LOUISVILLE — Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo has filed a lawsuit against University of Louisville Health and two physicians, claiming they failed to properly diagnose a heart condition that led to her collapsing during a National Women’s Soccer League match in September 2025.
Allegations name team medical partners, chief medical officer
The complaint, filed Sept. 15, 2026, lists as defendants UofL Health and two doctors, including Dr. Jennifer Daily, identified in the suit as the club’s chief medical officer. According to the court filing and reporting, Daily is not a direct employee of Racing Louisville but provides services to the team under a contract with UofL Health.
An individual familiar with the club’s medical arrangement told reporters that Racing Louisville is not expected to retain UofL Health as its medical partner next season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the terms publicly.
Incident on the field and subsequent treatment
DeMelo collapsed during a match at the Seattle Reign on Sept. 14, 2025. Medical personnel rushed onto the field after she initially appeared unresponsive. She was later placed on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance; the match was abandoned. Team officials at the time said DeMelo was "stable and alert" after the incident. She has not returned to play since.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 2025 | DeMelo left a match at Bay FC feeling lightheaded. |
| May 2025 | DeMelo disclosed diagnoses of Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism. |
| Sept. 14, 2025 | Collapsed during match at Seattle; suffered cardiac arrest; game abandoned. |
| Sept. 14, 2026 | DeMelo marked one-year anniversary of collapse and publicly revealed she had a cardiac arrest. |
Player’s account and medical follow-up
Marking the one-year anniversary of the collapse on Sept. 14, 2026, DeMelo posted on Instagram that she had suffered a cardiac arrest caused by an "undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia." In that post she praised doctors who treated her and thanked family and friends for support.
"A year ago today, while playing soccer, I collapsed due to an undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia, that caused me to go into cardiac arrest... I’m forever grateful for the amazing doctors at UW and Mayo Clinic that have gotten me to where I am today. And to my fiancé, family, and friends who have been with me through every step along the way."
The suit alleges shortcomings in the medical care that preceded the collapse. DeMelo’s health concerns were made public earlier in 2025 after she left a match feeling lightheaded and later disclosed thyroid-related diagnoses, including Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism, in May 2025.
Local impact and questions for team care
The legal action puts a spotlight on how professional sports teams in Louisville manage medical care for players — including the role of outside health systems that contract with clubs. UofL Health’s relationship with Racing Louisville, and the involvement of its providers in team care, will likely come under review as the lawsuit proceeds.
- Potential contract review: Reporting indicates Racing Louisville may not keep UofL Health as its medical partner next season.
- Player safety scrutiny: The suit could prompt league and team-level assessments of on-field emergency response protocols and preexisting condition screening.
- Legal and financial exposure: The presence of a named health system and team physician raises questions about malpractice, contract responsibilities and insurance coverage.
Racing Louisville and UofL Health have not publicly detailed changes to medical policies or the specifics of the contract with the team. The NWSL has long-implemented league-wide medical standards, but execution rests with clubs and their chosen providers. How those standards intersect with private health-system contracts may be tested in court.
The case also underscores the broader medical path DeMelo pursued after the collapse: in her public message she credited care received at the University of Washington and the Mayo Clinic for helping her recovery. Her social post was the first public confirmation that the on-field emergency had been a cardiac arrest.
As the lawsuit moves through the legal system, Louisville residents and local sports fans will be watching whether the dispute leads to changes in how professional teams partner with health systems, and what it means for the safety protocols that protect athletes on and off the field.
Reporting note: This article is based on the complaint filed Sept. 15, 2026, contemporaneous team statements and DeMelo’s public social-media post marking the one-year anniversary of her collapse.
