On Saturday, this year's season starts with the American professional league NWSL, which, due to the corona pandemic, will be played as a tournament in Utah for over a month.

Yesterday, however, it was announced that Orlando Pride, including Marta in the team, has withdrawn. This is because several players and leaders in the club have been tested positive for covid-19.

Rapione's motivation is unclear

On Tuesday night, the news also came that three American national team players (Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath and Christen Press) had chosen not to participate.

Why Rapinoe has chosen to decline is not known, but the other two refer their decisions to the corona virus.

- Although I want to be on the team with my teammates and do what I love, I have chosen not to participate, due to the uncertainty and risks that covid-19 caused, says Thorns on the Portland Thorn club website.

"Deeply painful"

Christen Press justifies its choice in a similar way.

“It is deeply painful not to be able to practice the sport that I love, and to see the great effects that the global pandemic has on our league, our sport and our world. Unfortunately, because of the uncertainty created by covid-19, I have to choose not to play in the tournament, ”she writes in a statement, according to the news agency AP.