There are some moments in life that, no matter the time duration, are remembered forever. Consider May 9, 2025, when Angel City faced the Utah Royals on NWSL Matchday 8 at a packed BMO Stadium. What should have been remembered as a routine 2-0 win, highlighted by Christen Press’ milestone goal, instead became unforgettable for a far more alarming reason. With just minutes left to play, 20-year-old Savy King suddenly collapsed on the pitch, suffering a heart attack that left the 17,000 fans in stunned silence.

But the good thing about time is that it changes. Fast forward to today, and here is Savy King, now looking forward to getting back on the pitch as she has officially returned to training. An obvious step, considering she hasn’t played a single game since that fateful evening, while following a much-needed precaution protocol. So it was obvious for her fellow ACFC teammate, Ali Riley, to call the youngster on the BFFR podcast to talk about her recovery journey.

“I’m just so happy to be back,” King began on the show that the New Zealand defender hosts alongside fellow Angel teammate Sydney Leroux. “It’s been a little bit of a crazy journey the last couple of months, but things are going really great. It was three months of cardiac therapy, three days a week for 12 weeks. So that was a journey in itself.”

It was all about patience and self-reflection during her closest battle with life and death. And throughout her recovery, the youngster admitted that the thought of one day stepping back onto the pitch was the only motivation that kept her pushing forward.

The rest, she revealed, was made easier by the constant support of her teammates, whose presence lifted her spirits every day. Speaking to Riley, Savy made sure to praise her and the entire ACFC squad for standing by her side, while also acknowledging the unwavering strength she drew from her family.

“I’m back full-time with Angel City, continuing my rehab here, which has been such a blessing to be back and be on the field again doing my individual training, but the goal is to be back,” concluded the Santa Monica, California, native, expressing her gratitude over returning to training, and just how she feels to be back with her teammates.

Boy, are we convinced that Savy King is ready to be unleashed onto the pitch. Well, that’s exactly what fans would love to hear from the former North Carolina Tar Heels star. Then again, for now, it’s just the training session that she has returned to. When exactly she’ll be making her way to an official game is something that remains to be seen. On the other hand, though, we bet she must be desperate to play for her side again, considering the predicament they are facing.

How is Angel City FC doing without Savy King

Simply put, not good. Angel City continues its push to at least sneak into NWSL playoff qualification, but that dream is slipping further away. Sitting 11th in the standings with just 24 points (6W, 6D, 10L), they don’t have much time left to turn things around, with only four matchdays remaining. Next up is a daunting clash against table-toppers KC Current, who are closer than ever to securing the Shield.

Things don’t get easier either, as the final three fixtures—against Houston Dash, Portland Thorns, and Chicago Stars—offer no room for error. To make matters worse, Angel City hasn’t celebrated a win since September 1, a streak that only fuels the growing concerns over their playoff hopes.

Let’s see if they can somehow salvage the situation, but until then, perhaps the only silver lining for ACFC fans will be the hope of seeing Savy King make her long-awaited return.