Saturday was supposed to be fun. It was Pride in Chicago, which the Red Stars also celebrated as part of their home match vs Racing Louisville FC who feature the NWSL’s weakest defense so far in 2021. With the Fire slated to finish off the day with a nightcap vs Philadelphia, it could have been a wonderful summer soccer afternoon.
Instead, a mixture of downpours and tornado warnings delayed the Red Stars match over two hours only for them to fall 3-0 to Racing Louisville in the teams’ first ever meeting.
After the Red Stars dominated possession and created the better chances in the first half hour (the two best opportunities falling to Vanessa DiBernardo), Louisville striker Ebony Salmon scored her second goal in three games for the club after signing from Bristol City in the English FA Women’s Super League.