Angel City FC defender Savy King has been removed from the season-ending injury list and is available to play, the club announced on Saturday. The 21-year-old defender suffered a cardiac event last May during a match, and has not played since.
After the incident, King was discovered to have a rare congenital heart condition and underwent successful open heart surgery.
King is now available for selection for the club’s preseason matches and will be available for selection in the regular season. ACFC
will play in the Coachella Valley Invitational on Sunday, February 15 and Saturday, February 21. The club kicks off the NWSL regular season with a home match against the Chicago Stars on March 15.
In a statement, King said that this is the moment she has been waiting for, and expressed thanks to everyone who has supported her.
“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.”
King was drafted with the second overall college draft pick in 2024 by Bay FC, where she played in 20 matches and earned two assists. She was traded to Angel City FC in 2025, where she started in all seven games before her medical incident in May.
“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 recently started an organization called Savy King of Hearts, which seeks to raise awareness about CPR and heart conditions. In partnership with the NWSL and the American Heart Association, the organization will provide free CPR training to all 16 NWSL clubs.
