Wave’s 2024 season comes to a close with 3-1 victory over Racing Louisville

Despite being listed as the home team, San Diego’s 2024 season finale ended in an away victory with the Wave defeating Racing Louisville 3-1 on Nov. 3 in Lynn Family Stadium. 

The Nov. 3 match was originally scheduled to be played in San Diego Wave’s Snapdragon Stadium but due to the poor field conditions and concerns for player health and safety, the match was moved to Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. 

These two clubs last faced each other in Lynn Family Stadium on April 13 with the NWSL match ending in a scoreless draw.  

Both San Diego and Louisville fell short of 2024 NWSL playoff contention, sitting outside of the top eight playoff positions. The Wave (5-13-7) came into the Sunday match in thirteenth place on 22 points. As for the Racing (7-11-7), they stood in ninth place with 28 points, only one position shy of a playoff berth.

The Wave had their slim playoff hopes spoiled, falling in their last NWSL match 4-1 to Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium on Oct. 19. 

Racing continued their playoff push in their last NWSL match with a 1-0 victory over the Portland Thorns on Oct. 19 but with Bay FC’s playoff-clinching 3-2 win against the Houston Dash, Louisville was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. 

An early start to the match for the Wave as a crossed ball in front of the goal by forward Jaedyn Shaw ends up in the back of the net for the 1-0 lead in the 3-minute.

Wave runners into the box caused Racing goalkeeper Katie Lund to anticipate a touch as she lost sight of the ball leading to the cross finding the goal. 

Forward María Sánchez added to the Wave lead in the 22-minute with a left-footed free-kick strike from right outside the penalty box. Sánchez looped the ball around the defensive wall into the far-sided post bouncing into the net for the 2-0 advantage. 

A Racing cross in the 68-minute found the head of midfielder Kayla Fischer as her header attempt hit the post with forward Bethany Balcer tapping in the rebound to cut her squad's deficit in half with 20 minutes plus added time remaining in the match. 

Wave midfielder Savannah McCaskill put the match to bed in the 76-minute with a headed-in goal coming from a Delphine Cascarino assisted cross in the penalty box. McCaskill placed the header across the goal into the right side of the net to cap off the 3-1 victory for the Wave.

“I think it was the biggest test of resilience,” Wave’s Jaedyn Shaw said on the season and the learning experiences. “We've had a lot of obstacles, a lot of adversity this year. For us to end it on a high note regardless of going to playoffs or not. Putting it in for the fans and being able to represent the crest for this last game this season and hopefully can do better next.”

At the post-game press conference, Wave coach Landon Donovan voiced his opinions on the season and the possibility of returning as the club’s coach.

“What we've started building here is special given the circumstances and it's starting to feel like there was a turning point,” Donovan said. “It's a group that's had to become resilient given everything that's gone on and I'm just really proud of their effort and how they handled everything.” 

“So we're now through the season,” Donovan said. “We all hoped it was going to last a little longer. Unfortunately, it didn't. But now we'll get home tonight. I'll reconvene with Jill [Jill Ellis, Wave President] and Cami [Camille Ashton, Sporting Director and GM] this week and then we'll go from there.”

The San Diego Wave end their 2024 NWSL season in tenth place on 25 points finishing with six wins, thirteen losses and seven draws.