6 Racing Louisville FC players heading to Women's World Cup 2023: What to know about each

Racing Louisville FC will be well represented when the 2023 Women's World Cup kicks off July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.

Three of the six Racing players heading Down Under, Ary Borges, Alex Chidiac and Savannah DeMelo, are making their first appearances in the international tournament, while Uchenna Kanu, Thembi Kgatlana and Wang Shuang are looking to improve upon their performances from four years ago in France. DeMelo, who will be representing the defending champion United States, has not yet appeared in a match for the senior U.S. women's national team but could soon see that change after being named the National Women's Soccer League's Player of the Month in May.

"I'm super excited to get to play with Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe — all those players I've idolized growing up. I'm just gonna try to take in as much as I can and learn from them," DeMelo said after learning she made the World Cup roster. "They're players that are not only great athletes on the field but off the field."

Here's a look at each Racing player that is preparing to take soccer's biggest stage:

Ary Borges (Brazil)

Position: Midfielder

World Cup appearances: One (2023)

2023 at a glance: Borges has appeared in 16 of the club's 17 matches thus far, making 14 starts, since joining Racing during the offseason after three years playing for Palmeiras in her native Brazil. The 23-year-old ranks seventh on the club in minutes (1,184) and is tied for third in goals (two) — her first coming in the second half of the April 1 home opener to help Louisville play the Washington Spirit to a 2-2 draw. She enters her first World Cup looking to improve upon four goals across 22 appearances for the Brazilians.

In her own words: "To me, it's a realization of a dream to play in the World Cup for the nation," Borges said through an interpreter. "It's the dream of every player and everybody who strives to be a soccer player, to get to that point, to represent the country. To me, it's the realization and the accomplishment of that dream. It's like a dream come true."

Alex Chidiac (Australia)

Position: Midfielder

World Cup appearances: One (2023)

2023 at a glance: Chidiac, who scored two goals across 18 matches (14 starts) during her first season with Racing last year, has come off the bench eight times and started twice thus far in 2023. The 24-year-old has not yet found the back of the net this year but will be making her first trip to the World Cup after starting her journey with Australia's senior national team in 2015 at age 16. The Matildas were eliminated in the Round of 16 in 2019 after reaching the quarterfinals in 2015, 2011 and 2007.

In her own words: "I was that kid who went to sleep with a ball in my bed dreaming of moments like this," Chidiac wrote on Twitter. "I questioned and doubted myself so many times over the past four years if this would ever happen but I had an incredible team around me to drive and support me to this point. I am so proud to have made it. Generations of The Matildas have made this team what it is and I am honoured to be part of this team’s history and represent this country. Let’s go win this thing."

Savannah DeMelo (United States)

Position: Midfielder

World Cup appearances: One (2023)

2023 at a glance: DeMelo earned her first trip to the World Cup on the strength of a brilliant start to the NWSL season. The 25-year-old California native leads Racing — and is tied for fifth in the league — with five goals (eight including Challenge Cup play) and three assists across 15 matches. DeMelo earned her first USWNT cap during a July 9 friendly against Wales and also represented the country at the U-20 World Cup in 2016 and 2018.

In her own words: "This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl," DeMelo said. "I have so many people to thank, but I'll start with my family, friends, team and staff. This wouldn’t be possible without any of you, and I am just beyond grateful for this opportunity."

Uchenna Kanu (Nigeria)

Position: Forward

World Cup appearances: Two (2023, 2019)

2023 at a glance: After signing with Racing from the Mexican club Tigres UANL in February, Kanu has one goal to her name in 612 minutes across 14 appearances (seven starts) this season. The 26-year-old came on as a substitute in Nigeria's three group-stage matches at the 2019 World Cup, then started a Round of 16 loss to Germany. She's scored 10 times across 12 appearances for the Super Falcons, who are looking to make back-to-back trips to the knockout stage for the first time in tournament history.

In her own words: "I'm super honored, and I'm really thankful for the opportunity to represent my country," Kanu said. "Not a lot of people get this opportunity, and it means so much to me. I'm excited to be on the biggest stage of my career for the second time."

Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa)

Position: Forward

World Cup appearances: Two (2023, 2019)

2023 at a glance: Sidelined for 10 months after tearing her left Achilles tendon during the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Kgatlana has scored once and assisted on another goal while playing 376 minutes across 10 games (three starts) since returning to the pitch in early May. The 27-year-old, who was acquired from Atlético Madrid via transfer last summer, netted South Africa's first World Cup goal when the country debuted in the tournament four years ago and has scored 22 times across 63 appearances at the international level.

In her own words: "It will always be a great memory," Kgatlana said of scoring her country's first World Cup goal in 2019, "but it also reminds me of the standard of playing in the World Cup. I will keep that (in) the back of my mind. It's something that will always motivate me going into any other game, because I know that I want to score. I want to be a player who helps the team to win or to get points."

Wang Shuang (China)

Position: Midfielder

World Cup appearances: Three (2023, 2019, 2015)

2023 at a glance: The most experienced of Racing's World Cup representatives, Wang has played 982 minutes across 13 matches during her first full season with the club, becoming the first Chinese player to score in NWSL history with a goal on May 12 against the Chicago Red Stars. The 28-year-old made her debut with China's national team at age 17 and has scored 39 times across 117 international appearances. She'll look to help her country reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2015 after losing in the Round of 16 in 2019.

In her own words: "The first time, I was really nervous — I was young, I was new," Wang said of her World Cup journey through an interpreter. "The second time and this time, I'm more relaxed. I really want to enjoy the stage. I really want to help my country to have more goals. ... It's different to wear the national jersey. For me, it's pride and courage. It's honor, and it's also responsibility."

Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @brooksHolton.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Women's World Cup 2023: Racing Louisville FC players taking the pitch