Racing Louisville forward Emma Sears (13) dribbles the ball during the second half against Kansas City Current at Lynn Family Stadium on Aug. 1, 2025.

Racing Louisville received a welcome boost on Thursday, as the NWSL side announced that U.S. women's national team winger Emma Sears had signed a new contract.

Sears' new deal will keep her in Kentucky through the 2028 season. Salary and other terms were not made available.

"I’m so proud to be continuing my career with Racing Louisville FC — a club and city that have truly become home for me," said Sears in a team release announcing her new contract. "We’ve built something special here. I'm motivated to grow as a player, compete for championships and to make Louisville proud."

The 24-year-old has helped Louisville to potentially its best-ever season. Only MVP frontrunner Temwa Chawinga (14) and Spain striker Esther González (13) have exceeded Sears' 10 goals during the 2025 campaign, and Racing — which has only ever finished a given NWSL season in ninth place — sits seventh in the table with three games to go.

Sears joined Racing in 2024 as a second-round selection in the last-ever NWSL College Draft. However, the former Ohio State Buckeye established herself quickly, using her direct running and speed to routinely put defenses on the back foot from the right wing.

Sears' approach has been a major touchstone for head coach Bev Yanez's high-pressing, aggressive system on both sides of the ball, and she is among the league leaders in several categories.

Despite Louisville's 41.3% share of possession this season (bottom of the NWSL by 3.9%), Sears is fourth in the league in progressive receptions, a strong indicator of a player's ability to get open in space and help their team progress the ball. Sears is also ninth league-wide in touches in the attacking third (412), and third in progressive carries (72).

"We are thrilled to sign Emma to a new contract," said Yanez. "She’s shown continued growth in her role each season and has contributed so much to this group in such a short time. We look forward to what her future looks like here in lavender!"

The traits that have allowed Sears to stand out in the NWSL have caught the eye of USWNT head coach Emma Hayes, with the winger getting her first call-up at any level in October 2024. In her debut, Sears posted a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over Iceland, becoming the first player to do that on their senior debut since Christen Press in 2013. Since then, Sears has received eight caps and seems firmly ensconced in Hayes' plans.

Securing top USWNT talent on longer-term deals has become something of a priority for NWSL clubs, especially in light of a handful of Hayes' regulars decamping for European sides. While only 11 of the 58 players called in during the last 12 months play abroad, Chelsea's acquisition of Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson in the last two transfer windows has sent a shudder through NWSL circles.

This article originally appeared on Pro Soccer Wire: USWNT winger Emma Sears agrees to new Racing Louisville contract

Reporting by Jason Anderson, Pro Soccer Wire / Pro Soccer Wire

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