United States women’s national team midfielder Savannah DeMelo has filed a lawsuit against a hospital and two doctors over the cardiac arrest she suffered during a National Women’s Soccer League match last year.
According to BBC Sport, DeMelo, 28, sued University of Louisville Health (UofL Health), Dr Sarabjeet Suri and Dr Jennifer Daily at the Jefferson Circuit Court in Kentucky, where her club, Racing Louisville, is based.
In court documents, DeMelo alleges that the defendants failed to provide the level of medical care expected from competent practitioners. She claims their alleged negligence contributed to the serious injuries she sustained, including the cardiac arrest.
DeMelo collapsed during the first half of Racing Louisville’s match against Seattle Reign on September 14, 2025, and has not played competitively since.
The lawsuit states that she had previously reported symptoms including chest pain, dizziness and shortness of breath. In March 2025, Dr Daily reportedly referred her to cardiologist Dr Suri for further assessment and treatment.
The filing says Suri reviewed DeMelo’s medical history, conducted a physical examination and ordered diagnostic tests. Nearly six months later, she suffered cardiac arrest and was subsequently diagnosed and treated for ventricular tachycardia, an abnormal heart rhythm.
Dr Daily, according to her University of Louisville biography, serves as Racing Louisville’s chief medical officer. The lawsuit states that DeMelo was under her care between January 2024 and July 2026.
DeMelo, who has seven senior appearances for the United States, was part of the American squad at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and started the team’s opening two matches.
A year after the incident, DeMelo reflected on her experience in an Instagram post, saying she had suffered an undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia that led to the cardiac arrest.
She also spoke about the emotional difficulty of the past year and expressed appreciation for the privacy she had been afforded while dealing with the aftermath.
DeMelo has spent her entire professional career with Racing Louisville but remains sidelined from competitive football.
The claims made in the lawsuit have not been established in court, and the case is ongoing.
