The family of former Binghamton University soccer captain Kayla Saager-Beckley has spoken out following her death and that of her unborn daughter on September 9. Saager-Beckley, a 30-year-old originally from Long Island, collapsed and died unexpectedly about 10 minutes after a workout last week in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"Kayla was a beautiful, loving and unforgettable soul whose laughter, kindness and love touched so many lives," the family said in a statement shared by Kayla's husband, John Beckley, who serves as Tulsa's outside linebackers coach. "She and Sawyer will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew and loved them."
The statement included details on funeral and celebration of life arrangements, with the family asking that donations be made in memory of Kayla and Sawyer to either St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or The Bee Foundation, an organization focused on awareness, education, prevention and research surrounding brain aneurysms.
A cause of death has not yet been determined. A spokesperson for the Tulsa County Medical Examiner's Office told The Post on Wednesday that it would take "roughly three to six months" before a report is available, once all testing has concluded.
During a press conference on Monday, Tulsa head football coach Tre Lamb said Kayla "was working out, 10 minutes later she was found unresponsive."
A Career on and off the Field
Kayla had recently moved into college soccer scouting and recruiting, relocating to Tulsa with her husband, whom she married in June. Beckley joined Tulsa's coaching staff in 2025.
Binghamton University announced Kayla's death on September 10, remembering her as a player known for "her gritty play and determination on the field, including overcoming multiple knee injuries," while also noting she was "equally beloved for her compassionate, family-centered focus off the field."
As a Bearcat from 2017 to 2018, Kayla scored 22 goals in two seasons. She went on to play professional soccer overseas in the Czech Republic before transitioning into coaching, spending four years as an assistant at Troy University in Alabama, where she also earned her master's degree in health and physical education.
