NWSL Championship 5K to Offer Hands-Only CPR Training
The American Heart Association will provide CPR education at the inaugural NWSL Championship 5K in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 21.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Heart Disease
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The American Heart Association will provide Hands-Only CPR education at the NWSL Championship 5K, presented by CVS Health, at The Wharf in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 21. The event is part of the league's Championship Weekend festivities.
Why it matters
Nearly 9 in 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive, and immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chance of survival. The activation builds on the NWSL's formal collaboration with the American Heart Association, which trained players, coaches and staff across all 16 clubs.
The American Heart Association cites that nearly 9 in 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive, while immediate CPR can double or triple survival chances. The extraction does not indicate how many attendees will be trained at the event or whether results will be reported.
The players
American Heart Association
A national nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health, identified by the Annenberg Public Policy Center as the most trusted public health information source after an individual's personal health care provider.
National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
The professional women's soccer league in the United States, which became the first American professional sports league to offer CPR training leaguewide.
Savy King
An Angel City FC defender and cardiac arrest survivor who leads player ambassadors encouraging Hands-Only CPR.
The details
Fans can practice Hands-Only CPR at the American Heart Association CPR experience at the 5K, which is presented by CVS Health and is the first event of its kind for the league. Savy King, an Angel City FC defender and cardiac arrest survivor, leads player ambassadors encouraging Hands-Only CPR.
Timeline
Nov. 21: NWSL Championship 5K takes place at The Wharf in Washington, D.C.
2030: Target year for the Nation of Lifesavers movement to double cardiac arrest survival rates.
Big Picture
The NWSL activation extends the American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers movement, which aims to double cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030, into professional sports. It follows the league's broader push to make CPR training part of player and staff preparedness across all 16 clubs.
Hands-Only CPR can be learned at the event, and the American Heart Association's guidance emphasizes that immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chance of survival. Readers can learn the technique through the organization's free Nation of Lifesavers resources.
The takeaway
Immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chance of surviving cardiac arrest, and learning Hands-Only CPR requires no equipment. Taking a few minutes to learn the technique can make a meaningful difference in an emergency.
What happens next
The NWSL Championship 5K takes place Nov. 21 at The Wharf in Washington, D.C., as part of Championship Weekend.
Further reading
Explore more on Heart Disease and how cardiac arrest survival can be improved.
More information
Learn Hands-Only CPR through the Nation of Lifesavers CPR and Hands-Only CPR information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by American Heart Association.
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