The latest news as the coronavirus outbreak disrupts the sports world. Pull down the page to refresh. (All times ET.)
What you need to know
- The coronavirus began to affect North American sports in a major way Wednesday after the World Health Organization officially declared its spread a pandemic.
- The NBA suspended its season indefinitely in an unprecedented move late Wednesday. The decision came after a Utah Jazz player - believed to be Rudy Gobert - tested positive for COVID-19. Utah-Oklahoma City and New Orleans-Sacramento were both postponed Wednesday night.
- The NCAA announced Wednesday afternoon that the upcoming Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments will be held with only essential staff and limited family in attendance.
March 12 (Last update: 9 a.m.)
No autographs at The Players
The Players Championship is underway in Florida, but the PGA Tour announced Thursday morning that golfers won't be signing autographs or interacting with fans as they normally would at a tournament.
McLaren out of Aussie GP
McLaren Racing announced its withdrawal from the Australian Grand Prix after a team member tested positive for the coronavirus.
La Liga suspended
Real Madrid players are in quarantine and La Liga announced a suspension of play for at least the next two matchdays.
March 11
NHL mulling options
The NHL is evaluating its options after the NBA's shocking suspension announcement Wednesday. The league is consulting with medical experts and is scheduled to provide a further update Thursday.
Restricted access at college tourneys
Major college conferences announced that championship basketball tournaments scheduled for the rest of the week will take place with limited fan access.
NFL examining draft plans
The 2020 NFL Draft is currently scheduled for late April in Las Vegas. The NFL, NFLPA, and city and state officials are working together to determine whether one of the league's marquee events can go ahead as planned.
MLB, A's working on solution
The Oakland A's are working with MLB to come up with alternative plans for the club's season-opening seven-game homestand beginning March 26. Oakland and Alameda County have instituted a ban on large gatherings.
Spring college football games being axed
Ohio State and Michigan canceled their spring games scheduled for April 11 and 18, respectively. The Wolverines also announced that coaches won't be allowed to host prospects or go on recruiting trips until April 21.
Sharks to play behind closed doors
The NHL's San Jose Sharks announced they'll play in an empty SAP Center through the remainder of March due to a ban on large gatherings in Santa Clara County, California.
Ohio to ban mass gatherings
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Wednesday the state will order a ban on mass gatherings. That will affect numerous sporting events, including the NCAA Tournament (games are scheduled in Cleveland and Dayton), the NBA's Cavaliers, and the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets.
Seattle teams forced to alter plans
The Mariners are working to relocate two home series due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Seattle, where a ban was ordered on crowds of more than 250 people. The club's spring-training home in Peoria, Arizona, is reportedly being considered as an option.
The XFL's Seattle Dragons will host the Los Angeles Wildcats on Sunday without fans in attendance at CenturyLink Field.
Teams altering scouting plans
The NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens grounded their North American scouts as the virus continues to proliferate.
NFL teams are also changing their pre-draft travel plans. Scouts from the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles will reportedly sit out the pro-day circuit.
European hockey seasons shelved
Professional hockey leagues in Germany (DEL) and Austria (EBEL) canceled the remainder of their seasons due to the outbreak in Europe.
Figure Skating worlds called off
The World Figure Skating Championships scheduled to take place in Montreal next week have been canceled.
Fed Cup finals postponed
The Fed Cup finals scheduled April 14-19 in Budapest, Hungary, have been postponed indefinitely. No makeup date has been announced.
Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.