2 days after Savannah DeMelo collapsed in NWSL match, Racing-Reign match to resume

Racing Louisville has announced that its National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) match against the Seattle Reign will resume play behind closed doors on Tuesday, two days after being postponed due to a medical emergency involving U.S. women’s national team midfielder Savannah DeMelo.

In accordance with NWSL competition protocols, Tuesday’s 5 p.m. PT game at Lumen Field will resume around the time it was paused, so it will begin with the second half and a score of 0-0. It will stream on Paramount+ in the United States, on NWSL+ and the league’s international distributors outside the U.S.

DeMelo collapsed on the field just before halftime, immediately received medical attention, and was transported to a nearby hospital in an ambulance around 7 p.m. Sunday. The 27-year-old, who was diagnosed last year with Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism, was reported to be in stable condition shortly after the announcement of the abandoned match.

Louisville said in its news release that DeMelo “is in good spirits at a local hospital, surrounded by family, loved ones and medical staff, and is undergoing testing to determine what occurred” during Sunday’s match.

“I’m lucky to have my family with me while I’m waiting for test results to come back,” DeMelo said. “I’m extremely thankful to our whole medical staff for the quick response. They’ve been with me every step of the way. The support from everyone has truly meant the world to me, and I’m excited to cheer on the girls this week.”

The NWSL, in its own statement, said that it “remains in contact with Racing medical staff as (DeMelo) continues to receive care.”

During the 47th minute of the first half (two minutes into stoppage time), DeMelo sat down on the field to signal that she needed medical attention. She appeared to fall backward shortly after trainers from both teams arrived, and the match was immediately paused; an early halftime followed shortly thereafter. Players from both teams were visibly shaken by the incident. Around 6:20 p.m. local time, broadcasters announced that the match had officially been postponed.

Sunday night marked the second time the reliable midfielder has had a medical emergency during a match. On March 22, during a road game against Bay FC, DeMelo was stretchered off the field and taken to a nearby hospital in San Jose after feeling tightness in her chest and dizziness, symptoms she has since attributed to the medication she has been taking to manage her Graves’ and hyperthyroidism diagnoses.

“This has been an incredibly difficult time for our players and staff, who all care deeply for her, and it’s meaningful to know the entire NWSL community is behind Sav as she recovers,” Racing Louisville manager Bev Yanez said. “I’m especially thankful to the medical personnel who acted quickly to ensure her safety on Sunday night, as well as to the Seattle Reign and the NWSL for their support. It has truly meant the world to us. We will continue to support Savannah and her family in any way we can.”

DeMelo was drafted to Racing Louisville in 2022 and leads the club in goals (17) and assists (eight). She became just the third player in USWNT history to earn a spot on a World Cup roster despite not having any prior caps in 2023. Racing currently occupies the eighth spot in the NWSL table and has a chance to reach the playoffs for the first time in club history.

“From the moment the incident began, Savannah’s health has been our top priority,” Racing general manager Caitlyn Flores Milby said. “I’m deeply grateful to our athletic trainers, Tara Condon and Michaela Clay, for their quick action and to the entire Seattle Reign medical staff for their assistance in getting Savannah the care that she required. I’m also thankful to the NWSL for its appropriate decision to suspend Sunday’s game and to everyone who has reached out with kind messages.”

(Photo: Stephen Brashear / Imagn Images)

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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