Angel City defender Savy King has been released from the hospital after undergoing successful heart surgery. This marks the start of her recovery phase, approximately a week after experiencing a medical emergency during a match against the Utah Royals.
Angel City FC issued a statement confirming her discharge from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on May 17. The statement noted she is now home and resting with her family. The club expressed gratitude for the “expert medical care” provided by Cedars-Sinai staff in consultation with their own medical team and stated they are ready to support King throughout her recovery.
King also commented publicly for the first time since the incident, sharing hospital photos on Instagram and thanking those who offered support.
In her post, King wrote:
I`m still finding the words to express just how much your love and support have meant to me over these past few days. What I do know is that I wouldn`t be getting through this without my incredible family by my side, my amazing teammates who have shown up for me and prayed for me, the fans, the entire soccer community, and the outstanding medical team here at ACFC who saved my life and cared for me every step of the way. I know God`s got me and I`m looking forward to recovering and getting back out on the field!
King had collapsed during the second half of Angel City`s match against the Royals on May 9. After receiving on-field medical attention, she was substituted and taken to a local hospital. She was later diagnosed with a heart abnormality and successfully underwent surgery to correct it on Tuesday.
The NWSL`s decision not to stop the match following the incident drew significant criticism. Royals head coach Jimmy Coenraets and USWNT star Trinity Rodman were among those who felt the game should have been abandoned.
The NWSL Players Association subsequently called for an updated policy that would require games to be stopped in situations requiring life-saving medical intervention for a player.
NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke emphasized the need for a clear rule, stating:
If player safety is of paramount importance, then I`m wondering what other factors could possibly be at play in a life-saving situation here… We`re making it too hard. This is a very straightforward decision. Life-saving measures on the field to revive a player or stabilize a player – or coach or referee – the game should stop playing… and this is the reason that the players are asking for a bright-line rule.
The NWSL later acknowledged on Friday that the match should not have continued and announced a change in policy.
In a statement, the league said:
Having reviewed our protocols and how they were implemented, and in listening to feedback from our stakeholders, the Angel City vs. Utah game last Friday night should not have continued and we regret that it did. The health and well-being of the entire NWSL community remains our top priority, and in any similar situation going forward the game should and would be abandoned.
King remained a focus for her teammates when Angel City played Bay FC on Saturday. Angel City players wore black shirts with “SK3” (her initials and number) upon arrival, and Bay FC starters also wore them before kickoff.
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman attended the Saturday match and commented that King`s emergency was a “learning moment” for the league.
Berman stated:
As we went through that and regrouped internally, we, of course, came to the conclusion that the game should not have continued and that we were committed – and are committed – to ensuring that in a similar situation moving forward that it wouldn`t happen again… Everything that we do, every season gives us an opportunity to learn and do better and that`s what we`re committed to do going forward.
