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According to Steven Goff of The Washington Post, the NWSL is considering a one-month tournament this summer in the Salt Lake City area, using the RSL Academy dorms, training center, and area hotels. All nine NWSL teams would be involved. We can expect that fans would not be allowed.
My understanding is NWSL would utilize RSL Academy dorms adjacent to suburban training center, area hotels as well. Teams in restrictive home areas -- Sky Blue, Chicago, at least one other -- would be first to arrive in Utah.
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) May 18, 2020
As of publication, there has been no mention from the NWSL or Utah Royals FC or any other club in the league about this report. There’s no specific timetable either for the potential tournament either.
On the podcast Southside Trap, Chicago Red Stars head coach Rory Dames, however, did mention that a tournament could be an option, citing them only as rumors, but he has told his players to be ready for games to be played as early as July 1st.
If you’re curious about more recent reports of the tournament-style season, @SouthsideTrapod has been ahead of it. #NWSL
— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) May 16, 2020
(One day, I’ll tweet without typos.) https://t.co/L3pELCFWCp
Currently, the NWSL hopes to start the season by the end of June, whether that starts with a one-month tournament in a controlled environment like in the Salt Lake City area remains to be revealed. The NWSL recently extended its team training moratorium through, and including May 24, 2020. All NWSL players continue to use outdoor team training fields for voluntary household workouts.
The league continues to be involved in regular discussions with its medical task force on the progression through each phase of the Return to Play Phased Protocol. Clubs are still required to follow all federal, state and local mandates during COVID-19.