US women’s national team midfielder Savannah DeMelo has filed a lawsuit against University of Louisville Health and two physicians, alleging medical negligence that resulted in her suffering cardiac arrest during a NWSL match in September 2025.
The lawsuit names Dr Sarabjeet Suri and Dr Jennifer Daily, who serves as Chief Medical Officer for Racing Louisville, as defendants alongside the health system. DeMelo’s legal action claims the medical staff failed to act with appropriate prudence in their care, with the collapse ultimately revealing an undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia.
The Collapse and Diagnosis
“A year ago today, while playing soccer, I collapsed due to an undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia, that caused me to go into cardiac arrest,” DeMelo stated, reflecting on the harrowing incident that transformed her career trajectory. The midfielder’s on-field emergency exposed what the lawsuit characterizes as a serious lapse in medical evaluation and diagnosis.
Following her collapse, DeMelo was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia, a serious heart rhythm disorder. The lawsuit contends that proper medical screening and diagnosis by the named defendants could have prevented the catastrophic cardiac event during competition.
Impact on Career
The consequences of the incident have been substantial for DeMelo’s professional athletics career. Since her on-pitch cardiac arrest, she has been unable to continue playing at the professional level, marking a significant disruption to her tenure as a USWNT midfielder competing in the NWSL.
The legal proceedings represent DeMelo’s attempt to hold the medical providers accountable for what she alleges were failures in their duty of care. The case underscores ongoing scrutiny of medical protocols and athlete safety measures within professional soccer organizations and their affiliated healthcare systems.