ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Pride announced Monday that the club will withdraw its participation in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup due to positive COVID-19 tests among both players and staff.

Six players tested positive for COVID-19, the National Women’s Soccer League confirmed.

“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 in a statement. “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.”

An updated tournament schedule will be distributed as soon as possible to reflect an eight-team tournament, the league said. The NWSL is the first professional sports league to return to action amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament is slated to begin on Saturday, June 29 in Utah.

Following the testing of players and staff, who were all asymptomatic, it was determined that it would be in the best interest of the health and safety of the players, the staff and the rest of the league that the Pride voluntarily withdraw.

“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 EVP Amanda Duffy said in a statement. “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.”

Added Daryl Osbahr, M.D., team doctor for Orlando Pride and chief of sports medicine for Orlando Health: “While we were all looking forward to seeing the Pride return to the field, we are unfortunately facing a decision that is necessary and in the best interest for the health of our players and staff. The decision goes far beyond just the positives, but also taking into consideration roommates or partners. I commend the club for its diligence and reaction following the initial positive test, as well as how the safety of players and staff was prioritized during this difficult and uncertain time. However the guidelines and process that are put in place, including the important protocols and timelines for contact tracing, make it logistically impossible for the Club to participate in the Challenge Cup in Utah.”

In accordance with CDC guidelines and collaboration with the club’s medical team at Orlando Health, the players and staff have received medical attention and will be isolated for at least 14 days. In addition, those who may have had close contact with the team members, including housemates, have been notified and are being monitored for symptoms. They will continue to undergo additional COVID-19 testing.

According to a press release, these team members did not have any direct interaction with any players or coaching staff from Orlando City SC or Orlando City B. The Orlando Pride Training Ground at Sylvan Lake Park, located 44 miles from the Orlando City SC Training Ground, has also been closed and will undergo thorough cleaning and sterilization. Additionally, prior decisions from the club ensured all staff members remained separated with no staff interaction across any of the club’s three facilities.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.