NEED TO KNOW
- Savy King suffered a “medical emergency” while playing soccer on Friday, May 9
- The incident happened around the 74-minute mark of the game against the Utah Royals
- “She is responsive and undergoing further evaluation,” Angel City FC shared in an update on X
Angel City defender Savy King suffered a “medical emergency” during her team’s match against the Utah Royals.
On Friday, May 9, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) player, 20, suddenly collapsed on the field, without making contact with another player, at about the 74-minute mark during the game, according to the Associated Press, Reuters and Fox Sports. She had to be wheeled off the field on a stretcher.
“Savy was transported by EMS to the hospital following a medical event on the field,” Angel City FC shared in an update on X on Saturday, May 10. “She is responsive and undergoing further evaluation.”
“We thank everyone for their concern and support,” the team added.
Ron Lyon/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
Medical staff had rushed onto the field when King collapsed and appeared to try to resuscitate her. After about 10 minutes, she was put on a stretcher and wheeled off the field, according to the AP and Reuters. As she was being wheeled off, medical staff put an oxygen mask on her face.
It is unclear what kind of medical emergency King suffered, as Angel City has yet to provide details of her medical condition.
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Players from both Angel City and the Utah Royals gathered in a circle in the middle of the field to pray for King, and the match was delayed by at least 10 minutes, per Reuters. Angel City went on to win the game 2-0.
Luiza Moraes/NWSL via Getty
Following the game, Angel City assistant coach Eleri Earnshaw told reporters of King, per Reuters, “Her family is with her, as is our medical staff, so she’s in good hands.”
Utah Royals coach Jimmy Coenraets also shared some comments after the game, and questioned whether the game should have continued following King’s collapse.
“In those moments, I’m not sure we should have continued the game,” Coenraets said, per Reuters. “… Not only them, but also our players were just scared. I think that’s not the right position and not the right situation to be in.”
“But in the end we played on, and that’s a decision that other people are making, which is fine. But I think it was a really tough moment,” he added.
King joined Angel City this year and has played in all eight matches this season, according to the outlet. She previously played for the Bay FC and played in 18 matches for the team. Before joining the NWSL, she played for the University of North Carolina.