SAN DIEGO, March 17, 2026 — With sudden cardiac arrest claiming thousands of lives each year, the San Diego Wave of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) teamed up with the American Heart Association to equip players, coaches and staff with lifesaving Hands-Only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) education. According to American Heart Association data, nearly 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, in part because they do not receive immediate CPR more than half of the time. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.

The training was a part of a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) initiative to equip all 16 teams with the lifesaving skills of Hands-Only CPR and AED education, first announced by Angel City FC defender and sudden cardiac arrest survivor, Savy King, at the NWSL 2025 Awards in December. Led by the American Heart Association, devoted to changing the future to a world of healthier lives for all, the initiative aims to empower players, staff and communities with the knowledge and confidence to act in a cardiac emergency.

Compression-only CPR, known as Hands-Only CPR, can be equally effective as traditional CPR with rescue breathes in the first few minutes of emergency response and is a skill everyone can learn. It is as simple as calling 911 if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse and then push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

The NWSL is the first American professional sports league to commit to having all teams (players, coaches and staff) trained in this lifesaving skill. The Hands-Only CPR trainings are being conducted during the 2026 preseason, with certified instructors guiding players, coaches and staff through the chain of survival- two-step technique recommended by the American Heart Association: calling 911 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest. Over half of sudden cardiac arrest victims outside hospitals don’t receive immediate CPR—leading to a 90% fatality rate, according to the American Heart Association. Yet learning Hands-Only CPR takes just 90 seconds and can double or triple survival chances.

The Association is the global leader in CPR – publishing the official guidelines for CPR and, for more than 60 years creating resuscitation science, education and training. The Nation of Lifesavers is the Association’s most recent demonstration of its commitment to CPR education and in support of its goal to double survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030.

The American Heart Association and the NWSL have been teaming up since 2023 as a part of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition established by the NFL, in which both are founding members. The coalition is actively advocating for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based public policies that will prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. According to the American Heart Association, more than 23,000 children under the age of 18 experience cardiac outside of a hospital annually, and about 40% of those occur among student-athletes. It is a leading cause of death for student-athletes nationwide.

With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important. If a teen or adult collapses, witnesses should immediately call 9-1-1 emergency services and begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of approximately two inches. Hands-Only CPR is chest compression-only CPR. Learn CPR today, visit www.heart.org/nation.

 

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About the American Heart Association 

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

About the NWSL

The National Women’s Soccer League is the premier women’s professional soccer league in the world featuring national team players from around the globe. The clubs are Angel City FC, Bay FC, Boston Legacy FC, Chicago Stars FC, Denver Summit FC, Gotham FC, Houston Dash, Kansas City Current, North Carolina Courage, Orlando Pride, Portland Thorns FC, Racing Louisville FC, San Diego Wave FC, Seattle Reign FC, Utah Royals FC, and Washington Spirit.

 

For Media Inquiries:

American Heart Association:

Jeff Schaefer: jeff.schaefer@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

 

National Women’s Soccer League

Jennifer Levine; jlevine@nwslsoccer.com