King Returns to the Active Roster Following Cardiac Event in May 2025
Los Angeles (February 14, 2026) - Angel City Football Club (ACFC) today announced the removal of top defender Savy King from the National Women's Soccer League's (NWSL) season-ending injury list (SEI). King was placed on SEI following a cardiac event at the club's match on May 9, 2025. Following the incident, King underwent successful open-heart surgery and began a comprehensive rehabilitation process.
King will now be available for selection for the club's preseason exhibition matches at the Coachella Valley Invitational (on Sunday, Feb. 15 and Saturday, Feb. 21) and ACFC's regular season, which begins Saturday, March 15 at BMO Stadium.
"This is a moment that I have been waiting for since I woke up from my surgery," said King. "I never imagined that something like this could happen to me, but as soon as I knew I could play again, there was never a doubt that I could get back here. It would not have been possible without the support of my family, teammates, the ACFC medical and technical staff, and the doctors at Cedars-Sinai. I am forever grateful for them. I cannot wait to be back out there in front of the fans and everyone that has supported me on this journey."
"Savy's perseverance and dedication throughout her return to play process has been nothing short of incredible," said ACFC Director of Medical Hollie Walusz, who has been instrumental in King's return to the pitch. "From the beginning, she approached her recovery with unwavering determination, despite the nature of her medical condition and the very public way in which the incident occurred. We are incredibly proud of her and it will be an inspiring moment for all of us to see her back on the pitch. Her future is very bright."
"We are thrilled that Savy is able to return to the pitch," said ACFC Head Coach Alex Straus. "I arrived here after her medical incident, so she is almost like a new recruit for me. You can see how determined she is in the way she has fought to be back, and that is such an important quality in a player. Having her available for selection makes our backline even stronger."
King has used her experience to start Savy King of Hearts, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about CPR, expanding access to heart screenings and AEDs, and empowering others to be ready in critical moments. She has partnered with the NWSL and the American Heart Association to provide free CPR training to all 16 clubs, a first-of-its-kind program in any major sports league.
Drafted second overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft by Bay FC, King made 20 NWSL match appearances in all competitions in her rookie season, earning two assists in 1,220 minutes on the pitch. She is the third-youngest draftee in NWSL history at 18 years old after completing her freshman year with the North Carolina Tar Heels.
King was traded to Angel City in February 2025, and first appeared with the team at the Coachella Valley Invitational soon after. A month later, she extended her contract with the club through 2028 to stay in her hometown. Prior to her medical incident, King started in all seven ACFC matches playing over 600 minutes for the club.
