Savy King's Extraordinary Journey Back to Professional Soccer
Angel City defender Savy King is poised to make an inspirational return to the National Women's Soccer League this season, just ten months after her heart stopped beating during a match. The 20-year-old's remarkable recovery from a life-threatening cardiac arrest on the pitch represents one of the most compelling stories in professional sports this year.
The Terrifying Incident That Changed Everything
The dramatic collapse occurred during the second half of Angel City's home fixture against the Utah Royals on May 9 last year. In the 74th minute, King appeared disoriented before losing consciousness completely as her heart ceased to function. Medical trainers rushed to her side immediately, administering crucial cardiopulmonary resuscitation while distressed fans and fellow players watched helplessly.
After approximately eleven minutes of intensive on-field treatment, King was transported to hospital where surgeons discovered and corrected an anomalous left coronary artery. This rare congenital heart defect had remained undetected throughout her athletic career until that fateful moment.
A Transformed Perspective on Life and Sport
Reflecting on her harrowing experience, King expressed profound gratitude for her recovery. "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," she stated. "I feel like my perspective on life has completely changed since my collapse."
"Sometimes when you do something repeatedly, you become comfortable and take things for granted," King continued. "Being able to go out there and do what you love every day seemed like it might have been taken from me forever. That realization has fundamentally altered how I approach everything."
Controversy and Change Within the NWSL
The incident sparked significant controversy regarding league protocols. The NWSL Players Association argued forcefully that Angel City's match should have been suspended following King's collapse. Instead, the game continued with approximately twelve minutes of stoppage time added. The league later acknowledged this was an error and confirmed matches should be halted under such circumstances.
This controversy intensified when Racing Louisville's Savannah DeMelo collapsed later in the season, leading to that match's postponement. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman subsequently confirmed that new emergency procedures had been implemented across the league to better handle similar situations in the future.
The Grueling Path to Recovery
King spent her summer recovering at home, watching teammates from afar while painstakingly relearning basic movements. Her rehabilitation program consisted of:
- Six weeks of intensive physical therapy
- A rigorous cardiac rehabilitation program
- Three months of supervised exercise three days weekly
- Limited team training participation by September
Transforming Trauma into Positive Action
During her recovery, King developed a powerful new mission. Through her leadership and advocacy, all sixteen NWSL teams have now received comprehensive training in hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automatic external defibrillator use this year. The NWSL has become the only professional sports league in the United States to implement CPR training on such an extensive scale.
King established the Savy King of Hearts foundation with the powerful message that "you can be a hero with just two hands." The foundation partners with the American Heart Association, which emphasizes that hands-only CPR can dramatically increase survival chances during cardiac emergencies.
Commissioner Berman praised King's initiative enthusiastically. "All credit goes to Savy. She's remarkable," Berman stated. "She approached us with this idea after her main recovery period, and supporting it was clearly a no-brainer. What an amazing opportunity to transform something terrifying into a positive force for change."
The foundation also works to provide AEDs to underserved communities and organizes soccer camps that include CPR training for children and their parents.
Athletic Pedigree and Professional Journey
A Southern California native, King comes from impressive athletic stock. Her mother, Karrie King, competed professionally as a biathlete. Savy herself excelled in track during high school before playing a season at the University of North Carolina.
She was selected as the second-overall pick in the 2024 NWSL draft by expansion side Bay FC, playing eighteen matches before being traded to Angel City in February 2025. King had started all eight games for Angel City prior to her collapse and has represented the United States on several youth national teams. She received an invitation to senior team coach Emma Hayes' Futures Camp in January 2025.
Official Return and Future Aspirations
On Valentine's Day, King was officially removed from Angel City's season-ending injury list and has since participated in two preseason matches. Angel City opens their regular season at home against the Chicago Stars this Sunday, with King confirming she faces no restrictions and requires no special monitoring or tests.
"You don't always have to let what happens to you define your future," King asserted. "I could easily have stopped playing because this was scary. But I have so much I want to accomplish, and I didn't want fear to be the reason I stopped altogether—especially when I can keep going and potentially inspire young girls who might experience similar challenges."
King's return represents not just a personal triumph but a testament to medical advances, determined rehabilitation, and the power of transforming personal trauma into league-wide safety improvements that could save lives for years to come.
