NWSL Expansion Draft: Tobin Heath and Christen Press picked by Racing Louisville

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Nov 13, 2020

U.S. national team veterans Tobin Heath and Christen Press were selected by Racing Louisville in the NWSL Expansion Draft.

Health, 32, played seven seasons with the Portland Thorns, and Press, 31, has spent parts of six seasons in the NWSL with Chicago and Utah. Neither played in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.

Both players are currently playing with Manchester United in England. If they return to the NWSL, Racing Louisville will hold their rights.

Clubs could protect up to two U.S. Allocated Players. Eight U.S. women's national team players who are Allocated Players were left unprotected.

The Thorns protected recent acquisition Crystal Dunn and Lindsey Horan but left Becky Sauerbrunn, Adrianna Franch and the rights to Heath available. The Royals only protected Kelley O’Hara.

Two other English-based players were taken: Australians Caitlin Foord (Arsenal) and Alanna Kennedy (Tottenham). Orlando held Foord's rights and loaned Kennedy to Spurs.

Racing Louisville previously acquired Yuki Nagasato and Savannah McCaskill in a trade with Chicago and claimed Cheyna Matthews off the NWSL's Re-Entry Wire.

The NWSL's 10th club has sold almost 3,000 season tickets for its inaugural campaign at Louisville’s new Lynn Family Stadium.

Racing Louisville picks:
Addisyn Merrick (Defender, NC Courage)
Julia Ashley (Defender, OL Reign)
Jennifer Cudjoe (Midfielder, Sky Blue FC)
Cece Kizer (Forward, Houston)
Katie Lund (Goalkeeper, Washington)
Alanna Kennedy (Defender, Orlando)
Lauren Milliet (Midfielder, NC Courage)
Kaleigh Riehl (Defender, Sky Blue FC)
Caitlin Foord (Forward, Orlando)
Katie McClure (Forward, Washington)
Erin Simon (Defender, Houston)
Michelle Betos (Goalkeeper, OL Reign)
Tobin Heath (Midfielder, Portland)
Christen Press (Forward, Utah)