Racing Louisville Clinches First NWSL Playoff Spot With 1-0 Win

Racing Louisville clinched its first-ever NWSL playoff berth with a 1-0 Decision Day win over Bay FC at Lynn Family Stadium, courtesy of rookie Ella Hase’s 48th-minute strike. The victory lifted Louisville to a club-record 37 points and a No. 7 seed, breaking a run of four straight ninth-place finishes since the team joined the league in 2021. The result was critical given simultaneous Decision Day permutations (including the North Carolina Courage’s match) and guarantees Racing an away quarterfinal at Audi Field against the No. 2 Washington Spirit. Head coach Bev Yanez lauded the squad’s identity and character and said the team still has “more in the tank” after clinching the milestone at home. Decision Day also finalized the rest of the bracket, with the Kansas City Current locked in as the top seed and other seedings set for next week’s quarterfinals.