Team expects not to play in cup
Despite negative COVID-19 tests, Pride most likely are out of the NWSL Challenge Cup
The Orlando Pride don’t have any hope of playing in the NWSL Challenge Cup despite multiple inconclusive or positive COVID-19 cases now showing as false positives, a source told the Orlando Sentinel.
Days after the team withdrew from the Challenge Cup, additional rounds of testing are continuing to produce inconclusive results.
The team went through two rounds of testing last week and Sunday that produced a total of 10 positive or inconclusive tests, forcing the Pride to withdraw from the tournament.
NWSL reported shortly after the club’s withdrawal that six players and four staff members had tested positive for coronavirus. The Pride, however, never reported the number of affected individuals due to concern over the validity of the tests after several results came back inconclusive.
A third round of testing later in the week continued to provide inconsistent results, with some of the previous positive results coming back as negative or inconclusive.
The club is continuing to isolate players who tested positive and players and staff will be monitored until the whole team produces reliable negative results.
However, the Pride won’t re-enter the NWSL Challenge Cup even if all players turn out negative results in the next round of testing, a club source said.
To participate, the club would need to complete another round of testing before boarding a charter plane to Utah, then complete another 48-hour period of testing before being able to participate in a match.
This process would take at least a week. Meanwhile, the Challenge Cup starts on Saturday, with all teams playing their first games by Wednesday. This would make the logistics of a safe re-entry into the tournament field impossible, according to the club source.
The Orlando Pride previously asked NWSL if the team could travel to Utah 10 days before the tournament, which could have given Orlando enough time to resolve any inconclusive test results, but the request was denied, according to a club source.
An NWSL source contradicted the Orlando Pride statement, saying no one could recall the club asking to arrive earlier than scheduled. Teams began arriving in Utah
Wednesday, three days before the first match of the tournament.
MLS and the NBA, meanwhile, will have teams arriving for isolation and testing two weeks to a month before their first games at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney World in Orlando.
A league source told the Orlando Sentinel the testing that first flagged the Orlando Pride’s problems were the result of several groups of players going out to a bar. The Pride declined to comment, stating they would not disclose details about the players’ personal lives.
Meanwhile, fans hunted through social media and publicly listed money transfer accounts, then blasted young players who they suspected derailed the team’s chances of participating in the tournament.
The widespread criticism prompted captain Ashlyn Harris to call for fans to show support rather than attempting to track down players who might have broken social distancing restrictions.
“To the fans … My ask is that you stop digging for things that cannot change the situation at this point,” Harris wrote. “My hope is you start checking in and supporting these players and the staff. We could use some positivity and love. Thank you. Stay safe.”
In a separate post, Harris described the past week as “arguably one of the hardest of my career” as players were forced to isolate away from their families and teammates as a precaution until testing concluded.
Orlando players were left reeling by the withdrawal from the tournament, which came less than 48 hours before the Pride were supposed to board a charter flight to Utah.
“I am gutted,” defender Shelina Zadorsky wrote in an Instagram post. “Gutted for my teammates and staff who worked tirelessly to get us ready to play. Gutted about missing the opportunity to translate my dedication into performances on the pitch for my club. And more than that, I’m feeling for the mental and physical health of all those impacted by this virus, whether directly or indirectly.
“Someone once told me, “life is not fair…so what?” With that in mind, I’m trying to be more aware of my reactions to the uncontrollables and how I choose to respond to adversity. What a year to be more self aware and to give more of ourselves to others. Please, everyone, continue to follow the guidelines and be safe.”
Email Julia Poe at jpoe@orlandosentinel.com.