Sep 5, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Racing Louisville FC midfielder Savannah DeMelo (left) and Portland Thorns FC midfielder Olivia Moultrie (right) run down the ball during the second half at Lynn Family Stadium. Mandatory Credit: EM Dash-Imagn Images
On Thursday, October 1, it was revealed that midfielder Savannah DeMelo had signed a new contract with Racing Louisville, her club since 2022. She will also be available on Saturday; this could be her first appearance on the field in over a year.
The reason for DeMelo’s year-long absence was a cardiac event she suffered on the field in September 2025. She collapsed during a game and was taken to a local hospital where it was later revealed that she suffered cardiac arrest. On Instagram, DeMelo explained that she “collapsed due to an undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia, that caused me to go into cardiac arrest.”
On September 15, 2026, one year and one day after her cardiac arrest, DeMelo announced that she was filing a lawsuit against the University of Louisville health department, the team’s medical partner, for failing to diagnose her severe underlying cardiac issue. Per ESPN, her lawsuit alleges multiple forms of negligence against Dr. Jennifer Daily and Dr. Sarabjeet Suri. Daily is Racing Louisville’s chief medical officer, employed by the University, and Suri is a specialist DeMelo was referred to after she experienced shortness of breath and chest pain.
Prior to her cardiac event and year away from the sport, DeMelo had established a successful career in the NWSL. She has made 63 total appearances for Racing Louisville across all competitions and has scored 17 goals. She has also made seven appearances for the U.S. women’s national team and was a member of the 2023 squad that traveled to the FIFA World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated that Savannah DeMelo was being taken off the season-ending injury list. She was placed on the list in 2025 but was not on the list in 2026.
