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NWSL game between Seattle, Louisville suspended after Racing midfielder Savannah DeMelo collapses on field

Sunday's NWSL game between the Seattle Reign and Racing Louisville FC was suspended after Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo collapsed on the field and left Lumen Field in an ambulance to a Seattle hospital.

DeMelo, 27, also plays for the U.S Women's National Team and started during the 2023 Women's World Cup. Specifics of her condition weren't immediately clear, but Louisville announced in a statement that she was "stable and alert:"

"Savannah, who received immediate on-field care from medical personnel, is stable and alert. She was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation."

Seattle confirmed the suspension of the match in a statement on social media noting that they're "sending all of our love to Savannah DeMelo and everyone at @RacingLouFC."

"The remainder of the match will be rescheduled for a later date, and further updates will be provided as appropriate. We stand side by side with Louisville during this time and thank our fans for their support."

DeMelo, 27, took a seat on the field in the match's 47th minute. Trainers came out to assist her, and she fell back to the turf as her body appeared to go limp.

Her legs convulsed, and trainers immediately called for additional medical assistance. Trainers from both teams then rushed out to assist as players walked off the field, some with their heads in their hands.

DeMelo's medical condition, previous collapse

This is the second on-field medical incident DeMelo has experienced this year. On March 22, she left a road game against Bay FC on a stretcher. Per ESPN, she felt dizzy and tight in the chest during that game and struggled to breathe for about three minutes as her heart rate remained elevated.

DeMelo told ESPN in May, two months after her previous collapse, that she was diagnosed in fall of 2024 with Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism. Per the Mayo Clinic, Graves disease an immune system condition that affects the thyroid gland and causes hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of increased thyroid hormone include a slight tremor of the hands or fingers, being tired and having a fast or irregular heartbeat, according to the Mayo Clinic. DeMelo told ESPN that her symptoms on the field last season prompted her to seek further evaluation.

"Playing a 90-minute game felt unbearable," DeMelo said. "I would get to maybe the 25th minute, and I felt like my heart was just like beating so fast, like out of my chest. I felt so out of breath, so out of shape. I didn't really know what was going on."

DeMelo has continued to play since her diagnosis and her first collapse. Per ESPN, she's worked with Louisville's medical staff to address her condition. She's undergoing treatment that includes medication and monthly meetings with an endocrinologist. She sat out Louisville's season finale in 2024 as a precaution following her diagnosis.

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