Sep 14, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Medical personnel attend to Racing Lousville midfielder Savannah DeMelo (7) before whe was taken from the pitch during the first half against the Seattle Reign at Lumen Field.

After Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo collapsed during the club's match at the Seattle Reign on Sunday, the NWSL Players Association said the league made the right call in abandoning the game.

Toward the end of the first half at Lumen Field, DeMelo sat down on the pitch and briefly appeared unresponsive. The midfielder eventually was loaded into an ambulance, with players and coaches appearing distraught on the pitch.

The game was postponed and will be resumed at a later date. Louisville said that DeMelo was "stable and alert" after a "medical emergency" during the match.

"Our hearts are with Savannah DeMelo and her family following last night's game," the NWSLPA said on Monday. "Her health and well-being remain our top priority, and we are relieved she is receiving the medical attention she needs.

"Postponing the match was the right decision, as nothing is more important than the safety of players and staff on the field. This is a challenging time for all those affected, and we ask for continued respect of everyone's privacy."

The NWSLPA had previously criticized the league's response to a similar incident in May involving Angel City defender Savy King.

King collapsed during a game against the Utah Royals, eventually requiring surgery to address a heart abnormality. In that instance, the match was played through to its conclusion.

"The match should not have continued," the NWSLPA said in May. "Our members are elite, world class competitors who have proven they can perform under unimaginable conditions. That does not mean they should have to."

The NWSL later admitted that it was a mistake to continue the game after King's collapse.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time that DeMelo has dealt with on-field medical situations this season. After being forced to leave a match against Bay FC back in March due to feeling lightheaded, the 27-year-old revealed two months later that she was diagnosed with Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism last fall.

"Playing a 90-minute game felt unbearable," DeMelo said in an ESPN interview. "I would get to maybe the 25th minute, and I felt like my heart was just like beating so fast, like out of my chest. I felt so out of breath, so out of shape. I didn't really know what was going on."

This article originally appeared on Pro Soccer Wire: NWSLPA: Postponing match after DeMelo collapse 'right decision'

Reporting by Jonathan Abraham, Pro Soccer Wire / Pro Soccer Wire

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect