LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When Emma Sears’ name was called as part of the starting lineup for the U.S. women’s national team game against Argentina inside Lynn Family Stadium, the sold-out crowd of 13,535 cheered with excitement. With every cross Sears made, every run up the flank and, especially, every one-on-one battle she won, the fans roared again and again.
It was an electric night in Louisville, as the U.S. downed Argentina 3-0 on Wednesday, concluding a trio of international friendlies hosted in a seven-day window that saw a historic number of national-team debuts.
For Sears, this international window was extra special, as she made her first two appearances and recorded her first goal and assist with the team. The Racing Louisville forward also got to close out the window in front of her hometown crowd.
The 23-year-old described feeling as “super-super amazing” after the game. Fans inside the stadium cheered at the sight of Sears walking towards the locker room. Friends, family and Racing teammates were all in attendance, too.
“This was such a cool experience that I’ll never forget,” Sears said. “I need a moment to digest everything, I’m looking forward to just reflecting.”
That reflection might have to wait, though, as Racing will be back on the pitch this Sunday in San Diego for their final game of the NWSL regular season. The team has been teetering on the brink of its first playoff appearance since joining the league in 2021, thanks to a last-minute win against the Portland Thorns two weeks ago.
Rookie Sears, who helped Racing push towards the playoffs as the team’s joint-top scorer with five goals in 1,419 minutes, will quickly pivot to focusing on the next challenging task — clinching a spot in the postseason.
“It’s a mentality shift,” Sears said. “This camp was super-successful, us having three wins. Going back to the Louisville squad, we’re pushing for the playoffs, and so that’s what my focus is going to be on. Hopefully, we can make that happen.”
A native of Dublin, Ohio, Sears was selected by Racing in the second round of this year’s NWSL draft after a successful college career with Ohio State, just a three-hour drive away. She recorded 25 goals and 15 assists in 83 appearances with the Buckeyes over four years, finishing 12th in program history in career goals and 11th in career points. She also left campus as one of only four players in program history to score multiple hat tricks.
Racing first took a serious look at potentially drafting Sears when they selected another Ohio State player, midfielder Kayla Fischer, in round two last year, according to general manager Ryan Dell.
“We had a Zoom call with her before the (2024) draft, and she was unbelievable, incredibly humble, (and) a local player from Ohio,” Dell told The Athletic of Sears. “That’s when we really started to see that this is the player that would fit what we’re trying to build.”
Dell took a moment before adding, “What a pick. That might have been the best pick of the group, but I’m a little biased.”
Four months later, Racing backed up that confidence by signing her to a three-year extension through the 2026 season.
Sears has also made some history with her club this year: in scoring after 18 minutes of an eventual 3-3 draw at Kansas City Current in May, she became the first opposing player to get the opening goal of a game at the new CPKC Stadium.
Dell remembers calling Sears to tell her Racing had drafted her. He remembers hearing the excitement in her voice. She quickly set the pace for what was to come when she arrived in Louisville that preseason, setting the club’s record for fitness testing.
“She actually increased the Louisville City record (the men’s team under the same ownership as Racing, which plays in the division below MLS), because she’d done such a good job,” Dell said, with a laugh. “To see her go from that kid who we drafted in the second round in January to playing for her country in our home stadium is one of the most exciting things I’ve ever had in my career as a general manager.”
Those who know Sears describe her as a humble, hard-working player who will make a difference on the pitch. USWNT head coach Emma Hayes has called Sears a “special” player. That much was evident with her calm demeanor during her first cap against Iceland last weekend.
Her touch to Lynn Williams in the 72nd minute gave the U.S. an equalizer, after trailing for the first time under Hayes. Three minutes into stoppage time, she had her goal, becoming the fourth player in USWNT history to score and record an assist in their debut. She was the first to do it since Christen Press in 2013. She did it as a second-half sub, too, coming on in the 55th minute for Gotham FC’s Yazmeen Ryan.
Hayes was not surprised by Sears’ debut performance. The team’s staff collectively has watched every NWSL game this season.
“Emma’s form has been identified by many of us over a period, so we had come to expect that,” Hayes said. “But that’s not always easy when you get a debut at the top level. There were a lot of nerves, but she looked like she was having a great time. She was smiling on the touchline. That could very well have been anxiety, but she looked really excited to get in.
“She can play at the front line, she can play up top, she can play out wide. It’s her first year as a pro. She needs to keep doing what she’s doing. The best pros are the ones that do it day in, day out, week in, week out, year in, year out. For her, this is just the very beginning.”
The 23rd player in USWNT history to score in her first cap: Emma Sears!!!#USWNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/OTfoM3xWv9
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) October 27, 2024
It was almost natural for Sears to be in the starting lineup in Louisville three days later. The night was also a homecoming for another local, USWNT veteran Rose Lavelle, who was honored for her 100th cap before kickoff. A fellow Ohio native, Cincinnati-born Lavelle says she was quickly drawn to Sears because they are from the same state.
“I’ve loved having Emma in camp,” Lavelle said. “She’s crushed it her first two caps and she’s been such a great person to have in the environment. She’s really fun and funny and interesting. She’s from Ohio, so I naturally love her already.”
Now, Sears will pivot to focus on her Racing return as they fight for one of the remaining spots in the NWSL postseason. Dell is hopeful the team will carry on the momentum from their rookie’s historic week.
“Emma scoring on the weekend, coming back to Louisville, hopefully getting some great minutes here tonight, and then hopefully translate that into San Diego to push into a playoff spot,” Dell said moments before kickoff on Wednesday. “I hope it’s one of the best weeks in club history.”
(Top photo: Daniel Bartel / Imagn Images)
