The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the American Heart Association have joined forces to raise awareness of CPR and AED education, unveiling the 2026 Nation of Lifesavers NWSL Ambassador Class during National CPR and AED Awareness Week, held annually from June 1-7. The initiative brings together players from all 16 NWSL clubs, united in their commitment to promoting lifesaving CPR education and empowering communities to act in critical moments.
Led by Angel City FC defender and CPR survivor Savy King, the ambassador class reflects a league-wide effort to turn awareness into action. Ambassadors will support the American Heart Association's call to learn CPR by amplifying public service announcements, participating in social media campaigns, and engaging in community education events throughout the season. The full list of ambassadors includes players from every NWSL team, such as Kennedy Fuller and Savy King from Angel City FC, Emmie Allen and Tess Boade from Bay FC, and many others.
"When someone has a sudden cardiac arrest, immediate CPR can mean the difference between life and death. Thanks to the leadership of the NWSL and Savy King, we are so pleased to welcome this class of NWSL players to use their powerful platform to encourage everyone, everywhere to be prepared to act," said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. "At the American Heart Association our work is focused on improving bystander CPR rates and these inspiring athletes are helping to build a nation of lifesavers."
As part of the initiative, all 16 NWSL teams held Hands-Only CPR education sessions this season led by the Heart Association, equipping players and staff with skills necessary to act in the event of a cardiac emergency. King will join the Heart Association for an upcoming Hands-Only CPR session with the league's front office. "Savy is an extraordinary example of resilience, leadership and purpose, and her willingness to turn her personal experience into something that can save lives is incredibly inspiring," said NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman.
According to the American Heart Association, over half of sudden cardiac arrest victims outside hospitals don't receive immediate CPR, leading to a 90% fatality rate. Yet learning Hands-Only CPR takes just 90 seconds and can double or triple survival chances. "Experiencing sudden cardiac arrest changed my life forever, but it also showed me the incredible impact that one prepared person can have in an emergency," said King, who founded Savy King of Hearts. "If sharing my story encourages even one person to learn Hands-Only CPR, that could help save a life."
The American Heart Association is the global leader in CPR, publishing official guidelines and creating resuscitation science for over 60 years. The Nation of Lifesavers initiative aims to double survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030 by expanding CPR education, increasing access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and building confidence to act. The NWSL and Heart Association have been teaming up since 2023 as part of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which advocates for all 50 states to adopt policies to prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. For more information on learning CPR, visit www.heart.org/nation.