"A year ago today, while playing soccer, I collapsed due to an undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia, that caused me to go into cardiac arrest." Those are Savannah DeMelo's own words, posted to Instagram on the anniversary of the incident. Now she's taking the matter to court.
The United States women's national team midfielder has filed a lawsuit in Jefferson Circuit Court in Kentucky against University of Louisville Health, Dr Sarabjeet Suri, and Dr Jennifer Daily — the medical professionals she alleges failed to identify what was wrong with her before her heart gave out on the pitch.
What the lawsuit alleges
The timeline in the court documents is damning on its face. DeMelo complained of chest pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath before the collapse. In March 2025, Dr Daily — Racing Louisville's chief medical officer — referred her to Dr Suri for evaluation. Suri took her history, ran diagnostics, and that was that. Nearly six months later, on September 14, 2025, DeMelo collapsed during the first half of a Racing Louisville match.
She was subsequently diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia, an abnormal heart rhythm. The lawsuit contends the defendants "failed to act as a reasonably prudent and competent medical practice" and that their alleged negligence was "a substantial factor" in causing her cardiac arrest. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Dr Daily, per her University of Louisville biography, was DeMelo's attending physician from January 2024 to July 2026 — meaning she was still listed as DeMelo's doctor well after the collapse.
A career on hold
DeMelo has not returned to competitive football since that September day. She has spent her entire professional career at Racing Louisville, earned seven senior caps for the US, and started the first two matches of the 2023 Women's World Cup. At 28, the window for a professional career is not infinite.
"I'll never be able to fully put into words how emotionally hard this year has been," she wrote. "There has been a lot of uncertainty and emotions intertwined with it all."
The case is ongoing.
