NWSL Emergency: Savannah DeMelo Collapses, Match Suspended

Medical Emergency Halts NWSL Match: Savannah DeMelo Under Evaluation

Racing Louisville FC midfielder Savannah DeMelo is stable and alert after being transported by ambulance from Sunday’s match against Seattle Reign FC due to a medical emergency. The match, played at Lumen Field in Seattle, was suspended after the incident occurred near the end of the first half. DeMelo collapsed on the field after sitting down. Medical services rushed to attend to her, and players from both teams showed visible shock. The television broadcast diverted attention from the field, and the match was interrupted before halftime. The Reign players came out shortly after to applaud their fans, at which point the suspension of the match was announced.

Savannah, who received immediate medical attention on the field, is stable and alert. She was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Racing Louisville

The score was tied when the match was suspended. The remaining time will be played on a date agreed upon by both teams, resuming the game where it was interrupted.

We support Louisville at this time and appreciate our fans’ support. More updates will be provided when appropriate.

Seattle Reign

The NWSL stated that its priority is DeMelo’s health and safety, and that the league is in close communication with Racing Louisville.

We recognize the concern this incident may cause, particularly in light of recent conversations about player safety. The NWSL remains committed to ensuring that the highest standards of medical care and emergency response are applied at every match.

NWSL Statement

DeMelo, 27 years old, retired from a match in March due to dizziness and chest tightness, being stretchered off. In May, he revealed that he is dealing with Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism. DeMelo was the fourth pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, coming from the University of Southern California. In three seasons with Louisville, she has played 61 games and scored 14 goals. She was part of the United States national team roster for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. At the beginning of this year, Angel City FC defender Savy King collapsed during a match and required cardiac surgery. The league was criticized because the match continued after King was taken off the field by ambulance. Days later, the league regretted the decision and said the match should have been suspended. The NWSL rules for 2025 state that the league “recognizes that emergencies may arise that make the start or progress of a match inadvisable or dangerous for participants and spectators. Certain categories of events automatically trigger the League Office to assess whether a delay or postponement is necessary.”

Other Results from the NWSL Matchday

In other NWSL games on Sunday, the Utah Royals defeated the Houston Dash 2-0 at home, and the Chicago Stars tied 1-1 with the Portland Thorns. Paige Monaghan scored for the third consecutive game, and the Utah Royals defeated the Houston Dash 2-0. The Royals’ captain saw Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell out of her line in the 45th minute and launched a perfectly measured shot from outside the area. Kaleigh Riehl opened the scoring for the Royals in the fourth minute, giving her team a 1-0 lead after heading in a corner from Cloé Lacasse. This victory breaks a six-game winless streak at home for the Royals (3-11-6), who have won two of their last three games after going 11 without a win between April and August. The Dash (6-9-5) snapped a six-match unbeaten streak and remained four points out of the playoffs in tenth place. Olivia Moultrie scored her 14th goal in the NWSL, and the Portland Thorns tied 1-1 in Chicago. Moultrie, 19, scored from a direct free kick from outside the area in the 12th minute. Moultrie holds the record for most goals scored by a teenager in the NWSL. Bea Franklin tied the game for the Stars in the 45th minute. The Thorns failed to clear, and Ally Schlegel sent a header to Franklin, who shot and sent the ball into the net from close range. Franklin was close to scoring in the final minutes, but Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold denied the goal to the Stars midfielder in the 90th minute. Arnold reacted quickly to deflect Franklin’s header. The Stars, in 13th place (2-9-9), are undefeated in their last seven games (1-0-6). The Thorns (8-6-6) are in fourth place in the standings.