Angel City Defender Released from Hospital After Health Scare

Sabby King, a defender for Angel City, has been discharged from the hospital just a week after collapsing during a game. He underwent surgery for heart abnormalities.

King shared a photo from his hospital bed, holding a heart-shaped pillow and giving a thumbs up on social media. He expressed his gratitude, stating, “I still find words that express how much your love and support have meant to me over the past few days. All I know is that I can’t get through this without my amazing teammates, the fans, the entire football community, and the outstanding medical team of ACFC who have saved my life.” He added that he looks forward to returning to the field.

Angel City confirmed that King was released from the hospital the previous day. The 20-year-old collapsed during the second half of a match against Utah Royals on May 9. After receiving over ten minutes of treatment on the field, he was transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where doctors found a heart defect and performed surgery. The prognosis is reportedly good.

The incident shocked players and fans alike, and there was criticism over the continuation of the match. The league announced it is reviewing its policies following the backlash.

The NWSL Player Association was among those advocating for the match to be halted. They stated, “These moments demand humanity, healthy judgment, restraint. A medical emergency requiring life-saving care should end play. The match should not continue.”

In a subsequent statement, the league expressed regret that the game continued. “The health and happiness of the entire NWSL community remains our number one priority. In similar circumstances ahead, the game should and will be abandoned,” they stated.

Angel City played against Bay FC in their first match since King’s collapse. Before the game at Paypal Park in San Jose, players from both teams wore shirts with “SK3” in honor of King. Angel City Captain Sarah Gorden held up King’s jersey in team photos.

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman addressed reporters during halftime, underscoring a commitment to learning from the situation and ensuring that future policies prevent similar issues.

King was the second overall pick in the 2024 NWSL draft by Bay FC and played 18 games before being traded to Angel City in February, where he has started eight games this season.