Kayla Saager-Beckley mystery death: Former Binghamton soccer star dies one month into pregnancy following recent marriage to Tulsa outside linebackers coach John Beckley. Official cause of death report for Bearcats player not expected for months to come.
A former Division 1 soccer star and Long Island, NY native passed away last week while one month pregnant with her first child as the woman’s husband and family seek to understand what led to the expectant mom’s ’sudden’ death.
Kayla Saager-Beckley, 30, died Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Official cause of death of former female star soccer player months to come
At the time of her death, Kayla who just one month pregnant, was expecting a baby girl with her husband, Tulsa outside linebackers coach John Beckley.
The couple had already chosen a name for their daughter: Sawyer.
According to Tulsa head football coach Tre Lamb, Kayla had been working out Wednesday morning when the expectant mom suddenly collapsed.
‘She was working out, 10 minutes later she was found unresponsive,’ Lamb told reporters.
He said Kayla died at around 7 a.m. No official cause of death has been publicly released.
A local medical examiner said it will take months before an official cause of death is determined.
‘A report won’t be available until we have concluded all of our tests — which will take roughly three to six months,’ a spokesperson for the Tulsa County Medical Examiner’s Office told the nypost on Wednesday.
According to Binghamton University who Kayla used to play for, Kayla and John had only married three months ago.
Binghamton University Bearcats rising star
Kayla who hailed from East Islip, New York, spent much of her life immersed in soccer.
After early collegiate stops at NC State and West Virginia, Kayla finished her college career at Binghamton University, N.Y, where she became one of the most successful offensive players of the program’s Division I era.
During her two seasons with the Bearcats in 2017 and 2018, Kayla scored 22 goals. In 2017, her 11 goals and 29 points helped Binghamton earn a share of the America East regular-season title after the program had finished last in the conference the previous year.
She was named the 2017 America East Striker of the Year and later repeated as an all-conference and all-region selection. She also served as a team captain.
After graduating from Binghamton in 2019 with a sociology degree, Kayla took her soccer career overseas and played professionally in the Czech Republic.
She later returned to the United States and transitioned into coaching, spending four years on the women’s soccer staff at Troy University in Alabama. While there, she earned a master’s degree in health and physical education. More recently, Kayla was living in Tulsa with her husband and working in college soccer scouting and recruiting at the time of her death.
Tributes amid star athlete’s sudden death
Binghamton women’s soccer head coach Neel Bhattacharjee remembered Kayla not only as an extraordinary athlete but as someone with a ‘big heart’ and a deep love for her family.
‘Binghamton women’s soccer is profoundly saddened by the passing of Kayla Saager-Beckley,’ Bhattacharjee said in a statement. ‘Kayla was a dangerous and dynamic forward with a true gift for finding the back of the net, and her contributions helped elevate the competitiveness and stature of our program. To this day we stand on her shoulders.’
Kayla is survived by her husband, John; her parents, Ron and Noranne; and her sisters, Rachel and Veronica.
Her sudden death has also shaken the Tulsa football program.
Lamb said the past week has been incredibly difficult for John, the coaching staff and the coaches’ wives. A memorial was held for Kayla Sunday night.
Tulsa plans to honor Kayla during its upcoming football game by placing a special sticker on players’ helmets in her memory.
Officials to date have not alluded to any potential health, fitness or dietary concerns.
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