Savannah DeMelo, a 28-year-old USA midfielder with seven senior caps, collapsed in the first half of a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) match on 14 September 2025. DeMelo was under the care of Dr Jennifer Daily, Racing Louisville's chief medical officer, from January 2024 to July 2026. Dr Daily referred DeMelo to Dr Sarabjeet Suri for "evaluation and treatment" in March 2025, after she had been complaining of chest pain, dizziness and shortness of breath.
The lawsuit claims that UofL Health and the two doctors "failed to act as a reasonably prudent and competent medical practice, and such negligence was a substantial factor in causing DeMelo to suffer severe physical injuries, including, but not limited to, her cardiac arrest." DeMelo was subsequently diagnosed and treated for ventricular tachycardia, an abnormal heart rhythm. The midfielder has not played since her collapse and has marked the anniversary of the incident on her Instagram page.
The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday morning with Jefferson Circuit Court in Kentucky, where her club is based - a year and a day after her on-field collapse.