The Thorns Learned Hands-Only CPR This Season. Has Your Team?

The National Women’s Soccer League is now the first U.S. professional sports league to offer CPR training across the whole league, according to the American Heart Association. This season all 16 clubs, the Portland Thorns among them, held Hands-Only CPR sessions for players and staff led by the Association.

The effort is championed by Angel City FC defender Savy King, a sudden cardiac arrest survivor, along with a class of player ambassadors from every club. The Thorns’ ambassador is Shae Harvey.

Next, the effort reaches fans. In a November 5, 2026 announcement, the Association said it will teach Hands-Only CPR at the first NWSL Championship 5K on November 21 in Washington, D.C.

The numbers explain why. Nearly 9 in 10 people who go into cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive, and immediate CPR can double or even triple the chance of survival. For a teen or adult, Hands-Only CPR comes down to two steps: call 911, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

What this means for your workplace

If a league can train 16 clubs spread across the country in one season, a Portland office, clinic or shop can train its whole team in a morning. The league also got one thing exactly right: it trained everyone, not one designated person.

Hands-Only CPR is a strong start. A certification course adds AED practice, choking response and first aid, plus hands-on skills checks on a manikin and a course completion card that is good for two years.

Full Code CPR teaches American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED and BLS on-site for teams across the Portland metro area. Request a group quote and we will email your pricing.

Sources: American Heart Association, “Fans can learn lifesaving CPR skills at National Women’s Soccer League Championship 5K,” November 5, 2026; American Heart Association, “NWSL and American Heart Association join forces on CPR and AED education,” June 4, 2026.