TheNWSLacknowledged that last week's game between Angel City FC and the Utah Royals should have been suspended after Savy King required emergency medical treatment on the field. The league said in a statement to media that the decision to conclude the final minutes of that game was an error, and that in the future such incidents will be handled differently. "Having reviewed our protocols and how they were implemented, and in listening to feedback from our stakeholders, the Angel City vs Utah game last Friday night should not have continued and we regret that it did," read the statement. "The health and well-being of the entire NWSL community remains our top priority, and in any similar situation going forward the game should and would be abandoned." King underwent successful surgery on Tuesday for what Angel City called "a heart abnormality," with the club calling her prognosis after that procedure "excellent." The NWSL Players Association, in a statement of its own, called the NWSL's admission of an error "a meaningful step forward," and expressed gratitude that the league had heard the organization's concerns. Meanwhile, the decision to play on has been a hot topic across the league. Utah head coach Jimmy Coenraets said that playing on was "not the right situation to be in, while U.S. women's national team starTrinity Rodman criticized the decisionto continue the match. In a statement last Saturday offering an update on King's condition, the NWSL said that "league protocols were followed from both a medical and game operations perspective." While the NWSLPA did not dispute that league rules were followed,it called for those protocols to be revisedon Tuesday. "These moments demand humanity, sound judgment, and restraint," read an NWSLPA statement. "Any medical emergency that requires the administration of life-saving care should bring play to an end. The match should not have continued. Our members are elite, world class competitors who have proven they can perform under unimaginable conditions. That does not mean they should have to." Later that afternoon, the NWSL indicated that a review of how the league handles circumstances like this incident had already begun, saying that "the seriousness of this incident requires a deliberate process that is careful and methodical. That process is underway, and will include necessary revisions that prioritize the consideration of player, staff and fan well-being." King collapsed in the 74th minute of last week's game at BMO Stadium, with Angel City medical staff, an on-site doctor, and EMTs eventually having to perform chest compressions on the field as part of the treatment for the 20-year-old. King was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for evaluation, andunderwent surgeryto address "a heart abnormality." The California native "is now resting and recovering surrounded by her family, and her prognosis is excellent," per a team statement. During the delay, the scene on the touchline went from the more customary hydration and instruction from coaches to serious concern as King could be seen receiving emergency care. Players on both teams could be seen in tears during the roughly eight-minute delay, but the only discussions involving the referees or league match observer that could be seen was a brief interaction between referee Alex Billeter and Press. As King was driven off the field, Angel City replaced her with substitute Meg Reid, and the game eventually finished with the hosts winning 2-0. However, the immediate aftermath made it clear that King was the only focus for all involved parties. Both teams, including staff, gathered at midfield for a prayer circle lead by Utah's Alex Loera (a teammate of King's in 2024 at Bay FC). Both Angel City and Utah Royals came together for Savy King, who exited Friday night's match on a stretcher following a medical event on the field.Alex Loera, who was teammates with King at Bay FC, led the group.pic.twitter.com/cJC3fJymZu — espnW (@espnW)May 10, 2025 Even after that gathering, the emotional scene continued, with longtime USWNT forward Christen Press admitting that her only thoughts were on King's status in a post-game interview with Paramount+. "All of us are praying for Savy, our teammate," the Angel City forward said. "We know that she's with her moms...we are praying, and she is on our hearts and minds and that's really all I can think about right now." In a post-game press conference, Coenraets said that he felt the game should not have continued, regardless of Utah trailing at the time of the incident. "You're emotionally — not only [Angel City], but also our players were just scared," said Coenraets. That's not the right situation to be in but in the end, we played on. That's the decision other people are making, which is fine. It was a really tough moment." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Savy King: NWSL regrets finishing game after Angel City player's collapse
