NWSL soccer balls lay on the training pitch at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. on March 9,2020 (Mitchell Northam/ Pro Soccer U.S.A.).
The Women’s Premier Soccer League– a second- tier league for women’s soccer– canceled its 2020 season due to the coronaviruspandemic
The WPSL season normally happens in the summer, starting in May and ending with playoffs in July. The league features clubs in 35 mentions together with Canada and Puerto Rico.
In March, the league initially postponed the start of its routine season up until May 29 and canceled the playoffs to accommodate a reducedseason Now, the league is completely canceling its 2020 fixtures to maintain the safety of players, personnel and advocates amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Although the league’s summer season is canceled, all clubs are still enabled to host training and friendlies throughout the summer as long as they follow federal and regional guidelines.
“We went through all scenarios possible in order to get our players on the field this summer and complete a national season,” WPSL President Sean Jones stated. “However, it became apparent that to play matches in certain areas of the country in June and July would be irresponsible and a potential health risk.”
The league is likewise checking out the option of developing a fall season if it would line up with a postponed or canceled NCAA season.
The WPSL generally provides a chance for college players to complete during the NCAA offseason, and 70% of WPSL players are existing trainees. Seventeen of the players chosen in the 2020 NWSL Draft were alumni of the WPSL.
Although choices have yet to be made at the college level, numerous schools are starting to get ready for the fall term to occur from another location, which might force the cancellation of fall sports such as women’s soccer.
If this happens, the WPSL is placing itself to develop a fall season that would fill deep space of the NCAA season.
“Should the college seasons be postponed to the late fall or spring semester, the WPSL is in prime position to provide a structured platform for student-athletes to continue to train and compete in a competitive environment to be properly prepared for their upcoming collegiate seasons,” WPSL Commissioner Rich Sparling stated. “However, we do not expect a decision for the next 30-to-60 days.”
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