Angel City FC, a team that has garnered a significant following in the Los Angeles area, faced a distressing situation during their Friday night match against Utah Royals FC. Savy King, a 20-year-old defender for Angel City, collapsed on the field in the 74th minute. Officials and medical staff rushed to her aid, with reports from KTLA indicating that CPR and an AED were utilized in the emergency response. Play was halted for approximately 10 minutes before King was stretchered off and later transported to a hospital.
Despite initial fear and concern for the player's health, a statement released by Angel City pointed to a positive sign. "She is responsive and undergoing further evaluation. We thank everyone for their concern and support," the team expressed. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) also issued a statement, cited by AP News, confirming that King was stable upon leaving the field and remains so while continuing to undergo evaluations.
Industry conversations have, however, shifted towards the NWSL's handling of the situation as both teams resumed play after King's exit. This decision sparked debate, with Royals head coach Jimmy Coenraets expressing his disapproval. "In those moments, I'm not sure if we should have continued the game," Coenraets told CBS Sports. Trinity Rodman, a notable figure in women's soccer, reinforced these sentiments on social media, questioning the appropriateness of continuing the match under such grave circumstances.
The NWSL's current rulebook does indeed allow for suspension or postponement of a game due to a serious incident, yet this match pressed on, concluding with a 2-0 victory for Angel City. Post-game, both teams gathered on the field in a display of solidarity and concern for their competitor. According to King's Club, Angel City assistant coach Eleni Earnshaw emphasized the response of the team and praised players like Meg Reid, who, due to her paramedic training, helped to comfort and guide her teammates through the ordeal. "I just gave a shoutout in our locker room to Meg Reid, [who] as you know, is a trained paramedic," Earnshaw remarked in an interview obtained by CBS Sports.
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