.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Pro Cards - Emina Ekic
April 21, 2021 | Women's Soccer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Racing Louisville FC forward and University of Louisville's former ACC Offensive Player of the Year Emina Ekic still has to pinch herself sometimes.
Just six months ago, she was suiting up as a Cardinal and leading the program with seven goals and 17 points, finishing her collegiate career with only three names ahead of her on UofL's list of top goal scorers.
Now she has a pair of starts under her belt in the NWSL's brand new expansion team that plays its home games a 15-minute drive from her alma mater.
"Sometimes when I'm talking to my roommate and I'm like 'you can do that, you're a professional,'" Ekic said. "Then I'm like 'Oh, we're professional athletes!'"
That dream came true for Ekic on Jan. 13 when Racing Louisville used its fifth overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, and it became a reality on April 10 when she started in the new franchise's inaugural game at Lynn Family Stadium, a thriller that ended with Racing Louisville forcing a tie during stoppage time.
She's yet to tally a point in her professional career through two games, but her impact on the field has definitely been felt. She's put together 147 minutes of play in which she has served as the team's go-to corner kick specialist.
The opportunity to represent the city of Louisville and the state of Kentucky at the professional level is a dream come true for Ekic, who grew up in the city and watched as it developed into a burgeoning area for the sport she has excelled at her entire life.
Ekic earned Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year honors in both 2015 and 2016 as well as All-State honors three times during her time at duPont Manual High School.
Now, she gets to represent her hometown and state while simultaneously contributing to the establishment of a culture of professional women's soccer brand new to the city.
"We're very united as a team," Ekic said of Racing Louisville. "We're building the culture. Things are implemented that the coach and staff want to see, but ultimately it's up to us, and I feel like everyone's been great about it, putting in the extra work."
When Ekic was growing up and playing in Louisville, the culture of soccer was not nearly what it is today. There was no professional soccer team, there was no Lynn Family Stadium, and the University of Louisville's women's soccer program had never had anyone drafted into the NWSL before.
The city's newfound – or perhaps newly discovered – love for soccer has been something she's had an opportunity to admire up close, and sometimes contribute to. That came to a head and she made her mark on the history of Louisville soccer when she became the first player in UofL history to be drafted into the NWSL.
"When I got to college, it was blooming, I would say," Ekic said. "It was getting better than when I was watching UofL play (as a teenager). We had a lot of fans at games, and I remember some of our biggest games like when we played Kentucky, the place was packed.
"It's really cool to see the city supporting us, everyone's really excited about it. I think it's cool that we share a fanbase with the men's team (Louisville City FC), and we're really united with them. We support each other really well."
Ekic gave a lot of credit to UofL women's soccer coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes, not only for contributing to her development as a player, but also for her contributions to soccer in the city of Louisville.
Ferguson-Dayes has headed the Cardinals for more than 20 years now, molding the program into a regular contender and placeholder in Top 25 polls.
She also played a significant role in Ekic's development as an athlete, both on and off the field. She credited Ferguson-Dayes for preparing her with the media training necessary being a professional athlete, especially at a brand new franchise. And she also developed Ekic into a more versatile soccer player.
"She really influenced me using my right foot a lot in college, and that definitely helped me," Ekic said. "Not that I didn't know how to use it, but I preferred to put it on my left foot because it was better. But that has definitely prepared me so much for this level of play."
For even the best of young players, transitioning to the professional level of play has a learning curve, and Ekic is definitely still learning.
The game is much quicker than she's used to, and for the first time in her career, she's not always among the best or most naturally talented players on the field.
"It's faster and more aggressive, and when I got here I was a little slow to react to things like switching from attacking to defending or vice versa," Ekic said. "I think I was prepared as much as I could, but just playing at this level, with the speed and aggression, it's just experience that's going to build on itself over the years. I'm really excited to put that to the test."
Just six months ago, she was suiting up as a Cardinal and leading the program with seven goals and 17 points, finishing her collegiate career with only three names ahead of her on UofL's list of top goal scorers.
Now she has a pair of starts under her belt in the NWSL's brand new expansion team that plays its home games a 15-minute drive from her alma mater.
"Sometimes when I'm talking to my roommate and I'm like 'you can do that, you're a professional,'" Ekic said. "Then I'm like 'Oh, we're professional athletes!'"
That dream came true for Ekic on Jan. 13 when Racing Louisville used its fifth overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, and it became a reality on April 10 when she started in the new franchise's inaugural game at Lynn Family Stadium, a thriller that ended with Racing Louisville forcing a tie during stoppage time.
She's yet to tally a point in her professional career through two games, but her impact on the field has definitely been felt. She's put together 147 minutes of play in which she has served as the team's go-to corner kick specialist.
The opportunity to represent the city of Louisville and the state of Kentucky at the professional level is a dream come true for Ekic, who grew up in the city and watched as it developed into a burgeoning area for the sport she has excelled at her entire life.
Ekic earned Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year honors in both 2015 and 2016 as well as All-State honors three times during her time at duPont Manual High School.
Now, she gets to represent her hometown and state while simultaneously contributing to the establishment of a culture of professional women's soccer brand new to the city.
"We're very united as a team," Ekic said of Racing Louisville. "We're building the culture. Things are implemented that the coach and staff want to see, but ultimately it's up to us, and I feel like everyone's been great about it, putting in the extra work."
When Ekic was growing up and playing in Louisville, the culture of soccer was not nearly what it is today. There was no professional soccer team, there was no Lynn Family Stadium, and the University of Louisville's women's soccer program had never had anyone drafted into the NWSL before.
The city's newfound – or perhaps newly discovered – love for soccer has been something she's had an opportunity to admire up close, and sometimes contribute to. That came to a head and she made her mark on the history of Louisville soccer when she became the first player in UofL history to be drafted into the NWSL.
"When I got to college, it was blooming, I would say," Ekic said. "It was getting better than when I was watching UofL play (as a teenager). We had a lot of fans at games, and I remember some of our biggest games like when we played Kentucky, the place was packed.
"It's really cool to see the city supporting us, everyone's really excited about it. I think it's cool that we share a fanbase with the men's team (Louisville City FC), and we're really united with them. We support each other really well."
Ekic gave a lot of credit to UofL women's soccer coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes, not only for contributing to her development as a player, but also for her contributions to soccer in the city of Louisville.
Ferguson-Dayes has headed the Cardinals for more than 20 years now, molding the program into a regular contender and placeholder in Top 25 polls.
She also played a significant role in Ekic's development as an athlete, both on and off the field. She credited Ferguson-Dayes for preparing her with the media training necessary being a professional athlete, especially at a brand new franchise. And she also developed Ekic into a more versatile soccer player.
"She really influenced me using my right foot a lot in college, and that definitely helped me," Ekic said. "Not that I didn't know how to use it, but I preferred to put it on my left foot because it was better. But that has definitely prepared me so much for this level of play."
For even the best of young players, transitioning to the professional level of play has a learning curve, and Ekic is definitely still learning.
The game is much quicker than she's used to, and for the first time in her career, she's not always among the best or most naturally talented players on the field.
"It's faster and more aggressive, and when I got here I was a little slow to react to things like switching from attacking to defending or vice versa," Ekic said. "I think I was prepared as much as I could, but just playing at this level, with the speed and aggression, it's just experience that's going to build on itself over the years. I'm really excited to put that to the test."
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Women's SoccerThank You, Coach: Karen Ferguson-Dayes Announces Retirement
Thursday, February 19
WSOC: Karen Ferguson-Dayes Presser (11/17/25)
Monday, November 17
NCAA Tournament: Louisville vs. Kentucky
Monday, November 17
WSOC: Mackenzie Geigle and Erynn Floyd Presser (vs. Kentucky/NCAA Tournament - 11/15/25)
Saturday, November 15
