SAN JOSE -- Angel City FC defender Savy King announced the launch of her league-wide initiative to bring free CPR training to all 16 NWSL teams during the inaugural National Women's Soccer League Awards on Wednesday evening. King thanked Angel City's medical staff and first responders on stage during the awards ceremony.
Honoring the first responders and team training staff who were there to provide life-saving medical care to Savy King and Savannah DeMelo when they experienced medical emergencies on the field 💕 pic.twitter.com/yrZmRriyao
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 19, 2025
The 20-year-old announced the initiative, set for the upcoming 2026 season, as a partnership between her non-profit, Savy King of Hearts, the NWSL, and the American Heart Association. It will equip each team with lifesaving skills in Hands-Only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED), to provide players, staff, and coaches with the knowledge and confidence to act in a cardiac emergency.
King's push for the initiative stemmed from her medical emergency six months ago. The experience navigating heart health led her to approach the league with the idea last month.
“What happened on the pitch inspired me to launch my foundation, Savy King of Hearts, to raise awareness about heart health and CPR education. I’m so proud to team up with the NWSL and the American Heart Association to make sure every player, fan, and family member knows how to respond in a crisis,” King said. “It's simple, powerful, and it can make all the difference. This is more than just a training — it’s about saving lives."
In May, King collapsed on the field at BMO Stadium in the 74th minute of the match against the Utah Royals. King was treated on the field for more than 10 minutes after she fell to the ground, sending the stadium into silence. Angel City's head of medical, Hollie Walusz, performed life-saving CPR on King less than one minute after arriving on the pitch to provide aid, before the defender was transported to a local Los Angeles hospital.
King underwent surgery after doctors discovered a rare congenital heart condition. She was released from the hospital on May 18, announcing her recovery journey on social media. Throughout the entire process, fans showed King and her family support while she attended ACFC matches in the stands.
Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
May 17, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; A fan of Bay FC holds up a sign in support of Angel City FC defender Savy King (3) after the game at PayPal Park.
Over the summer, King graduated from cardiac rehab before re-joining Angel City. She was cleared to return to contact training at Angel City's practice facilities. She's also returned to the Cedars-Sinai facilities, spending time with patients and the staff who guided her recovery.
Spreading support and love with ACFC defender Savy King at Cedars-Sinai Hospital 🖤 We're so grateful to spend time with some wonderful people from our community and our partner, Cedar Sinai. pic.twitter.com/uGg0u6yqdd
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) October 9, 2025
With this new initiative, the NWSL becomes the first American professional sports league to have all of its players, coaches, and staff from all teams trained in CPR and AED. Training will be conducted during the 2026 preseason, with certified instructors guiding participants through the chain of survival- two-step technique recommended by the American Heart Association: calling 911 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest, according to a statement by the American Heart Association.
“We’re proud to be the first professional sports league to implement CPR training at this scale by training both those on the field and on the sidelines,” said NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman. “This initiative reflects our commitment to player safety, community impact, and leadership in health education.”
The partnership also created a new player ambassador program, which will be led by King. One player from each NWSL team will serve as a CPR awareness advocate both on and off the field. The program will include social media campaigns and public service announcements (PSAs) throughout the 2026 season.
According to the American Heart Association, more than half of the individuals who experience a sudden cardiac arrest outside hospitals don’t receive immediate CPR, leading to a 90% fatality rate. King's medical emergency is one of a few instances in recent years involving athletes experiencing heart-related injuries. In 2023, Damar Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills, suffered sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) during an NFL game.
Although King has yet to return to gameplay, her work will help spread life-saving knowledge beyond the pitch. “Thanks to the leadership of the NWSL and to Savy King for championing this effort to help people understand just how critical it is to be prepared to act. This work will save lives as we continue to build a Nation of Lifesavers,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association.
