“SAVE: The Katie Meyer Story” – From Rising Star to a Legacy of Change

Katie Meyer was more than just a name on a roster; she was a fierce competitor, an inspiring teammate, and a young lady who revered academic rigor. As Stanford University’s standout goalkeeper and captain of the Lady Cardinals, she helped Stanford reach the NCAA Division 1 soccer championship in 2019–making her a household name in college athletics. The iconic image of her celebrating at the 2019 College Cup final—arms outstretched, exuberant, fearless—became a symbol not just of victory…but of the spirit she embodied.

In March 2022, Katie died by suicide.

A Family’s Fight for Justice

Grieving in the aftermath, Katie’s parents—Steve and Gina Meyer—sought answers no family should ever have to search for. They, like any parents, could not digest the loss of their daughter. Katie was weeks from graduation and was planning to continue her academic journey at Stanford’s law school. Their heartbreak, made worse by a lack of accountability from the university Katie loved, led to the Meyer family filing a wrongful death lawsuit, represented by Kim Dougherty of Justice Law Collaborative. The lawsuit alleged that the university’s handling of disciplinary actions against Katie contributed to her emotional distress, ultimately leading to her untimely death. While no legal action can restore what the Meyer family lost, their lawsuit ignited a larger conversation about how universities handle disciplinary actions, mental health crises, and student well-being.

Katie’s Save and the Katie Meyer Law

In the years that have followed Katie’s passing, Steve and Gina Meyer have aggressively pursued legislative change and founded Katie’s Save, a powerful movement designed to spark conversation about student mental health, pressure in elite sports, and efforts to protect America’s youth as they transition from young adulthood to adulthood during their university years. 

Katie’s Save is more than a foundation. It has become an urgent call-to-action to reform how universities handle disciplinary actions and mental health crises, while creating a safety net and a path for support and intervention. 

The Meyers’ advocacy led to the creation and passage, in 2024, of the Katie Meyer Law, a landmark piece of legislation designed to provide critical protection for students navigating disciplinary processes. The law requires universities to notify families in cases where students face disciplinary action. It mandates that universities/colleges offer mental health resources and safeguards to ensure students have access to a trusted advisor or counselor so they are not forced to face the action alone. The law marks a significant step forward in protecting students from experiencing undue stress and isolation, and reinforces the importance of prioritizing mental health in higher education.

A Lasting Legacy

Katie Meyer’s story is one of excellence, triumph, heartbreak, and ultimately, change. Her story has been captured and memorialized in the documentary SAVE: The Katie Meyer Story, which spotlights a young woman whose talent, passion for excellence, and unmitigated determination brought her to the heights of collegiate soccer. It also reveals the systemic gaps that can leave even the highest achievers feeling isolated and overwhelmed. 

Katie is no longer here to make the impossible saves on the field, but through Katie’s Save and the Katie Meyer Law, her memory lives on to protect others in ways even she may not have imagined. Her legacy, tied to her family’s strength, grace, and courage, is no longer confined to the goalkeeper’s box. Rather, it has reached across the continent in the form of reformed legislation and the law that bears her name. 

SAVE: The Katie Meyer Story will air/stream on ESPN60 on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. EST. It will continue air throughout the month of May on ESPN2 and ESPNU (May 21 at 8:00 PM, May 26 at 7:30 PM and May 28th at 4:00 AM EST)

Our team has spent the entire week reflecting on our journey alongside Katie’s family as they fight for justice and to ensure that no other student–and no other family–will be forced to endure a similar tragedy.

Katie Meyer was a champion on and off the field. Thanks to her family’s unwavering commitment, her impact will continue to be felt for generations to come.

For more information on Katie’s Save and ongoing advocacy efforts, please visit Katie’s Save. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out to a trusted professional or contact a helpline immediately. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available whenever you need someone to talk to. You are not alone.

MAY 7, 2025

Media:

PEOPLE Magazine (5.1.2025); Stanford Soccer Star Katie Meyer's Family Tearfully Recount Her Death amid Lawsuit Against School in New Doc

ESPN (5.1.2025) ; ESPN E60 Presents Save: The Katie Meyer Story

Youth, Inc. (May 2025); What the Director of the New ESPN Documentary Wants Parents to Take from Katie Meyer’s Tragic Story

The Stanford Daily (6.3.25); Sitting with Katie Mayer’s story in “SAVE”