Savannah DeMelo Bio
Savannah Marie DeMelo (born March 26, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Racing Louisville FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She was the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft after a standout college career with the USC Trojans. DeMelo debuted for the United States Women’s National Team at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where she earned a starting role in the opening matches of the group stage.
Early Life and Background
Savannah Marie DeMelo was born on March 26, 1998, in Bellflower, California, in the United States. Growing up in Southern California placed her near a strong youth soccer ecosystem that helped shape her early development as a midfielder. She went on to attend the University of Southern California, where she became a fixture in the Trojans’ lineup across five college seasons.
At USC, DeMelo made 75 appearances and tallied 17 goals and 28 assists for the Trojans while serving as a regular starter throughout her career. She was a three-time All-Pac-12 selection, including a place on the All-Freshman team in 2017. As a sophomore in 2018, she scored nine goals and added 10 assists, earning United Soccer Coaches All-American honors and establishing herself as one of the top playmakers in the conference.
Path to Soccer
DeMelo’s path to the professional ranks began with USA youth national team appearances, including the 2016 U-20 Women’s World Cup. She also represented the United States at the 2018 U-20 Women’s World Cup, where she scored four goals during the tournament. Earlier, she helped the U.S. win the 2015 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship in Honduras, an experience that sharpened her ability to perform on the international stage.
DeMelo delayed her enrollment at USC so she could play in the 2016 U-20 Women’s World Cup, a decision that signaled her commitment to the national team pathway. After five seasons in Los Angeles, she entered the 2022 NWSL Draft as one of the top midfield prospects in her class. Her combination of vision, passing range, and set-piece quality made her an immediate impact player at the professional level.
Savannah DeMelo Career
Early Career (2022)
Racing Louisville FC selected Savannah Marie DeMelo with the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, making her one of the cornerstones of the club’s early identity. She made her professional debut on March 25, 2022, playing 11 minutes off the bench against the Houston Dash in Racing’s second game of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup. Her first start came on April 2 in a 3–0 win against the Kansas City Current, and she went on to start every Racing match in the 2022 NWSL regular season.
In her rookie season, DeMelo scored four goals and added two assists while leading the league in scoring chances created and fouls won. Her first professional goal, a game-winning direct free kick against San Diego Wave FC on May 18, 2022, was featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10. The performance announced her arrival as a set-piece specialist and creative hub in the Racing Louisville midfield.
NWSL Breakthrough (2023)
In 2023, Savannah Marie DeMelo recorded 12 goal involvements across all competitions, scoring five goals and adding two assists in league play. Her strong season was recognized with selection to the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup All-Tournament Team and the NWSL Player of the Month award for May. She was also twice named to the league’s Team of the Month, reinforcing her status as one of the breakout midfielders of the year.
Racing Louisville Era (2022–Present)
DeMelo has remained a central figure for Racing Louisville since her rookie season, wearing the number 7 jersey and serving as a primary playmaker in the midfield. She was called up to the U.S. senior national team in September and October 2022 for friendlies against Nigeria, England, and Spain, though she did not see playing time during that window. The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup represented her next major milestone, where she became the third player ever to make a U.S. World Cup roster without previously earning a cap.
DeMelo received her first senior cap as a second-half substitute during the team’s send-off match against Wales. At the World Cup itself, she started in the United States’ first two group-stage matches: a 3–0 win over Vietnam and a 1–1 draw with the Netherlands. On September 14, 2025, she collapsed during a match against Seattle Reign, and the club later reported that she was stable and alert.
Driving Style and Strengths
Savannah Marie DeMelo is known for her composure on the ball, incisive passing, and ability to unlock defenses through the middle of the pitch. Her standout strengths include set-piece delivery, chance creation in tight spaces, and the willingness to draw fouls in dangerous areas. As a central midfielder, she combines technical precision with high soccer intelligence, allowing her to dictate tempo and link defensive phases with attacking transitions.
Notable Events and Milestones
DeMelo’s most memorable early milestone was her first professional goal, a direct free kick against San Diego Wave FC in 2022 that landed on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10. She later became the third U.S. player ever named to a senior World Cup roster without a prior cap, debuting for the United States at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Her continued selection to NWSL monthly and tournament honor rolls has marked her as one of the league’s most consistent midfield contributors.
Savannah DeMelo Career Wins
Savannah Marie DeMelo’s most prominent results to date include her standout 2022 rookie season at Racing Louisville FC, in which she led the NWSL in scoring chances created and fouls won. She added a 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup All-Tournament Team selection and an NWSL Player of the Month honor in May 2023, highlighting her rapid growth within the league. Internationally, she contributed to the United States winning the 2015 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship and helped the senior team begin its 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign with a 3–0 win over Vietnam and a 1–1 draw with the Netherlands.
NWSL Highlights
In her rookie NWSL season, DeMelo scored four goals and added two assists while starting every regular-season match for Racing Louisville FC. Her 2023 follow-up campaign produced five goals and two assists in league play, along with 12 total goal involvements across all competitions. The May 2023 NWSL Player of the Month award and her Challenge Cup All-Tournament selection marked her as a rising star in the league.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond the NWSL, DeMelo was a key contributor to the United States’ triumph at the 2015 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship in Honduras. She also scored four goals for the U.S. at the 2018 U-20 Women’s World Cup, underscoring her long track record of producing at youth international levels.
Savannah DeMelo Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Savannah Marie DeMelo’s parents and broader family background is limited, and she is best known publicly through her own achievements rather than a multi-generational sporting family.
Personal Life
Savannah Marie DeMelo is engaged to Kyle Adams, a defender for Louisville City FC. In 2025, she publicly shared that she had been diagnosed with Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism near the end of the 2024 NWSL season, raising awareness about the condition within the women’s soccer community.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NWSL season has been a challenging one for Savannah Marie DeMelo and Racing Louisville FC, shaped significantly by her ongoing recovery from Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism. On September 14, 2025, she collapsed during a match against Seattle Reign, with the club confirming that she was stable and alert in the aftermath. The incident drew widespread attention across the NWSL and focused renewed focus on player health and medical support.
Throughout the year, DeMelo has remained a respected voice in the Racing Louisville locker room even as her on-field minutes have been affected by her medical situation. The team has continued to rely on her experience and technical quality when available, with the broader league community offering support during her recovery. Her return-to-play timeline has been closely watched by fans and teammates alike.
Looking ahead, DeMelo’s primary focus remains regaining full health and returning to competitive form for Racing Louisville FC. Her status as a U.S. international and an NWSL standout ensures that her progress will continue to draw attention as the league and her club navigate the remainder of 2025 and beyond.