The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) announced a league-wide initiative to train all players, coaches, and staff from its 16 teams in Hands-Only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) use. The announcement was made during the NWSL Awards ceremony in San Jose, California, broadcast on ESPN2. The effort, led by Angel City FC defender Savy King, is a partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA).
The initiative makes the NWSL the first American professional sports league to mandate such training for all team personnel. Hands-Only CPR training will be conducted during the 2026 preseason, with certified instructors teaching the two-step technique: calling 911 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest. According to the AHA, more than half of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest victims do not receive immediate CPR, leading to a 90% fatality rate. Learning Hands-Only CPR takes just 90 seconds and can double or triple survival chances.
“When someone has a sudden cardiac arrest, immediate CPR can mean the difference between life and death,” said Nancy Brown, CEO 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 to build a Nation of Lifesavers.”
The league also launched a player ambassador program, with one representative from each team serving as a CPR awareness advocate. Savy King, who founded the Savy King of Hearts foundation after a personal experience on the pitch, will lead the program. “What happened on the pitch inspired me to launch my foundation to raise awareness about heart health and CPR education,” King said. “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.”
The ambassador program will include social media campaigns and public service announcements throughout the 2026 season. The NWSL and AHA have collaborated since 2023 as part of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which advocates for states to adopt policies preventing fatal cardiac arrest outcomes among high school students. According to the AHA, more than 23,000 children under 18 experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest annually, with about 40% occurring among student-athletes. It is a leading cause of death for student-athletes nationwide.
“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.” The AHA notes that nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside hospitals occur at home, making bystander CPR critically important. For more information on Hands-Only CPR, visit heart.org/nation and heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.
