DeMelo, who announced in May that she had been diagnosed with Graves disease and hyperthyroidism, was hospitalized Sunday after taking a seat on the pitch late in the first half during a game between Louisville and the Seattle Reign at Lumen Field.
The 27-year-old, who featured for the U.S. women’s national team at the 2023 World Cup, appeared unresponsive as trainers and first responders provided oxygen and other treatment, eventually getting her to an ambulance via stretcher. With players and staff emotional as the situation unfolded, referee Jaclyn Metz did not resume the first half, opting instead to start halftime.
The NWSL would decide to halt the match shortly thereafter, with play eventually being resumed Tuesday evening. Seattle would go on to win 1-0.
‘In that particular situation, I got the phone call that Savannah [DeMelo] had a medical emergency and needed treatment,’ Berman told reporters on Thursday following a league board meeting. ‘Everyone who was there was pretty rattled and [I] immediately directed the team [at Lumen Field] to abandon the game…
‘We’re so thankful that both of those players are okay, and that — although it presented some challenges for us in operations and from a business perspective — those situations happened at a time when medical staff were there to respond and make sure that they were safe. So that’s most important.’
Berman added that while she is the first choice to make such a decision, ‘if for some reason I wasn’t reachable, there’s others internally at the league office’ empowered to do so.
Per Racing, DeMelo was ‘stable and alert’ at a Seattle-area hospital as of Sunday night. On Monday, the club posted a statement from DeMelo, who said she’s awaiting test results and is ‘excited to cheer on the girls this week.’
NWSL: DeMelo medical emergency second of 2025 season
The incident was the second significant medical emergency experienced by an NWSL player during a game this season. During a May match between Angel City FC and the Utah Royals, defender Savy King received chest compressions and was treated with a defibrillator on the field before eventually stabilizing at a Los Angeles hospital.
That game eventually continued, with Utah coach Jimmy Coenraets and USWNT star Trinity Rodman among those criticizing the decision. In the aftermath, the league would admit that play should have been suspended, and issued revised protocols on the handling of such incidents.
‘As it relates to this summer, no one wants to have experience practicing these policies,’ said Berman. ‘Having had the opportunity to play it out earlier this year, assess and learn the things that we could do better, and then actually have the chance to do it better the second time around, it was a moment that allowed us to show what we’re capable of.’
Berman added that the revisions to league protocols included a streamlined ‘decision-making tree’ and better lines of communication.
‘The obvious decision to not continue the game was a no-brainer, and did not require contemplation,’ explained the commissioner. ‘We at least now know exactly how to manage those situations… hopefully we’ll never have to [manage] them again.’