Christen Press’ rights now belong to Racing Louisville FC. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)

Racing Louisville FC bolstered its roster Thursday night by making 14 selections in the National Women’s Soccer League expansion draft, headlining its haul with two U.S. women’s national team standouts.

The club, which will make its debut in 2021, choose from Portland Thorns FC the rights to forward Tobin Heath with the 13th pick. At No. 14, Racing rounded by picking forward Christen Press from Utah Royals FC.

Both Heath and Press are playing in England for the Manchester United Women. 2hey signed for the 2020-2021 FA Women’s Super League season, which runs through May 9.

Should Heath or Press return to play in the U.S. next year, their rights belong to Racing Louisville FC.

Racing head coach Christy Holly was permitted to select up to two unprotected players, or one U.S. Allocated Player, from all but one future NWSL rival club. The exception was Chicago, which in a trade last month last month sent forwards Yuki Nagasato and Savannah McCaskill to Louisville in exchange for full roster protection.

“The consistent theme would be that we have very hungry people coming in here with a really desire to prove their point within the NWSL,” Holly said. “As you’ll see with many picks, there’s a high caliber of player. Some are unproven but we have quite a level of confidence in them in terms of the homework and the background digging that we’ve done, so that they can come here and contribute on the field to help us be competitive in everything that we do.”

Racing club chairman John Neace and president Brad Estes flanked Holly during the expansion draft staged in a socially distant format at Louisville’s new Lynn Family Stadium and broadcast live to the NWSL’s Twitch channel.

Holly also selected two other full internationals, both Australian forwards from the Orlando Pride. Caitlin Foord’s rights were transferred as she plays for Arsenal of the FA WSL, while Alanna Kennedy is on loan to Tottenham Hotspur.

Also highlighting the draft were the selections of forward Cece Kizer and defender Erin Simon away from the Houston Dash, who won the NWSL Challenge Cup over the summer.

“We’ve been quite diligent about researching every single player from their favorite position, to where they’re most valuable on the field, to the relationships they have off the field, and to what they can bring to the organization,” Holly said. “Overall, we’ve tried to take that very diligent approach and we feel confident that we have hopefully selected the right people.”

Racing’s prospective roster entered Thursday consisting of the forwards Nagasato and McCaskill, in addition to forward Cheyna Matthews, who was claimed off the NWSL’s Re-Entry Wire earlier this month.

2020 NWSL Expansion Draft Picks (in the order of selection)

ADDISYN MERRICK
Position: Defender
Acquired from: North Carolina Courage
College: University of Kansas
Nationality: USA
Draft: 2020; Rd. 4, Pick 1

JULIA ASHLEY
Position: Defender
Acquired from: OL Reign
College: University of North Carolina
Nationality: USA
Draft: 2019; Rd. 1, Pick 6

JENNIFER CUDJOE
Position: Midfielder
Acquired from: Sky Blue FC
College: N/A
Nationality: GHA
Draft: Undrafted

CECE KIZER
Position: Forward
Acquired from: Houston Dash
College: University of Mississippi
Nationality: USA
Draft: 2019; Rd. 2, Pick 4

KATIE LUND
Position: Goalkeeper
Acquired from: Washington Spirit
College: University of Arkansas
Nationality: USA
Draft: Undrafted

ALANNA KENNEDY
Position: Defender
Acquired from: Orlando Pride
College: N/A
Nationality: AUS
Draft: Undrafted

LAUREN MILLIET
Position: Midfielder
Acquired from: North Carolina Courage
College: Colorado College
Nationality: USA
Draft: 2019; Rd. 2, Pick 5

KALEIGH RIEHL
Position: Defender
Acquired from: Sky Blue FC
College: Penn State University
Nationality: USA
Draft: 2020; Rd. 2, Pick 2

CAITLIN FOORD
Position: Forward
Acquired from: Orlando Pride
College: N/A
Nationality: AUS
Draft: Undrafted

KATIE MCCLURE
Position: Forward
Acquired from: Washington Spirit
College: University of Kansas
Nationality: USA
Draft: 2020; Rd. 3, Pick 5

ERIN SIMON
Position: Defender
Acquired from: Houston Dash
College: Syracuse University
Nationality: USA
Draft: Undrafted

MICHELLE BETOS
Position: Goalkeeper
Acquired from: OL Reign
College: University of Georgia
Nationality: USA
Draft: 2013 Supplemental; Rd. 5, Pick 2

TOBIN HEATH
Position: Forward
Acquired from: Portland Thorns FC
College: University of North Carolina
Nationality: USA
Draft: Undrafted

CHRISTEN PRESS
Position: Forward
Acquired from: Utah Royals FC
College: Stanford University
Nationality: USA
Draft: Undrafted