Angel City defender Savy King makes NWSL return after cardiac arrest
Angel City defender Savy King is set to make her National Women’s Soccer League return this season, just 10 months after suffering a life-threatening cardiac arrest on the pitch.
The 20-year-old collapsed and lost consciousness during a home fixture against the Utah Royals on 9 May last year.
Medical staff immediately rushed to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation as the player’s heart had stopped beating.
She was transported to hospital after 11 minutes of on-field treatment, where surgeons corrected a rare and previously undetected congenital defect known as an anomalous left coronary artery.
A new perspective on life
The young defender spent the summer undergoing intensive rehabilitation, which included six weeks of physical therapy and a rigorous cardiac programme.
She progressed to exercising under close medical supervision before rejoining limited team training in September.
“I for sure have gone through ups and downs, but for the most part, I just am grateful that I’m able to play again.”
King explained that her ordeal has entirely shifted her outlook on her professional career.
“I feel like sometimes when you do something over and over again, you get comfortable and not necessarily complacent, but you take things for granted of being able to just go out there and do what you love every day.”
Catalyst for league-wide change
The initial incident prompted significant controversy after the match was allowed to continue, playing out 12 minutes of stoppage time despite the medical emergency.
The NWSL Players Association argued the game should have been suspended immediately, a stance the league later conceded was correct.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman confirmed new emergency procedures were implemented following a subsequent collapse involving Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo.
Driven by her own experience, the returning Angel City star has since spearheaded a new health initiative across the sport.
All 16 NWSL teams have now received mandatory training in hands-only CPR and the use of automatic external defibrillators.
This comprehensive rollout makes the NWSL the only professional sports league in the United States to implement such widespread emergency medical training.
