The National Women’s Soccer League canceled its preseason matches ahead of its eighth season amid concerns about further spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The league has not announced any changes to its scheduled season openers in April.
NWSL officials made the call after MLS and USL — along with other prominent American sports leagues such as the NBA and MLB — announced 30-day suspensions of league play on Thursday morning in response to the disease COVID-19 caused by the new coronavirus. These decisions were made as U.S. officials continue working to limit large gatherings throughout the country with the hope of spreading out how the pandemic impacts Americans and avoiding overloading the healthcare system.
“Our priority continues to be the safety and well-being of our players, coaches, staff and fans,” new NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird said in a statement. “We are reviewing all contingency plans related to our regular season schedule and are monitoring developing events and their potential impact. We are deeply appreciative of our fans and partners for their continued support of our league and all our world-class players.”
#NWSL Commissioner @lisainog statement regarding the 2020 season: pic.twitter.com/eWqW3KAgnf
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 12, 2020
A wave of action swept across sports leagues in the United States and Canada after Wednesday night, when a Utah Jazz player tested positive for coronavirus and forced the immediate suspension of the league’s regular season. The NHL followed suit on Thursday, and the NCAA announced the complete cancellation of its Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments on Thursday.