Savannah DeMelo Files Negligence Lawsuit Against Louisville Hospital

Savannah DeMelo, a rising figure in the United States women’s national team setup, has filed a negligence lawsuit against a Louisville hospital and two of its doctors after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch last year.

The 28-year-old Racing Louisville midfielder collapsed during the first half of a National Women’s Soccer League match on 14 September 2025 and has not played since.

Lawsuit filed a year after on-field collapse

According to court documents seen by BBC Sport, DeMelo submitted the suit to Jefferson Circuit Court in Kentucky on Tuesday morning — exactly one year and a day after she went down during the NWSL fixture.

The complaint names University of Louisville Health (UofL Health), along with Dr Sarabjeet Suri and Dr Jennifer Daily, and accuses them of failing to provide adequate medical care in the months leading up to her collapse.

The filing alleges that UofL Health and the two doctors “failed to act as a reasonably prudent and competent medical practice, and such negligence was a substantial factor in causing DeMelo to suffer severe physical injuries, including, but not limited to, her cardiac arrest.”

Dr Daily is listed on her UofL Health biography as Racing Louisville’s chief medical officer. The lawsuit says DeMelo was under her care from January 2024 through July 2026.

Warning signs before cardiac arrest

The suit details a critical stretch in early 2025. In March of that year, after DeMelo reported chest pain, dizziness and shortness of breath, Dr Daily referred her to Dr Suri for “evaluation and treatment.”

Dr Suri, the filing states, took a medical history, carried out a physical examination and ordered diagnostic tests. Nearly six months later, DeMelo suffered cardiac arrest during the match.

“She was subsequently diagnosed and treated for ventricular tachycardia [an abnormal heart rhythm],” the lawsuit notes.

The midfielder, who has spent her entire professional career with Racing Louisville, has not returned to competitive action since that day.

World Cup midfielder speaks out

DeMelo had been on an upward trajectory before the incident. She earned selection to the USA squad for the 2023 Women’s World Cup and started the team’s first two matches at the tournament.

On Tuesday, she used the anniversary of her collapse to speak publicly on Instagram about the ordeal.

“A year ago today, while playing soccer, I collapsed due to an undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia, that caused me to go into cardiac arrest,” she wrote.

“I respect and appreciate the privacy everyone has met me with while going through everything I have this year. I’ll never be able to fully put into words how emotionally hard this year has been. There has been a lot of uncertainty and emotions intertwined with it all.”

Her future on the field remains unclear. The legal battle now runs alongside the long road back from a moment that stopped a match — and very nearly much more.