Orlando team pulls out of NWSL Challenge Cup due to coronavirus.
Virus forces Pride from NWSL event
The Orlando Pride will not participate in the NWSL Challenge Cup after six players and four staff members tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
The National Women’s Soccer League announced the number of cases, but a club source indicated some of the test results were inconclusive. The Pride, however, had to quarantine such a large group of athletes and staff that they could not compete in the NWSL tournament that is scheduled to kick off Saturday.
All individuals who tested positive were asymptomatic, according to a club news release. The Pride were previously set to depart Wednesday for Utah to face off against the Chicago Red Stars Saturday in the opening day of the tournament.
“This was obviously a difficult and disappointing outcome for our players, our staff and fans, however this is a decision that was made in order to protect the health of all involved in the Challenge Cup,” Orlando Pride executive vice president Amanda Duffy said in a news release. “While we were all excited to see the 2020 Pride on the field this weekend, our priority is now making sure our players and staff safely recover and providing any support wherever and however possible.”
The players and staff members who tested positive have been isolated for 14 days and will continue to receive medical attention. Housemates and other team members who have come into close contact with the affected individuals will continue to be monitored for symptoms and undergo testing.
The NWSL will update its tournament format to adjust to only eight participating teams.
“The health and safety of our players and staff is our number one priority, and our thoughts are with those players and staff fighting this infection, as well as the entire club in Orlando that have been impacted as a result,” NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird said.
“We’re all obviously disappointed, but, in the current environment, this is a situation that we have prepared for and we will now adjust our plans and schedules to reflect the circumstances.”
The league is not planning to play a regular season this year after the tournament in Salt Lake City.
According to the Challenge Cup roster rules, announced Monday ahead of the tournament opener Saturday, financial incentives for the players this year are tied exclusively to the monthlong event.
“The 2020 NWSL season will be defined by the NWSL as the number of games played by a team in the tournament,” the league said. “For example, this means that for two teams [those making the final] the 2020 NWSL season will include 7 games, while for one team the 2020 NWSL will include only 4 games.”
The league also said there will be no postseason, “so it will not be possible for players to earn any incentives based on postseason/ playoff achievements,” and it will not issue season awards. It will, however, give tournament awards, such as MVP.