National Women’s Soccer League launches Hands-Only CPR effort, led by player Savy King

The Savy King of Hearts foundation, the American Heart Association and the NWSL unite to boost CPR readiness across all 16 of the league’s teams

2025-11-20

(Press-News.org) DALLAS, Nov. 19, 2025 — National Women’s Soccer League and Angel City FC defender Savy King are teaming up with the American Heart Association on a groundbreaking league-wide initiative to equip all NWSL 16 teams with the lifesaving skills of Hands-Only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) education. The initiative aims to empower players, staff and coaches with the knowledge and confidence to act in a cardiac emergency. The initiative was announced tonight at the NWSL Awards ceremonies in San Jose, California and broadcast on ESPN2.

“When someone has a sudden cardiac arrest, immediate CPR can mean the difference between life and death. At the American Heart Association our work is focused on improving bystander CPR rates for everyone, everywhere,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “Thanks to the leadership of the NWSL and to Savy King for championing this effort to help people understand just how critical it is to be prepared to act. This work will save lives as we continue build a Nation of Lifesavers.”

This commitment will make the NWSL the first American professional sports league to have all of its players, coaches and staff from all teams trained in this lifesaving skill. The Hands-Only CPR trainings will be conducted during the 2026 preseason, with certified instructors guiding participants through the chain of survival- two-step technique recommended by the American Heart Association: calling 911 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest.

Over half of the individuals who experience a sudden cardiac arrest outside hospitals don’t receive immediate CPR — leading to a 90% fatality rate, according to the American Heart Association. Learning Hands-Only CPR takes just 90 seconds and can double or triple survival chances.

“We’re proud to be the first professional sports league to implement CPR training at this scale by training both those on the field and on the sidelines,” said NWSL Commissioner, Jessica Berman. “This initiative reflects our commitment to player safety, community impact and leadership in health education.”

As part of the initiative, the NWSL is also launching a new player ambassador program, featuring one representative from each team who will serve as a CPR awareness advocate both on and off the field. The program will be led by Savy King, whose passion for health education and community engagement makes her a natural leader for this effort.

“What happened on the pitch inspired me to launch my foundation, Savy King of Hearts, to raise awareness about heart health and CPR education. I’m so proud to team up with the NWSL and the American Heart Association to make sure every player, fan and family member knows how to respond in a crisis,” King said. “It's simple, powerful, and it can make all the difference. This is more than just a training — it’s about saving lives."

The player ambassador program will include social media campaigns and public service announcements (PSAs) throughout the 2026 season, amplifying the message that anyone can be a hero with just two hands.

The American Heart Association is the global leader in CPR, publishing the official guidelines for CPR and, for more than 60 years, creating resuscitation science, education and training. The Nation of Lifesavers is the Association’s most recent demonstration of its commitment to CPR education and in support of its goal to double survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030.

The American Heart Association, committed to changing the future of health for all, and the NWSL have already been teaming up in other ways since 2023 as a part of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition and are among the founding members of the initiative which was initially established by the National Football League. The coalition is actively advocating for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based public policies that will prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. According to the American Heart Association, more than 23,000 children under the age of 18 experience cardiac outside of a hospital annually, and about 40% of those occur among student-athletes. It is a leading cause of death for student-athletes nationwide.

With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important. If a teen or adult collapses, witnesses should immediately call 9-1-1 emergency services and begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of approximately two inches. Hands-Only CPR is chest compression-only CPR. Learn CPR today, visit www.heart.org/nation.

Additional Resources:

Multimedia is available on the right column of this release link. Video interview with expert, Annie Arens, M.D., CPR/AED photos, demos and infographic available here. Bystander CPR | Bystander CPR Infographic (PDF) Hands-Only CPR Resources Hands-Only CPR vs CPR with Breaths Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack Take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. ###

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

About the NWSL

The National Women’s Soccer League is the premier women’s professional soccer league in the world featuring national team players from around the globe. The clubs are Angel City FC, Bay FC, Boston Legacy FC, Chicago Stars FC, Denver Summit FC, Gotham FC, Houston Dash, Kansas City Current, North Carolina Courage, Orlando Pride, Portland Thorns FC, Racing Louisville FC, San Diego Wave FC, Seattle Reign FC, Utah Royals FC, and Washington Spirit.

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