COVID-19 forces Pride withdrawal

The Orlando Pride withdrew from the National Women’s Soccer League’s Challenge Cup tournament after six players and four staff members tested positive for COVID-19.

A second round of tests will be conducted to confirm the initial results, the league said, but because of the number of positive tests and the timeline necessary before returning to training and competition, the team had no choice but to pull out of the event.

Australia and New Zealand became the clear favorites to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup after Japan withdrew from bidding ahead of Thursday’s FIFA vote . ... The Burnley Football Club apologized and vowed to hand out lifetime bans to those responsible for an aircraft flying over Etihad Stadium during the English Premier League match against Manchester City, trailing a banner that read “White Lives Matter Burnley.”

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott signed his $31.4-million tender under the franchise tag. Prescott is now obligated to report for all team activities or risk being fined.

Veteran forward Chris Thorburn announced his retirement after playing more than 800 NHL games for four different organizations since 2005 and winning the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues.

Italian auto racing champion-turned-Paralympic gold medalist Alex Zanardi remains in stable condition after a crash on his handbike and for now will stay in a medically induced coma, according to doctors in Siena, Italy . ... Formula One announced an initiative — “We Race As One” — aimed at tackling racism and encouraging more diversity.

A week after the football team returned to campus, Rutgers reported that two players tested positive for COVID-19 . ... Cade Cunningham, one of the nation’s top basketball recruits, is going to remain at Oklahoma State despite the program being banned from the 2021 postseason.