The National Women’s Soccer League acknowledged Friday that last weekend’s match should have ended after a player collapsed on the field.
Play resumed on May 9 after about 10 minutes of medical attention for Angel City FC defender Savy King, who fell to the ground in the 74th minute and was taken away on a cart following life-saving measures.
Angel City finished the emotional evening with a 2-0 win against the Utah Royals in Los Angeles.
King, 20, underwent cardiac surgery on Tuesday after doctors discovered a heart abnormality. The team issued a statement this week saying “her prognosis is excellent” but asked for privacy for King during her recovery.
The NWSL Players Association issued a statement Wednesday saying the match should not have continued.
“These moments demand humanity, sound judgment, and restraint,” the NWSLPA said in a statement. “Any medical emergency that requires the administration of life-saving care should bring play to an end. The match should not have continued.
“Incidents of this severity must prioritize our collective humanity and should automatically trigger suspension of the match. The Players Association is committed to making this the standard in NWSL.
“Our members are elite, world class competitors who have proven they can perform under unimaginable conditions. That does not mean they should have to.”
The NWSL gave a statement to ESPN on Friday vowing to handle things differently in the future.
“Having reviewed our protocols and how they were implemented, and in listening to feedback from our stakeholders, the Angel City vs. Utah game last Friday night should not have continued,” the NWSL said. “The health and well-being of the entire NWSL community remains our top priority, and in any similar situation going forward the game should and would be abandoned.”
King was the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft out of North Carolina. She was traded from Bay FC to hometown Angel City in the offseason.
–Field Level Media
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