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Racing Louisville FC announced one of their players is out for the season after suffering a knee injury.
Defender Elli Pikkujämsä, 24, underwent successful surgery on Wednesday after she tore the patellar tendon in her left knee at Saturday’s match at Providence Park in Portland. Pikkujämsä will be 
placed on the National Women’s Soccer League’s season-ending injury list.
Racing said she will begin a long-term rehabilitation process in Louisville in the coming weeks.
“We are heartbroken for Elli but have full belief she will come back stronger,” Racing coach Bev Yanez said. “We want to support her as much as possible as she works on her recovery from this injury. She means so much to this group, and I know I speak for us all when I say we are here for her and hopeful for a healthy and quick recovery.”
“It’s obviously a bummer for myself and something that you can’t really predict,” Pikkujämsä said. “Unfortunately this is part of the game sometimes, but all the support I’ve received during these few days has helped so much. The Louisville community is just pure love. My teammates and our staff members and fans have showed so much love, so thank you for that! No. 4 is out for a while, but I will be cheering from the sideline while my girls are gonna kick some butt.”
Pikkujämsä has been with Racing since signing ahead of the 2023 season, starting 18 NWSL regular-season games in 21 total appearances. Louisville’s next match is at home, an April 13 tilt against the reigning NWSL regular-season champion San Diego Wave at Lynn Family Stadiu
