NWSL match abandoned after Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo collapses on field
Match between Racing Louisville FC and Seattle Reign FC halted at halftime after DeMelo taken to hospital; league says player is stable and game will be rescheduled
A National Women’s Soccer League match between Racing Louisville FC and Seattle Reign FC was abandoned after Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo collapsed on the field, league and club officials said.
The incident occurred before the start of the second half on Sept. 15, 2025, after play had reached halftime. DeMelo, 27, received immediate attention from her club's training staff on the pitch and was then transported to a local hospital in Seattle for further evaluation. Racing Louisville confirmed she was "stable and alert".
The NWSL issued a statement saying the match was abandoned, adding that the league's "first priority is [DeMelo's] health and safety, and we are in close communication with Racing Louisville's medical team." The league said it recognized concern given "recent conversations around player safety" and reiterated its commitment to ensuring "the highest standards of medical care and emergency response are in place at every match."
League officials said the remainder of the match, which had reached halftime, will be rescheduled for a later date. No timetable was provided for the rescheduled fixture.
DeMelo has spent her entire professional career with Racing Louisville and has scored 20 goals across all competitions for the club. She is a native of California and a regular starter in the Louisville midfield. The club and league did not provide additional medical details beyond confirming she was being evaluated at the hospital.
The match abandonment follows a season in which the NWSL and its clubs have faced heightened scrutiny over player welfare and emergency preparedness. League and club statements emphasized that medical staff attended to DeMelo immediately and that protocols were followed.
Racing Louisville and the Seattle Reign did not provide comments beyond the official statements on the field incident. The NWSL said it will provide further updates as they become available and is coordinating with the club on communications and scheduling for the completion of the match.
Fans, teammates and opponents were visibly affected by the incident as stadium staff and medical personnel worked on the field. The decision to abandon the match came after consultation between the teams and league officials, according to the NWSL statement. The league and Racing Louisville reiterated their priorities of the player's care and the safety of all participants.
The NWSL did not announce whether the match result would be recorded as abandoned or how statistics from the first half would be treated. Additional information, including the player’s condition and the date of the rescheduled remainder of the match, is expected from Racing Louisville and the league as hospital evaluations continue.