NWSL Becomes First U.S. Pro League to Mandate CPR Training Following Savy King's On-Field Collapse

The terrifying moment unfolded on May 9, 2025. Savy King, a 20-year-old defender for Angel City FC, collapsed in the 74th minute of a match against the Utah Royals. Without warning, her heart had stopped beating.[1][3]

For 11 agonizing minutes, medical staff performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the pitch while stunned fans and teammates watched in silence. The immediate intervention saved her life, stabilizing her enough to be rushed to a local hospital.[1][3]

Doctors soon discovered that King had an anomalous left coronary artery, a rare and previously undetected congenital heart defect. She underwent corrective surgery, facing a grueling, months-long cardiac rehabilitation process that left her soccer future deeply uncertain.[1][6]

But King's brush with death catalyzed a new mission. While recovering, she founded the "Savy King of Hearts" nonprofit to advocate for heart health and presented a bold idea to the National Women's Soccer League: mandate CPR training for everyone in the organization.[2][6]

The league listened. By the start of the 2026 season, the NWSL became the first professional sports league in the United States to implement mandatory hands-only CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) training for all players, coaches, and staff across its 16 clubs.[2][5]

The initiative was executed in partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA). During the 2026 preseason, certified instructors visited every team facility to teach the AHA's recommended two-step method: call 911, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest.[2][4]

To amplify the effort, the NWSL and AHA launched the "Nation of Lifesavers" Ambassador Class in June 2026, coinciding with National CPR and AED Awareness Week. The program designated one player from each of the 16 clubs to serve as a community advocate for emergency preparedness.[4][5]

King naturally leads the ambassador class, joined by prominent players like Kansas City's Lo'eau LaBonta, Seattle's Cassie Miller, and Gotham FC's Sarah Schupansky. These athletes are leveraging their platforms to participate in public service announcements and community clinics.[4][5]

The push for widespread CPR literacy comes as sudden cardiac arrests in high-profile athletic events—from the NFL's Damar Hamlin to Danish soccer star Christian Eriksen—have highlighted the fragility of even elite athletes. However, the AHA notes that the vast majority of cardiac emergencies happen at home or in public spaces, not in professional stadiums.[4][7]

More than 23,000 children and adolescents experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually in the U.S., with a significant portion occurring during athletic activities. Immediate bystander CPR can double or even triple a victim's chance of survival, yet many bystanders hesitate due to a lack of training or fear of causing harm.[4][6]

The NWSL's league-wide certification aims to demystify the process. By demonstrating that hands-only CPR takes just 90 seconds to learn and requires no mouth-to-mouth contact, the league hopes to empower fans to act decisively in a crisis.[3][4]

King's foundation is also working to address the resource gap at the grassroots level. Beyond awareness campaigns, Savy King of Hearts is actively raising funds to distribute AEDs to underserved communities and youth soccer programs where emergency medical infrastructure is often lacking.[3][6]

The initiative represents a significant evolution in how sports leagues handle medical emergencies, shifting the focus from purely internal medical protocols to proactive, league-wide education that extends into the community.[2][7]

For King, the 2026 season marks a triumphant return. Ten months after her heart stopped on the pitch at BMO Stadium, she stepped back onto the field for Angel City FC, transforming a moment of profound vulnerability into a legacy of lifesaving empowerment.[1][3]