Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo suffered a medical incident during Sunday evening’s game against the Seattle Reign, collapsing on the field at the end of the first half. The club has since confirmed that she is “stable and alert,” and has been transported to a local hospital.
The game was stopped to issue medical care to DeMelo, and will be postponed to a further date.
Racing Louisville released the following statement:
“Tonight’s Racing Louisville game at Seattle Reign has been abandoned
following a medical emergency involving Racing midfielder Savannah DeMelo.”
“Savannah, who received immediate on-field care from medical personnel, is stable and alert. She was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. The remainder of the game will be rescheduled for a later date, and further updates will be provided as appropriate.”
The club did not confirm what the medical incident was, but DeMelo has previously spoken about her experiences with Grave’s Disease and hyperthyroidism.
She was diagnosed with the conditions last fall, and spoke out about them last spring after she had to leave a game in March due to experiencing chest tightness and struggling to breath. DeMelo confirmed that the March incident was caused by her conditions and an imbalance in her medication.
Grave’s disease is an autoimmune disease that can cause hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is a condition that speeds up the body’s metabolism, which can cause weight loss, tremors, and a rapid heartbeat.
Earlier this year, the NWSL had another incident where a player had a medical emergency on the field, when Angel City FC defender Savy King collapsed during a game due to a heart abnormality. The game continued after King left the field, although the NWSLPA called for future games to be abandoned when medical emergencies occur.
Later, the NWSL issued a statement that conceded the game should not have continued and that future matches will be abandoned if similar situations arise.
