bit just because I didn't feel the pressure. And I kind of was just taking each day as it came, trying to do my thing. And you know, that hard work has paid off."

Her play on the field in what is arguably the best professional women's soccer league in the world earned her the opportunity. With five goals this season, the Ohio State alumna has set a rookie scoring record for the young Louisville franchise. She ranks in the top 20 in the NWSL in goal- and shot-creating actions, and in the top 10 in dribbles into the box, touches in the box, progressive dribbles and dribbles into the attacking third. USWNT head coach Emma Hayes took notice.

"I think Emma Sears is a clear example of what we're looking to do in terms of providing opportunities for players who have performed well," Hayes said. "The message that I would give to them when they come in is one, you deserve it. You deserve that opportunity.

"Two, this is the right moment to do it. These are three friendlies where we need a larger squad. And most of all, for any of the current players that were in there, they know what it means to play for the National Team. And nobody can be complacent with that.

"It's the start of a new cycle. It's a chance to celebrate some of the really good things that are going on outside of the national team pool and I think Emma very much deserves to be there."

"I think it's super commendable of Coach Hayes to be extending that olive branch to players like me, just giving us the opportunity to kind of prove ourselves in that intense environment," Sears said.

The 22-year-old in Sears will play in Racing's home finale vs. Portland on Saturday night, one crucial for the club's NWSL playoff push, before leaving Sunday to join Hayes and the squad. Hayes said she coached Racing head coach Bev Yanez, who had nothing but praise for her star rookie.

"She speaks so highly of her: her character, her coachability, how much she wants to learn, how driven she is and I'm very much looking forward to working with her," Hayes said.

"I couldn't have expected this at the beginning of the season," Sears said. "But I'm super, super thankful that she's (Yanez) invested a lot into me and she's trusted me, given me the opportunities that I've had to get me to this point in my career."

A 2024 second-round pick, Sears making this roster now means four different Racing Louisville FC draft picks have gone on to earn USWNT call-ups. DeMelo, former defender Emily Fox and former midfielder Jaelin Howell make up the rest of Racing's past representation.

Emma Sears

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