A NWSL match between Racing Louisville and Seattle Reign was abandoned on Sunday after a medical emergency involving Savannah DeMelo.
The incident occurred in first-half stoppage time, when the 27-year-old Louisville midfielder slowly took a seated position on the field.
DeMelo collapsed during Racing Louisville’s game at the Seattle Reign on SundayGettyA referee called for trainers to assist, but seconds later, she collapsed while a teammate was holding her arm in an effort to keep her upright.
DeMelo, who has made seven appearances for the USWNT alongside record-breaking teammate Naomi Girma, was taken to a nearby hospital in an ambulance, and Louisville confirmed she was ‘stable and alert’ in a statement shared after the match was suspended.
“Tonight’s Racing Louisville game at Seattle Reign FC has been abandoned following a medical emergency involving Racing midfielder Savannah DeMelo,” the message, posted on social media, read.
“Savannah, who received immediate on-field care from medical personnel, is stable and alert.
“She was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. The remainder of the game will be rescheduled for a further date, and further updates will be provided as appropriate.”
The NWSL also released a statement on DeMelo’s collapse, noting the league’s ‘first priority’ is player safety.
“Savannah received immediate on-field care from medical personnel and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation,” the statement read.
“Our first priority is her health and safety. We are in close communication with Racing Louisville’s medical team.
“We recognise the concern this incident may cause, particularly in light of recent conversations around player safety.
“The NWSL remains committed to ensuring that the highest standards of medical care and emergency response are in place at every match.”
DeMelo is ‘stable and alert’ after suffering the first-half medical emergencyGetty Louisville’s game against Seattle was abandoned after her collapseGettyThe match between Seattle and Louisville was scoreless at the time of DeMelo’s collapse, and the remainder will be played on a date mutually agreed by both teams.
USWNT star battling Graves’ disease diagnosis
DeMelo, the fourth pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, revealed in May that she has been diagnosed with Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism.
Attention was drawn to her health two months earlier, when she felt dizzy and tight in the chest during Louisville’s road game against Bay FC.
Her heart rate wasn’t slowing and she struggled to breathe for three minutes.
DeMelo was stretchered off the field and taken to a local hospital on that occasion, in what was a scary incident for teammates and onlookers.
She was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism in fall 2024.
Attention has been drawn to DeMelo’s health a number of times this seasonGetty“Playing a 90-minute game felt unbearable,” DeMelo told ESPN in May.
“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.”
What is hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease?
Per the Cleveland Clinic, hyperthyroidism is a condition where your thyroid makes and releases high levels of thyroid hormone.
DeMelo was stretchered off against Bay FC earlier this yearGettyIt speeds up metabolism, and can cause a wide range of symptoms, including rapid heart rate, heart palpitations and increased blood pressure.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Graves’ disease is an immune system condition that causes hyperthyroidism.
While DeMelo has acknowledged her diagnosis can take a toll during games, she remains confident of performing at a high level.
“I feel like the 2023 year was an amazing year. I scored a lot of goals, and I had a lot of assists, and I was dangerous,” she said in May.
USWNT star DeMelo doesn’t believe her condition will affect her performancesGetty“And I still feel like I’m that player. I feel like I’m still just the same. Maybe I’m not scoring as much, or I have a couple assists, but my game has always been to be dangerous and to drive at players, get fouled, get crosses in, all those things.
“I think that’s still who I am, and I’m hoping that kind of being back consistently now can help me to have consistent performances like I did.”
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