Rayle Evil midfielder Savanna DeMelo took steady alert after being taken to an ambulance from a match against Seattle’s reign due to a medical emergency.
The match at Lumenfield in Seattle was cancelled late in the first half after an incident.
DeMelo sat on the field before he collapsed. The trainer rushed to her side, and the players from both teams were visibly upset.
The TV cameras were separated from the field scene, and the match was soon halftime. The governing players appeared after some time to praise the fans as an announcement was made that the match had been abandoned.
“Savannah, who received immediate field-on-field care from a healthcare worker, is stable and wary. She was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation,” Laylin Evil said.
The game was scoreless when paused. The rest will be played on mutually agreed dates by both teams and taken from where they left off.
“We have been lined up alongside Louisville during this time and thank the fans for their support,” Rei said in a statement. The team said further updates will be provided as needed.
The NWSL said its top priority was DeMelo’s health and safety, and that the league had been in close communication with Race Louisville.
“We are aware of the concerns this incident may raise, particularly in light of recent conversations about player safety,” the league’s statement said. “The NWSL remains committed to ensuring that the highest standards of medical care and emergency response are implemented in every game.”
DeMelo, 27, left the game in March due to dizzy chest tension and extended from the field. She revealed in May that she was dealing with grave illness and hyperthyroidism.
DeMelo was the fourth pick in the 2022 NWSL draft from Southern California. In her three seasons at Louisville, she played 61 games with 14 goals.
She was on the roster of the US national team for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Earlier this year, Angel City defender Sabbi King collapsed during a game in Los Angeles, requiring cardiac surgery.
The league was criticized as the game continued after King was taken from the field in an ambulance. A few days later, the league expressed regret over the decision, saying the game should be cancelled.
The 2025 NWSL rules state that the league “are aware that there may be an emergency that will unacceptably or risk participants or audiences starting or going on the game.
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