“The calm before the storm,” read the caption of a post shared by Racing Louisville, showing the entire team walking through the streets of Washington City just hours before their NWSL Matchday 20 clash against Seattle Reign. From those words and images, their game face was clear. But things took a shocking turn when they all came to the field, as the match was abandoned within half an hour post-kick-off, after Louisville star Savannah DeMelo collapsed during play.

The USWNT midfielder, as usual, made the starting XI in the hope of helping her side secure a crucial away victory just like her teammates. However, the entire Lumen Field came to a halt after the 27-year-old fell on the ground. Medical personnel were quickly rushed in to provide immediate attention, and the game was abruptly stopped. After the necessary on-pitch treatment, Savannah was quickly transported to a local hospital.

Given how the match was already close to its first half break, the match officials decided to send the rest of the players as well into an early halftime. But eventually, the decision was announced that the match had to be abandoned. Later, Racing Louisville issued a statement confirming her condition: “Savannah, who received immediate on-field care from medical personnel, is stable and alert. She was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.”

Even the National Women’s League Soccer was quick enough to share its thoughts on the events. “Our first priority is her health and safety, and we are in close communication with Racing Louisville’s medical team. We recognize the concern this incident may cause, particularly in light of recent conversations around player safety. The NWSL remains committed to ensuring that the highest standards of medical care and emergency response are in place at every match.”

Both the NWSL and Racing Louisville confirmed that the remainder of the game will be rescheduled for a later date, and further updates will be provided as appropriate. Be that as it may, this is quite a shocking incident that certainly must have left the entire soccer community worrying.

The rise in players collapsing on the field has become an alarming trend, raising serious questions about its causes and the measures needed to prevent such situations. Not to mention, this isn’t the first time we’re hearing such an event happen, not just with other players but Savannah DeMelo herself!

Not the first health scare for Savannah DeMelo or even NWSL!

The most recent one you may recall would be the incident involving Angel City star Savy King, who, during the NWSL Matchday 8 clash against Utah Royals at BMO Stadium on May 9, 2025, also collapsed on the ground just minutes before full-time due to a heart attack. Thankfully, the life-threatening scare ended on a positive note, as the 20-year-old recovered well. Days later, King reassured her fans with an encouraging update, expressing gratitude to the Angel City staff for saving her life.

But you might be surprised to know that months before the recent Savy King incident, Savannah DeMelo herself caused a health scare on the pitch. The midfielder, who has been with Louisville since 2022, went down during a match against Bay FC on March 22 after experiencing chest pain and dizziness, forcing her to leave the game in the first half.

Surprisingly, the former USC Trojan star had told ESPN.com that she was diagnosed with both Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism last fall. After experiencing health issues late in the 2024 NWSL season, a physician confirmed the diagnosis. For those unaware, Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition that leads to hyperthyroidism, a rare disorder that accelerates body functions and can trigger a rapid heart rate — something DeMelo experienced against Bay FC.

Since then, DeMelo has been managing the condition by taking a daily pill, undergoing regular bloodwork, and consulting with her endocrinologist consistently. While thyroid surgery remains a possible option, she hopes to avoid it. But given that she again left the pitch due to the exact medical condition, it’s only a requirement for her to further get evaluated and take as many precautions as possible.

Interestingly, when Savannah DeMelo or even Savy King went down previously, those matches were not abandoned and instead continued until full time with their replacements coming on. However, since the King incident, the NWSL has begun to take such events far more serious.

Notably, the NWSLPA also criticized the league and officials for not implementing this protocol earlier. “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,” wrote the league’s players association.

This time, the right call was made. But above all, everyone will be hoping that Savannah DeMelo makes a full recovery.