SAN DIEGO (Aug. 28, 2026) – San Diego Wave FC (12-7-3, 39 points) won 3-2 against Racing Louisville FC (7-13-2, 23 points) in a thrilling come-from-behind win on Friday night at Snapdragon Stadium. 

The Wave erased a two-goal deficit with a determined second-half response against Racing Louisville FC, turning the match on its head after trailing early at Snapdragon Stadium. 

Louisville took control with two goals in the opening 23 minutes, as Lauren Milliet opened the scoring before Taylor Flint doubled the advantage from a set piece. The Wave began to settle as the half went on, with Mimi Van Zanten and Trinity Byars creating some danger opportunities and San Diego generating sustained pressure in the Louisville box before the break. 

That pressure carried straight into the second half. Just two minutes after the restart, Byars drove forward and buried a low finish into the bottom-left corner to cut the deficit to 2-1 and spark the comeback. 

From there, San Diego continued to build momentum. Kimmy Ascanio nearly found the equalizer in the 52nd minute, Byars rattled the crossbar from distance in the 65th, and Ludmila curled an effort just wide moments later as the Wave kept Louisville pinned back. 

The breakthrough finally came in the 74th minute. Ludmila’s effort from a set piece was blocked, and Byars reacted first to poke home the rebound for her second goal of the night, completing back-to-back braces and bringing San Diego level at 2-2. 

San Diego completed the comeback in the closing stages when captain Kenza Dali, who returned from injury and came on as a 63rd-minute substitute, scored the go-ahead goal in the 80th minute, sealing a 3-2 victory after the Wave had trailed by two goals in the first half. 

The result capped an unbeaten three-game home stretch at Snapdragon Stadium for San Diego, with the Wave going 2-0-1 and scoring eight goals across the three matches. 

Next on the schedule: San Diego Wave FC travels to face Seattle Reign FC at Lumen Field on Sunday, Sept. 6. The match is scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

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Player Notes: 

  • Forward Trinity Byars scored her ninth and 10th goals of the season, the most by a Wave player in 2026. 
  • Midfielder Kenza Dali scored her first goal of the season, an 80th-minute game-winner.
  • Defender Mimi Van Zanten recorded the first assist of her professional career in the 47th minute. 
  • Byars became the second player in club history to score double-digit goals in a single season, joining Alex Morgan, who scored 15 in 2022. 
  • Byars has recorded four goals and two assists over the last two matches. 

Match Notes: 

  • San Diego earned its first home win in NWSL play after trailing at halftime since Oct. 17, 2022, against Chicago Stars FC. 
  • This marked the second time this season San Diego has come back from a two-goal deficit to win, after also rallying from 2-0 down at halftime to defeat Denver 3-2 on April 25. 
  • The Wave has scored seven goals from substitutes this season, the most of any team in the NWSL. 
  • San Diego recorded 32 shots in the match, tying the single-season club record (Sept. 3, 2023). 

Box Score:
San Diego Wave FC 3:2 Racing Louisville FC 

Scoring Summary: 
LOU – Milliet (3) (Fischer, 4) 12’
LOU – Flint (5) (Wright, 2) 23’
SD – Byars (9) (Van Zanten, 1) 47’
SD – Byars (10) 76’
SD – Dali (1) 80’

Misconduct Summary:
LOU – Fischer (Caution) 57’ 
LOU – McMahon (Caution) 58’
SD – Hodge (Caution) 86’
SD – Barcenas (Caution) 88’ 

San Diego Wave FC: GK Sandra Paños, D Perle Morroni, D Kristen McNabb, D Kennedy Wesley ©, D Mimi Van Zanten, M Laila Harbert (Kenza Dali 63’), M Laurina Fazer (Kimmi Ascanio HT), M Lia Godfrey (Gia Corley 74’), F Melanie Barcenas (Gabi Portilho 90’), F Ludmila, F Trinity Byars (Adriana Leon 90’)

Unused Substitutes: GK Luisa Agudelo, D Nya Harrison, D Brooklyn Courtnall, M Jordan Fusco

Racing Louisville FC: GK Jordyn Bloomer, D Mirann Gacioch, D Arin Wright ©, D Ellie Jean, D Quincy McMahon, M Lauren Milliet (Audrey McKeen 85’), M Taylor Flint (Macey Hodge 85’), M Katie O’Kane, F Ella Hase, F Emma Sears (Taylor White 90+3’), F Kayla Fischer (Maja Lardner 71’) 

Unused Substitutes: GK Maddie Prohaska, D Courtney Petersen, D Macy Phillipus, F Rachel Hill, F Sarah Webber

Stats Summary: SD / LOU
Shots: 32 / 13
Shots on Target: 10 / 3
Saves: 1 / 7
Corners: 11 / 6
Fouls: 9 / 12
Offsides: 2 / 0
Possession: 72% / 28%  

Attendance: 12,220