Savy King and Her CPR Initiative for the NWSL
Angel City FC defender Savy King announced a new collaboration through her non-profit organization, Savy King of Hearts. This initiative will provide free CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) training to all 16 teams in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The announcement was made during the first NWSL Awards in San Jose, California. The initiative, in collaboration with the NWSL and the American Heart Association, will include all NWSL players, coaches, and staff for the 2026 season. This will make the NWSL the first professional American sports league to have its players, coaches, and staff from all teams trained in CPR.Six months ago, King, 20, collapsed on the field in the 74th minute of the match against the Utah Royals at BMO Stadium. After falling to the ground without contact, King received medical attention on the field for more than 10 minutes. Angel City’s chief medical officer, Hollie Walusz, performed CPR to save King’s life less than a minute after arriving on the field to provide aid, before the defender was transported to the hospital. King underwent surgery after doctors discovered a rare congenital heart condition.It is very important for me to create this initiative. This is a very personal topic for me, especially after what happened this year and having to receive CPR on the field. Every locker room, every team, and every player should know CPR, in case something could happen at any moment.
Savy King
I learned firsthand how quickly a cardiac emergency can happen. CPR saved my life. And this initiative is a step forward in making our league safer. Because at the end of the day, there may not always be a coach or a medical professional to be able to save someone’s life because you never know what could happen.
Savy King
Before the 2026 season, each team will receive CPR training by certified instructors, who will guide participants in the two-step technique recommended by the American Heart Association: call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest. The initiative will also include education on automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The NWSL is also launching a player ambassador program. Led by King, the program will designate a representative from each team who will act as an advocate for CPR awareness on and off the field. During Wednesday’s awards ceremony, King honored Walusz and Angel City’s high-performance director, Sarah Smith, for saving her life and helping her return to the field. This summer, a few months after undergoing surgery, King graduated from cardiac rehabilitation before rejoining Angel City. Last week, King was authorized to return to contact training at the Angel City training facilities, under Smith’s close supervision.We are proud to be the first professional sports league to implement CPR training on this scale, training both those on the field and those on the bench. This initiative reflects our commitment to the safety of the players, the impact on the community, and leadership in health education.
Jessica Berman, NWSL Commissioner
I wouldn’t be here today without them, [Smith and Walusz]. They are the two people who gave me a second chance at life. And they are the reason why this is possible. This initiative and collaboration are the result of my team and the CPR and medical treatment that saved my life that I received.
Savy King
