Angel City hosts Racing Louisville for fourth straight win
Angel City FC hosts Racing Louisville FC at BMO Stadium at 6 p.m. PT on Sunday, July 26, chasing a fourth straight NWSL win on ESPN. Sitting seventh at 7-1-6 after three consecutive shutouts, Angel City sits in a playoff spot while last-place Louisville (2-2-10) arrives with zero road points this season.
Key Takeaways
- Angel City (7-1-6) is chasing a fourth straight win and a possible fourth clean sheet since the summer break.
- Racing Louisville (2-2-10) sits last in the NWSL and has earned all four of its results at home.
- Maiara Niehues leads Angel City with six goals and has scored in five consecutive matches.
- Kickoff is 6 p.m. PT at BMO Stadium on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, with Pride Night festivities from 2 p.m.
The Los Angeles side enters the meeting in rare form. A 2-0 shutout of Chicago Stars FC on July 18 delivered Angel City’s record third consecutive clean sheet, with goals from midfielder Maiara Niehues and forward Sveindís Jónsdóttir. Interim head coach Leif Smerud is 3-0 since taking charge.
That surge lifted Angel City into seventh place and a playoff berth, with nine points from its last three matches. For more viral sports and culture updates, follow BlasterPost’s Celebrity Breaking News hub.
Why does this Angel City matchup matter for the playoff race?
Halfway through the NWSL season, every point shapes the postseason picture. Angel City has played the fewest matches among the current top eight, so a home win could firm up its hold on a playoff spot.
Racing Louisville remains bottom of the table after snapping a five-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against the Houston Dash on July 18. Per the official Angel City match preview, Louisville is 2-2-10 and arrives needing a road breakthrough.
How are Angel City and Racing Louisville entering the clash?
Angel City has not conceded since returning from the summer break and has allowed only nine goals in eight home matches at BMO Stadium. Goalkeeper Angelina Anderson is on a career-high five clean sheets this season.
Louisville’s attack leans on Emma Sears (two goals, three assists), Kayla Fischer, and Sarah Weber (three goals each). Sears may miss out through illness, while midfielder Taylor Flint is suspended. Historically, Angel City is 2-2-4 against Louisville across eight meetings.
Who should fans watch when Angel City takes the field?
Niehues is the clear spotlight. The 21-year-old Brazil international became the second-youngest NWSL player—after Diana Ordoñez—to score in five straight matches and owns the club record for that streak. Smerud called her “invaluable” inside the box.
Jónsdóttir’s return has also fueled the recent run, while Claire Emslie made her first start of the season against Chicago after maternity leave. For Louisville, Sears remains the primary creator if available.
When and how can you watch Angel City vs Racing Louisville?
Sunday’s fixture is Angel City’s annual Pride Night, with Fan Fest beginning at 2 p.m. PT featuring live music, carnival games, and a Pride bandana for the first 15,000 fans. It is also ACFC’s final home game before road trips to Kansas City on August 1 and Seattle on August 9.
The match airs on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, with English audio on iHeartRadio and Spanish on KWKW La Primera 1330 AM. Angel City will look to turn home Pride Night energy into a statement fourth straight victory.