Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo has filed a lawsuit against UofL Health and two physicians affiliated with the NWSL club, alleging medical negligence contributed to the cardiac arrest she suffered during a match in Seattle on 14 September 2025. The suit, filed in Jefferson Circuit Court, was lodged a year and a day after the on-field incident, according to a court clerk who confirmed the filing to the Guardian.
The complaint alleges that UofL Health "failed to act as a reasonably prudent and competent medical practice," and that this failure was "a substantial factor" in causing DeMelo's cardiac arrest and related injuries. The lawsuit centers on claims that the medical staff did not adequately diagnose an underlying heart condition prior to her collapse.
Neither of the two physicians named in the lawsuit is directly employed by Racing Louisville. Instead, they work with the club through a partnership arrangement between the team and UofL Health, one of them serving as the club's chief medical officer, per the team's website. Sources close to both DeMelo and the organization, who spoke anonymously given the sensitivity of the situation, indicated that Racing Louisville has already decided to part ways with UofL Health once the current season concludes. The club is reportedly searching for a new medical services provider ahead of the 2027 campaign.
Despite the legal dispute, DeMelo's relationship with the club itself appears unaffected. Sources say she has verbally agreed to a new contract with Racing Louisville, a deal that still requires league approval and could be formally announced in the coming days. Her previous contract had been due to expire at the end of this season.
DeMelo, who has resumed full training with her teammates this week, is progressing toward a return to the pitch. According to sources, she could potentially feature as early as 25 September, when Louisville hosts the San Diego Wave.
Both Racing Louisville and UofL Health declined to comment publicly, with the health provider citing the ongoing litigation. A representative for DeMelo had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
DeMelo, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NWSL draft, has spent her entire professional career with Louisville. Known for her vision in midfield and dead-ball delivery, she earned a surprise call-up to the United States squad for the 2023 Women's World Cup, becoming just the third player in USWNT history to be named to a World Cup roster without prior senior-team experience.
Her health struggles trace back to late 2024, when she was diagnosed with Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid gland. She revealed the diagnosis publicly after leaving a match on 22 March 2025 due to dizziness and tightness in her chest. Roughly six months later, she collapsed during the Seattle match, becoming the second NWSL player last season to experience a cardiac emergency mid-game. Angel City's Savy King had suffered a similar cardiac arrest on 9 May 2025.
Reflecting on King's ordeal, DeMelo expressed solidarity while distinguishing their circumstances. "Savy King, my heart goes out to her," DeMelo told ESPN. "I can't imagine how scared [she was] and what she's feeling, but we do have very different situations. ... Mine was more due to the medication I was on and what my thyroid was doing to my body."
Based on reporting from the Guardian.