Seattle-Racing Louisville match abandoned after DeMelo collapse

Jonathan Turner
Sep 16
2 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

Seattle-Racing Louisville match abandoned after DeMelo collapse

SEATTLE (AP) — The National Women’s Soccer League match between Seattle Reign and Racing Louisville was abandoned Sunday night after midfielder Savannah DeMelo collapsed late in the first half at Lumen Field.

DeMelo, 24, sat down on the turf during first-half stoppage time and then collapsed while being supported by a teammate. Medical personnel responded immediately and transported her to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Racing Louisville said DeMelo was stable and alert as she awaited test results. She has publicly shared that she is managing Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism. It was not immediately clear if Sunday’s incident was related.

“I’m lucky to have my family with me while I’m waiting for test results to come back,” DeMelo said in a statement released by the club. “I’m extremely thankful to our whole medical staff for the quick response. They’ve been with me every step of the way. The support from everyone has truly meant the world to me, and I’m excited to cheer on the girls this week.”

The score was 0-0 when the game was halted. The NWSL announced the match will resume Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, starting with the second half. It will be played behind closed doors without fans in attendance.

League officials, teammates and opponents expressed support for DeMelo following the incident. Louisville head coach Bev Yanez praised the medical staff and emphasized that DeMelo’s health remained the club’s top priority.

The Reign and Louisville were both vying for critical late-season points in the playoff race, but the competitive stakes were quickly overshadowed.