Angel City defender Savy King undergoes heart surgery after on-field collapse in NWSL match, team says prognosis ‘excellent’

Angel City defender Savy King underwent a successful surgery Tuesday to address a heart abnormality, the team announced, four days after she collapsed on the field during a match against the Utah Royals.

“She is now resting and recovering surrounded by her family, and her prognosis is excellent,” the team said in a statement.

King's family released a joint statement thanking the team's medical staff, her teammates and the hospital staff: “On behalf of our entire family, along with Savy, we have been so moved by the love and support from Angel City players, staff, fans and community, as well as soccer fans across the country. We are blessed to share Savy is recovering well and we are looking forward to having her home with us soon.”

King, 20, joined Angel City this season following a trade from Bay FC.

King collapsed on the pitch in the 74th minute of the game Friday night, with players from both matches visibly shaken over the event. She was attended to for around 10 minutes on the field before being transported via EMS to the hospital.

Washington Spirit and U.S. women's national team forward Trinity Rodman offered prayers for King and her Family on social media, posting on her Instagram story adding: “In no world should that game have continued.”

The NWSL said in a statement that it would review its current policies to determine if changes are needed to be made. NWSL rules for 2025 state that the league “recognizes that emergencies may arise which make the start or progression of a Game inadvisable or dangerous for participants and spectators. Certain event categories automatically trigger the League Office into an evaluation of whether delay or postponement is necessary.”

Royals manager Jimmy Coenraets suggested that the match should not have continued after King's medical event.

“In those moments, I’m not sure if we should have continued the game,” Coenraets told reporters after the match. “You’re emotionally - not only them but also our players were just scared. That’s not the right situation to be in but in the end, we played on. That’s the decision other people have taken, which is fine. It was a really tough moment.

“It’s the same after the game. Like, what do you want to focus on after the game? Yes, you have the result of the game but you want to make sure people feel safe, healthy and good and I think that was the focus after the game for us.”

Having won two straight games, Angel City will play Bay City Saturday at 10 p.m. ET at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.