At the championship of the Afghan women's soccer league, players sprint across the field. Hoodie-style hijabs cover their hair. The scene was once unthinkable. But now the players face new obstacles.
The public health order does not apply to varsity sports such as the football team, which plays University of Minnesota on the road Saturday. The two-week order was prompted by surging virus cases.
The NFL Players Association is investigating after a Los Angeles Chargers team doctor reportedly punctured quarterback Tyrod Taylor's lung while administering a painkiller for cracked ribs.
Facing pressure from athletes, parents, coaches and President Trump, the Big Ten said it will return to football with new precautions, reversing its decision last month to postpone the season.
The league didn't have to make hard decisions like other major sports leagues but it's been watching and has mimicked them with a hefty set of health and safety protocols for play during the pandemic.
The UConn Huskies are the first team in their division to cancel the 2020-21 season over COVID-19 concerns. A school official said the "safety challenges" presented an "unacceptable level of risk."
Chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills defended the NFL's plans to return in September. He tells Morning Edition that the league has an extensive testing program but won't be instituting a "bubble."
The song known as the Black national anthem will play before "The Star Spangled Banner." The league is working with players on a variety of measures to recognize victims of racism.