XFL Suspends Season, Players Still To Receive Base Pay

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It's not the way the XFL imagined its debut season to end. 

On Thursday, the XFL announced all eight teams would not finish the 2020 season due to concerns relating to the coronavirus. The New York Guardians and the remaining seven teams, however, will still earn the pay and benefits they would've received if they'd played a full season. 

"Currently, the XFL will not be playing its regular-season games," said the XFL in a statement. "However, all players will be paid their base pay and benefits for the 2020 regular season. All XFL ticket holders will be issued refunds or credit toward future games. The XFL is committed to playing a full season in 2021 and future years.

A player could make on average $55,000 per season, according to Sporting News. Most players were paid bi-weekly and earned a base pay of $2,080 throughout the season, per the report. 

Thank you @XFLGuardians & @xfl2020 for the opportunity to play the game that I love! Grateful for the new friendships, memories and chance to keep the dream alive! The journey continues! pic.twitter.com/KuXcM16Jlm

— Scott Daly (@sdaly61) March 12, 2020

Thank you @XFLGuardians @xfl2020 for taking a chance on me -- forever grateful for the opportunity that was given.

— issaRant (@RTexada) March 12, 2020

The Guardians sat third among the East Division teams. They were scheduled to face the Houston Roughnecks on Sunday, which would've marked the midway point of the season. The XFL's regular season would've ended on April 12 with the playoffs set to begin six days later. 

Instead, the XFL, often praised throughout its recent inception for its diverse and unique approach, shift its focus onto the 2021 season. The XFL didn't mention the virus in its official statement, but it joined the growing list of leagues to either cancel or postpone operations. 

Three of the four major sports leagues — NHL, NBA, and MLB — have either canceled or postponed its respective schedules. MLS, like the NBA, implemented a 30-day suspension period before it would evaluate moving forward. The NCAA canceled its men's and women's basketball tournaments.