NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman commented publicly for the first time since Savy King collapsed during a match between Angel City FC and the Utah Royals last Saturday, saying that the league has to “learn from the experience” and ensure that in a similar situation, a game does not continue.
Berman spoke to reporters during halftime of Saturday night’s Angel City-Bay FC match and did not reveal much about the league’s process in deciding whether or not last Saturday’s match should have resumed after King was administered chest compressions on the field and taken to an ambulance on a stretcher.
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“As we’ve reviewed the situation, I don’t think it’s constructive to recount who did what and when,” Berman said, via The Athletic.
The league acknowledged on Friday that Angel City and Utah should have not continued playing after the incident. Protocols regarding player safety would be reviewed in light of what occurred. Berman reiterated that intent on Saturday, saying the NWSL’s focus was on “ensuring that all of our medical procedures were followed” and that games do not continue if and when similar circumstances occur.
King, 20, collapsed to the turf during the 74th minute of last Saturday’s match and required immediate attention from team athletic trainers. She was treated for approximately 10 minutes then taken from the field on a stretcher while wearing an oxygen mask.
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Following the match, the NWSL released a statement saying King “left the field in stable condition” and was “responsive” upon arriving at California Hospital Medical Center. She was transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and diagnosed with a heart abnormality, then underwent surgery to correct the issue. Her prognosis was described as “excellent.”
Players and coaches criticized the league for resuming the match after a 16-minute delay.
“Our players were just scared. That’s not the right situation to be in but in the end, we played on,” Utah head coach Jimmy Coenraets told reporters after the match. “That’s the decision other people have taken, which is fine.”
“These moments demand humanity, sound judgment, and restraint,” the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association said in a statement. “Any medical emergency that requires the administration of life-saving care should bring play to an end. The match should not have continued.”
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Besides saying that the match should not have continued, Berman was confident that King received proper treatment and medical personnel had what was needed.
“Our focus was really on making sure that the player was cared for during the game, and so we were quite relieved and pleased that she had the resources and that Angel City’s medical team really managed her care effortlessly and amazingly,” Berman said.
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