Racing Louisville star Savannah DeMelo signs new deal with soccer club

A year after her collapse on the soccer pitch, Savannah DeMelo will return to the professional game.

The midfielder signed a new contract with Racing Louisville FC. Her previous contract ran through the end of the 2026 season. The new deal goes through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, the team announced Oct. 1.

“I’m so excited to finally be returning to the field,” DeMelo said in the club’s press release. “I’ve worked incredibly hard to get to this point and can’t wait to get back to playing again. This place has been my home for the past five years, and I’m excited to keep building my roots that I have established here on and off the field.”

DeMelo will be available for “selection” for the Oct. 2 game against Utah Royals FC at Lynn Family Stadium, the team said. It could be her first return to the pitch since she suffered a cardiac arrest during a game at Seattle Reign FC on Sept. 14, 2025.

Last month, DeMelo filed a lawsuit against University of Louisville Health and its physicians, which provide health care for Racing Louisville. The suit claims UofL Health and its physicians failed to “properly diagnose and treat” DeMelo’s cardiac disease preceding her on-field emergency. UofL Health did not respond to a request for comment regarding the suit.

Racing drafted DeMelo with the fourth pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft. Her professional debut came on March 25, 2022. The 28-year-old has 17 goals and eight assists in 79 regular-season games. She is the club’s all-time leader in chances created (151) and fouls won (271).

“We are so excited to have Sav back with us,” Racing head coach Bev Yanez said in the club’s release. “This is such an exciting time for her, and she has worked incredibly hard. Her positive outlook and approach throughout the process have been so impressive. We are thrilled to have her back in the environment and can’t wait to see her continue to grow and contribute to the group.”

Stephanie Kuzydym is an enterprise and investigative sports reporter. Reach her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Racing Louisville star Savannah DeMelo signs new deal with soccer club