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NWSL Racing Louisville FC

Racing Signs Aylmer, Shamburger to National Team Replacement Player Contracts

July 20, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Racing Louisville FC News Release


Midfielder Taylor Aylmer (left) with the Washington Spirit
Midfielder Taylor Aylmer (left) with the Washington Spirit
(Racing Louisville FC, Credit: USA TODAY Sports Images)

Racing Louisville signed defender Ella Shamburger and midfielder Taylor Aylmer to National Team Replacement Player contracts, the club announced Thursday.

Aylmer and Shamburger's agreements run through the completion of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, which finishes with the final on August 20. Both players are available for selection on Friday when Racing hosts the Chicago Red Stars at 7 p.m. ET in a UKG NWSL Challenge Cup match at Lynn Family Stadium.

"We are excited to welcome Ella and Taylor to Louisville," said Racing general manager Ryan Dell. "They add great and important depth to our squad during the World Cup period. I look forward to seeing them contribute on and off the field this summer."

A Vanderbilt University grad, Shamburger was the 38th overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, with the Kansas City Current taking the center back in the fourth round. The Atlanta native is Vanderbilt's most experienced player in program history, logging 8,839 minutes in 97 games over five years with the Commodores. She was a three-time All-SEC second team selection and an All-SEC Freshman Team honoree in 2018, contributing to 40 clean sheets while totaling five goals and seven assists.

Aylmer (pronounced AL-murr) joins Racing after playing 12 matches this year for Finnish club Aland United, where she rang up one goal and two assists for the second-place side. The 24-year-old New Yorker has previous NWSL experience - she played in 30 games across all competitions for NJ/NY Gotham and Washington, starting 14 and tallying one goal and one assist.

At Racing, Aylmer will reunite with two former teammates: Paige Monaghan (formerly with Gotham) and Jordan Baggett (Washington). Aylmer and Baggett both played for the Spirit during the 2021 NWSL championship run.

Racing now has six players at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, creating opportunities for Aylmer, Shamburger and fellow NTRP signing Maddie Pokorny to join the squad for the next month-plus.

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Images from this story

Midfielder Taylor Aylmer (left) with the Washington Spirit
Midfielder Taylor Aylmer (left) with the Washington Spirit
(USA TODAY Sports Images)		   

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