United States women's national team forward Emma Sears has signed a new contract with Racing Louisville FC through the 2028 NWSL season, the club confirmed Thursday.
Sears is tied for third in the NWSL Golden Boot race with 10 goals this season after scoring a brace on Saturday in a 3-1 victory over the North Carolina Courage. A week earlier, she scored Louisville's lone goal in a 1-0 win over Angel City FC.
Those victories leave Louisville seventh in the NWSL standings with three games to play. The top eight teams make the playoffs. Louisville has finished in ninth place in all four seasons of the franchise's existence, missing out on the playoffs each time.
- Bears QB Williams invests in Boston NWSL club
- NWSL Power Rankings: Portland peaking, KC's unbeaten run hits 16
- Sources: USWNT's Murphy to join NWSL's Boston
"I'm so proud to be continuing my career with Racing Louisville FC -- a club and city that have truly become home for me," Sears said in a statement. "We've built something special here. I'm motivated to grow as a player, compete for championships and to make Louisville proud.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to continue building with this team, and I am fully committed to help push this club to new heights in the seasons ahead!"
Sears arrived in Louisville as a second-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and quickly played her way onto USWNT head coach Emma Hayes' radar.
The 24-year-old Sears has eight caps for the United States, registering one goal and two assists. In her debut against Iceland on Oct. 27, 2024, she became the first player to register a goal and an assist in their first cap since Christen Press in 2013.
Hayes said in July that she had been working with Sears on advancing elements of her game like a better final pass. Sears contributed an assist in a 4-0 win over Ireland in June.
Sears said after Saturday's brace for Louisville that she has grown as a player in recent months.
"I think the biggest thing for me and just taking those conversations and soaking everything in that I can from all the coaches that I have, is mostly the consistency piece," Sears said. "I think that I have been a lot more intentional with the way that I'm playing, and I think that has ultimately benefitted my game.
"I feel like I've found myself in a little bit more of a flow state in games and I'm not having to think as much. It's kind of just coming naturally, and I think that these past few games, I've really hit my stride with that.
"All credit to my teammates. I know that they've backed me and they're there for me. I hear the encouragement from behind me each game and I think that helps boost my confidence a lot in the final third."
Louisville's 32 points this season is already a franchise record. The club has done work to keep the core of the squad in place and avoid losing players to free agency. Sears' previous contract was due to run through the 2026 season.
Midfielder Taylor Flint signed a new contract in July to stay in Louisville through the 2028 NWSL season. In July, Racing also exercised the 2026 option on head coach Bev Yanez's contract to keep her in the role.