WSU: No fans at home games due to coronavirus

The rapid spread of COVID-19 — more commonly known as the coronavirus — has led sports leagues all over the country to take drastic measures, and now the Washington State Cougars have joined in, restricting attendance at home games.

Per WSU’s news release:

“Beginning with this weekend’s home baseball series against California, attendance at all Washington State University athletic competitions will be restricted to competing student-athletes, coaches, officials, other essential personnel and credential media members. In addition, competing student-athletes’ families will be permitted to attend home athletic competitions.”

This follows WSU’s announcement that all classes would move to online formats when classes resume on March 23 after spring break — the campus will remain open, however — and the Pac-12’s decision to close out fans from the remainder of the men’s basketball conference tournament, starting with Thursday’s games.

It’s unclear if WSU’s spring football game on April 25 will be affected; that’s still six weeks away. All of WSU’s COVID-19 updates can be found here.

This all was part a flurry of coronavirus-related news in the sports world on Wednesday. Among the announcements:

• With selection Sunday looming, the NCAA announced it would move forward with the its basketball tournaments, but that they would be played behind closed doors. Most conferences are doing the same for their basketball tournaments.
• Utah Jazz all-star Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus, leading the NBA to suspend its season indefinitely.
• The Seattle Mariners will play their home games in Arizona for at least the duration of March.
• The Seattle Sounders postponed their home match with FC Dallas on March 21.

A full list of COVID-19 sports changes can be found here.