Family of Former Binghamton Soccer Captain Kayla Saager-Beckley Speaks After Her Death in Tulsa

The family of Kayla Saager-Beckley, a former Binghamton University soccer captain, has issued a public statement following her death and the death of her unborn daughter, Sawyer, on Sept. 9 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Saager-Beckley, 30, was a Long Island native who collapsed and died unexpectedly about 10 minutes after a workout last week in Tulsa. Her husband, John Beckley, is the University of Tulsa’s outside linebackers coach.

“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 John Beckley. “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. The family asked that donations in memory of Kayla and Sawyer be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or The Bee Foundation, an organization focused on awareness, education, prevention and research related to brain aneurysms.

A spokesperson for the Tulsa County Medical Examiner’s Office told the New York Post on Wednesday that an official cause of death would not be determined for some time.

“A report won’t be available until we have concluded all of our tests — which will take roughly three to six months,” the spokesperson said.

During a press conference Monday, Tulsa head football coach Tre Lamb described the sequence of events, saying Kayla “was working out, 10 minutes later she was found unresponsive.”

Kayla had recently moved into college soccer scouting and recruiting and relocated to Tulsa with her husband, whom she married in June. Beckley joined the Tulsa coaching staff in 2025.

A Career on the Field

Binghamton University announced Kayla’s death on Sept. 10, describing her as known for “her gritty play and determination on the field, including overcoming multiple knee injuries,” and “equally beloved for her compassionate, family-centered focus off the field.”

Kayla scored 22 goals over two seasons as a Bearcat from 2017 to 2018. She went on to play professional soccer overseas in the Czech Republic before moving into coaching, spending four years as an assistant at Troy University in Alabama, where she earned her master’s degree in health and physical education.