Savy King Thanks Angel City FC Medical Team for Saving Her Life

According to Good Morning America, defender Savy King expressed her gratitude to the Angel City FC medical team who saved her life when she collapsed on the field during an NWSL match — about two years ago.

“They saved my life. That will stay with me forever in my heart. And knowing that I can play in front of them again and see that they were a huge reason why I’m still here — I play for them, too, now,” King stated.

The 20-year-old player fell without contact during a home game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. The medical team immediately provided chest compressions and used an AED for more than 10 minutes before taking her to the hospital — where doctors discovered a heart abnormality.

Dr. Richard Kim, who led the medical team at the hospital, explained that King was born with an anomalous left coronary artery. The medical team successfully created a new pathway for blood to flow to King’s artery.

The match between Angel City and Utah Royals FC continued — which later drew criticism from fans and the NWSL Players Association. The NWSL eventually acknowledged that the game should have been stopped and promised to change similar policies in the future.