LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Racing Louisville FC's new midfielder traveled a long ways to get here, almost 7,000 miles, from Kitakyushu, Japan.
But the Bluegrass State has been home for Yuuka Kurosaki before, and she looks to establish more connections here in Louisville.
"I'm really excited," she said. "Being in Kentucky is something special for me. And yeah, I would give everything for the crowd. And for the fans."
Kurosaki started her collegiate career in the commonwealth, playing for the University of Kentucky.
"When I came to Kentucky in 2016, I didn't speak English at all," she said. "And everyone always helped me and support me. So yeah, I think I like being here and that I never saw like, I would be able to come back to Kentucky, like as a professional player."
Her experience as a player revealed a gap between Japanese players and U.S. opportunities, and it inspired her to start her company, YK Sports Agency.
"Japanese people don't have a connection to the coaches in the U.S.," Kurosaki said. "So like I contact to the coaches."
"I want to help and provide the opportunity for the student who are serious about studying abroad and playing...in the United States."
Now, as she expands her professional career in the NWSL, she already has a connection to Racing head coach Bev Yanez.
"I watched her play when she was in Japan," Kurosaki said. "I think I was 13, 14. And she played for like, INAC Kobe. That's one of the best team in Japan and I watched her then. Now like I'm learning from her "
And just like Yanez, she hopes to have success bringing Japanese playing style back to the states.
"Playing NWSL is, like one of the, my dreams and I feel like like a dream come true I want to, like you know, show what I can do on the pitch and also off the pitch as well," Kurosaki said.
On the pitch, Kurosaki said her playing style is about having control of the ball, and having a strong ability to see the field.
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