Savy King Returns to Angel City After In-Game Cardiac Incident

Angel City FC defender Savy Kingis scheduled to return to play after the team announced on Saturday that she has been taken off the National Women's Soccer League's season-ending injury list (SEI).

King has been part of the SEI sincesuffering a cardiacincident during a match on May 9, 2025. She thenunderwent open-heart surgery, after physicians identified that she had a rare birth-related heart condition, and initiated a recovery program with the goal of making a return to the field for the 2026 seasonNWSL season.

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I've done everything I could to get back on the field for a game. I'm thrilled to be returning and ready to step back onto the pitch," King said this week. "I believe it's going to be a significant moment not only for me, but also for my family, the club, and everyone who has faced a challenging time, particularly those who have dealt with a cardiac event.

King will participate in Angel City's preseason exhibition games at the Coachella Valley Invitational, along with the team's regular season that starts on March 15 at BMO Stadium.

The objective for me is to return in time for the first game," King stated. "It's been a long process, but I feel more prepared than ever. I don't want anyone to be concerned or frightened about my return because I'm fully ready. I've been putting a lot of emphasis on the mental side of things to ensure I'm prepared. Physically, I feel completely fine. Mentally, I've been doing exceptionally well.

In the summer of 2025, King completed her cardiac rehabilitation at Cedars Sinai and was approved to begin non-contact training with Angel City in the fall. During this preseason, King was fully cleared for contact drills and rejoined her Angel City teammates for full practice sessions.

It meant everything to be back," King said about returning to the training facility after months in cardiac rehabilitation. "Much of my recovery was actually completed away from Angel City. So when I finally got to come back to the training facility, it was truly amazing. And it had been a long time coming.

At first, I couldn't accomplish much, but it didn't matter since I was there, back with my team. And I simply knew that I had returned.

A few months following her heart incident, King established Savy King of Hearts, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting CPR education, preventive checkups, and advocacy for heart health.

King revealed a new program in November last yearWith her nonprofit, she is offering free CPR training to all 16 NWSL teams. This program, in partnership with the NWSL and the American Heart Association, will provide free CPR instruction for every player, coach, and staff member. King's effort has made the NWSL the first professional sports league in America to ensure that all teams have their players, coaches, and staff trained in CPR.

King was selected second overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft byBay FC, appearing in 20 NWSL games during her first season and recording two assists over 1,220 minutes of play.

King was moved to Angel City in February 2025, and she agreed to a contract extension with the team that will keep her there until 2028. The Los Angeles native participated in all seven matches for Angel City, accumulating more than 600 minutes on the field, before experiencing her cardiac episode during a game in May.

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