NWSL Becomes First US Pro Sports League to Mandate CPR Training for All Teams

The National Women's Soccer League is launching a league-wide initiative with the American Heart Association to equip all 16 NWSL teams with Hands-Only cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automatic external defibrillator education. This partnership, led by Angel City FC defender Savy King, aims to empower players, staff, and coaches with the knowledge and confidence to act during cardiac emergencies. The initiative was announced during the NWSL Awards ceremonies in San Jose, California.

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

According to the American Heart Association, over half of individuals who experience sudden cardiac arrest outside hospitals don't receive immediate CPR, leading to a 90% fatality rate. Learning Hands-Only CPR takes just 90 seconds and can double or triple survival chances. Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, emphasized that immediate CPR can mean the difference between life and death during cardiac emergencies.

The NWSL is also launching a new player ambassador program featuring one representative from each team who will serve as CPR awareness advocates both on and off the field. Savy King will lead this program, building on her foundation work through Savy King of Hearts to raise awareness about heart health and CPR education. The player ambassador program will include social media campaigns and public service announcements throughout the 2026 season.

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman stated that this initiative reflects the league's commitment to player safety, community impact, and leadership in health education. The American Heart Association has been the global leader in CPR for more than 60 years, publishing official guidelines and creating resuscitation science. The organization's Nation of Lifesavers initiative supports its goal to double survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030.

The NWSL and American Heart Association have previously collaborated as part of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which advocates for evidence-based public policies to prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. According to the American Heart Association, more than 23,000 children under 18 experience cardiac arrest outside hospitals annually, with about 40% occurring among student-athletes. Cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of death for student-athletes nationwide.

With nearly three out of four cardiac arrests outside hospitals occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important. The American Heart Association provides comprehensive resources for learning these lifesaving skills at https://www.heart.org/nation. The organization also offers detailed information about Hands-Only CPR techniques and training at https://www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.