The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the American Heart Association today unveiled 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 to promote lifesaving CPR education and empower communities to act in cardiac emergencies.
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 club, such as Kennedy Fuller (Angel City FC), Emmie Allen (Bay FC), Hannah Stambaugh (Boston Legacy FC), and 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 to act in a cardiac emergency. King will also join the Heart Association for an upcoming 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. “What makes this initiative so powerful is how our players have come together to support her and to use their platforms in service of something bigger than the game.”
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. “I am here today because people acted quickly and because lifesaving resources were available when I needed them most.”
The American Heart Association is the global leader in CPR, publishing the official guidelines for more than 60 years. The Nation of Lifesavers initiative focuses on expanding CPR education, increasing access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and building confidence to act in an emergency. The NWSL and the Heart Association have been collaborating since 2023 as part of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, advocating for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based policies to prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. More than 23,000 children under 18 experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital annually, with about 40% occurring among student-athletes.
With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside hospitals occurring in homes, knowing CPR is critically important. The American Heart Association recommends that if a teen or adult collapses, witnesses should immediately call 9-1-1 and begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute. Hands-Only CPR is chest compression-only CPR. To learn more, visit www.heart.org/nation.
