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On September 14, Racing Louisville FC midfielder Savannah DeMelo collapsed just before halftime against Seattle Reign FC. Referees ended the first half early, and NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman made the call to postpone the match.
Thankfully, DeMelo is stable and back home after a week in the hospital. But the incident—and the league’s response—remind us that policies and culture around safety matter.
This wasn’t an isolated case.
In March, DeMelo was hospitalized again mid-match.
In May, Angel City’s Savy King collapsed, later undergoing heart surgery. That match continued.
In August, 16 fans and players were treated for heat-related illness after Orlando vs. Kansas City was delayed for extreme heat. Despite requests to reschedule, the game went forward under threat of fines.
It took athletes raising their VOICE—the NWSL Players Association demanding policy changes—for the league to admit mistakes and commit to stronger emergency protocols.
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