Here's what to read and watch this weekend.
What to Read This Weekend |
 | | The Houston Dash celebrated at the end of the N.W.S.L.’s summer tournament but so did league officials: The N.W.S.L. did not record a single positive test inside its bubble.Rick Bowmer/Associated Press |
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The National Women’s Soccer League completed a virus-free monthlong tournament in a tightly controlled campus environment. Major League Soccer has not recorded a positive test since July 10 at its enclosed setup in Florida. The N.B.A. has not logged a positive case since July 13. The W.N.B.A. recorded its last positive test on July 9, and was able to safely start play last weekend. |
“So far they have looked very intact and safe, and constant vigilance is going to be required to make sure they stay that way,” Dr. Zachary Binney, an epidemiologist specializing in sports at Emory University, said about the efficacy of bubbles. “I was always optimistic, but this has exceeded my expectations.” |
But some leagues have restarted without those controlled environments. Major League Baseball began its season on July 23 in home markets and has had to postpone more than a dozen games since because of the spread of the coronavirus. On Friday, the St. Louis Cardinals’ game in Milwaukee was the latest to be postponed after two Cardinals players tested positive for the virus. |
Bubbles, Binney said, “may be the only way you can safely have sports in the U.S.A. right now.” As long as they hold. |
Read the full article here. |
What to Watch This Weekend |
 | | The N.H.L. playoffs begin Saturday, starting with a play-in game between the Rangers and the Carolina Hurricanes.Chris Young/The Canadian Press, via Associated Press |
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The Stanley Cup playoffs commence on Saturday, and hockey-hungry finally have a meal. And it’s a big one: five nationally televised games (Rangers-Hurricanes, noon, NBCSN; Blackhawks-Oilers, 3 p.m., NBC; Panthers-Islanders, 4 p.m., NBCSN; Canadiens-Penguins, 8 p.m., NBC; Jets-Flames, 10:30 p.m., NBCSN). And then five more games starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday! |
The F.A. Cup is known for its upsets, but in the end two big teams almost always meet in the final. This year’s are Arsenal and Chelsea (Saturday, 12:30 p.m., ESPN+). |
The M.L.S. Is Back tournament wraps up its quarterfinals on Saturday with San Jose-Minnesota (8 p.m., ESPN2) and New York City F.C.-Portland (10:30 p.m., FS1). |
Day 3 of the N.B.A. is a strong one with a quadruple-header on ESPN. The last game is the best, with the Lakers, who won a close one over the Clippers on opening night, against the Raptors, the defending champions (Saturday, 8:30 p.m.). Also, Heat-Nuggets, 1 p.m.; Jazz-Thunder, 3:30 p.m.; and Pelicans-Clippers, 6 p.m. |
The pick of the W.N.B.A action is Phoenix-New York (Sunday, 1 p.m., ESPN). Liberty rookie sensation Sabrina Ionescu was 4 of 17 from the field in her opener, but turned it around with 33 points in Game 2. |
GET MORE SPORTS IN YOUR INBOX |
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