DeMelo Thanks: Support After Match Collapse; Racing vs. Reign Rescheduled

Savannah DeMelo Thanks for the Support After Fainting on the Field

Soccer player Savannah DeMelo expressed her gratitude to the medical staff, her teammates, and the fans for the support received on Monday, one day after collapsing during the Racing Louisville match against Seattle Reign FC at Lumen Field. The situation occurred during the match, forcing the intervention of medical services. Racing Louisville reported in a statement that DeMelo was in a local hospital, undergoing tests to determine the cause of her fainting at the end of the first half of Sunday’s match.

“I am grateful to have my family with me as I await test results,” DeMelo said in the Louisville statement. “I am very grateful to all of our medical staff for their quick response. They have been with me every step of the way. The support of everyone has meant so much to me and I am excited to cheer on the girls this week.

Savannah DeMelo

The match between Louisville and Seattle will resume behind closed doors on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, with the score tied 0-0 at the start of the second half. Racing’s general manager, Caitlyn Flores Milby, highlighted the priority of DeMelo’s health:

“From the moment the incident began, Savannah’s health has been our top priority,” she said. “I am deeply grateful to our athletic trainers, Tara Condon and Michaela Clay, for their quick action, and to all the medical staff at Seattle Reign for their assistance in providing Savannah with the care she needed.

Caitlyn Flores Milby

DeMelo, 27, had already abandoned a match in March due to dizziness and chest tightness, being carried off on a stretcher. In May, she revealed that she was dealing with Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism. She was the fourth pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, coming from Southern California. In three seasons with Louisville, she has played 61 games and scored 14 goals. DeMelo was part of the United States national team 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 NWSL rules for 2025 state that the league “recognizes that emergencies may arise that make the start or progression 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.” In a statement on Monday, the NWSLPA stated that postponing the match was the right decision.