United States women’s national team midfielder Savannah DeMelo is suing a Kentucky hospital and two doctors, alleging medical negligence after she suffered a cardiac arrest during a National Women’s Soccer League match last year.
DeMelo, 28, filed the lawsuit against University of Louisville Health and doctors Sarabjeet Suri and Jennifer Daily in Jefferson Circuit Court in Kentucky. The case was filed on Tuesday, exactly one year and one day after she collapsed during Racing Louisville’s match on September 14, 2025.
According to the lawsuit, DeMelo claims the medical providers failed to meet the standard expected of reasonably prudent and competent medical professionals. The filing alleges that their negligence was a substantial factor in causing her severe physical injuries, including the cardiac arrest.
DeMelo had been experiencing health symptoms months before the incident. The lawsuit states that in March 2025, Dr Daily referred her to Dr Suri for evaluation and treatment after she reported chest pain, dizziness and shortness of breath.
Dr Suri reportedly took her medical history, conducted a physical examination and ordered diagnostic tests.
Almost six months later, DeMelo collapsed on the pitch during the NWSL match. She was subsequently diagnosed and treated for ventricular tachycardia, an abnormal heart rhythm that can cause the heart to beat dangerously fast.
Dr Daily is Racing Louisville’s chief medical officer, according to her University of Louisville biography. The lawsuit states that DeMelo was under Daily’s care from January 2024 until July 2026.
DeMelo has not returned to competitive football since the cardiac arrest. She has spent her entire professional career with Racing Louisville and had established herself as an important player for both her club and the US national team.
The midfielder has seven senior international appearances for the United States and was selected for the squad at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She started the team’s opening two matches at the tournament.
On Tuesday, marking one year since her collapse, DeMelo addressed the incident publicly on Instagram.
She said she had collapsed while playing football because of an undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia that caused her to go into cardiac arrest. She also reflected on the emotional difficulties she had experienced during the year since the incident.
DeMelo thanked people for respecting her privacy while she dealt with the situation, saying she could not fully express how emotionally difficult the past year had been.
Her lawsuit now places the medical care she received before the cardiac arrest under legal scrutiny. The allegations contained in the filing have not been proven in court, and the defendants will have an opportunity to respond.
