LOS ANGELES – Angel City’s defender, Savy King, was taken to the hospital and was in stable condition on Saturday following an incident during a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) match against the Utah Royals. She was carried off the field after experiencing a “medical event,” according to the NWSL’s report.
The league confirmed that King remained stable upon her transfer to the healthcare facility after fainting during the Friday night game. Although further medical tests are anticipated, additional particulars about King’s condition have not been revealed.
Expressing gratitude towards the medical professionals on-site and the local emergency responders, the NWSL acknowledged their proficient handling of the situation. Emotions ran high among players from both teams as trainers tended to King, who collapsed in the 74th minute, requiring approximately 10 minutes of attention before exiting the field on a cart.
Angel City made a public announcement indicating that King was conscious and undergoing assessment at the hospital. The statement extended thanks to those offering support and concern for the player.
In a display of solidarity, players from both teams congregated at midfield post-match to collectively pray for King. Some spectators expressed concerns about the decision to continue the match after the incident.
Washington Spirit’s Trinity Rodman, voiced her thoughts on social media, emphasizing that the game should have been paused under such dire circumstances.
The NWSL announced their intention to review current policies to determine if any amendments are necessary to better handle future incidents.
Existing NWSL guidelines for 2025 acknowledge that emergencies may render the start or continuation of a match unsafe. Certain conditions can prompt the league to evaluate whether a delay or cancellation is warranted.
The game concluded with Angel City securing a 2-0 victory, following 12 minutes of additional stoppage time.
King, aged 20, was chosen as the second overall pick by Bay FC in the 2024 NWSL draft and participated in 18 matches for them. She transferred to Angel City in February and quickly became a stalwart, starting all eight games for the team this season.