SALT LAKE CITY — On Thursday, with sports competitions being canceled or limited to essential staff on hand in the wake of the rising COVID-19 pandemic, the Mountain West Conference declared that all league spring sports competition will be suspended indefinitely.
When the announcement was made Thursday morning, the conference clarified the decision of whether Utah State, which qualified for its second straight men’s basketball NCAA Tournament by winning the MW Tournament last week, would play in the NCAAs was one left up to the school.
By Thursday afternoon, though, that became a moot point when this year’s NCAA Tournament was canceled, along with all winter and spring sports NCAA championships.
“The health and well-being of student-athletes, as well as the campus and general communities, is of utmost priority. Therefore, the Board has determined the most prudent course of action is to align with the recommendations of public health care and government officials to help limit the spread of the virus,” the conference said in a statement.
MWC teams that are currently on the road for competition will be allowed to compete in those events before returning to campus, while any teams that haven’t departed will suspend travel, effective immediately.
The conference also clarified that it will be up to each institution’s discretion whether they continue to hold practices, like spring football.