Savy King made her long-awaited return to the field after more than 10 months away, stepping in as a substitute during Angel City FC‘s impressive victory over Chicago Stars FC on Sunday evening in Los Angeles.
The 21-year-old hadn’t played since May 9, 2025, when she experienced a cardiac event during a match against the Utah Royals, which led to her undergoing open-heart surgery.
King entered the game in the 63rd minute to a warm reception from the home crowd at BMO Stadium, with Angel City already ahead 2-0. The team added two more goals shortly after her arrival, concluding their NWSL season opener with a 4-0 win.
“Honestly, I was really nervous. But once I got on the pitch, I reminded myself, ‘I’ve done this before, and I’m ready for it,'” King shared after the game. “The last ten months have been surreal. I’ve put in so much hard work, perseverance, and faced many challenges that people didn’t see. But I felt prepared for that moment, and I didn’t want my fear of playing again to hold me back.”
This past summer, King graduated from cardiac rehabilitation at Cedars Sinai and was given the green light to participate in non-contact practices at Angel City’s training facility in the fall. During preseason, she received full clearance for contact and rejoined her teammates for practice.
In her return match on Sunday, King played just over 30 minutes, which she expressed was incredibly meaningful, and noted how touched she was by the “Savy King” chants from Angel City fans.
“Our supporters have stood by me throughout this entire journey, showering me with love and prayers,” King remarked. “Their encouragement has been invaluable during my recovery. In moments when I wanted to give up, they were always there to uplift me. To be able to play in front of them and show that I’m okay is the most fulfilling feeling.”
A few months after her cardiac incident, King founded Savy King of Hearts, a nonprofit organization focused on raising CPR awareness, providing preventive screenings, and advocating for heart health.
Drafted second overall by Bay FC in the 2024 NWSL Draft, King appeared in 20 matches during her rookie season, accumulating two assists over 1,220 minutes on the field.
She was traded to Angel City in February 2025 and subsequently signed a contract extension with the club through 2028. The Los Angeles native started all seven matches for Angel City, logging over 600 minutes, before her cardiac episode in May.
Report contributed by ESPN’s Charlotte Gibson.