13 Ways The Sports World Is Stepping Up During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Facing cancelled seasons, these athletes, teams, and leagues are still making an impact.

By Jackie Menjivar

The COVID-19 pandemic has rocked a lot of major industries, and the sports world is no exception. With public health as the priority, professional sports leagues have to make some tough decisions to keep their athletes, staff, and fans safe, and that means that sports seasons have been suspended, delayed, or cancelled altogether.

Through it all, athletes, teams, and leagues are making the best of it, and lending a hand in the coronavirus response by making donations, forgoing their salaries, providing medical supplies, and more. Here are 13 ways that the sports world is stepping up during the coronavirus pandemic.

1. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers

Although in-person sports are cancelled for the most part, e-sports are still going strong. Philadelphia 76er Ben Simmons showed off his hidden talent for gaming in FIGHT 2 FUND, a COVID-19 benefit tournament organized by FaZe Clan, a group of professional gamers and streamers. Simmons participated in the Call of Duty: Warzone battle royale and helped raise over $45,000 dollars in their first event.

2. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

Amid coronavirus-related closures, LeBron James continued to feed the students at his I Promise School in Akron, Ohio with a special Taco Tuesday celebration. He hired a local restaurant to put together meals for all 340 students and their families, allowing the small business to re-employ workers who hadn’t had a shift in weeks.

Bonus: self-quarantine also got James to embrace TikTok, and his videos with his kids are must-see.

3. Simone Biles, US Gymnastics

Forging ahead after the postponement of the 2020 Olympics, gymnast Simone Biles joined 115 other athletes in raising money for a COVID-19 relief fund. Biles donated her own sports memorabilia (including an autographed leotard) as prizes in a contest to drive donations.

4. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson may still be new to New Orleans, but he’s hoping to give back to the community that’s been so “incredibly welcoming and supportive” since his draft in June. Williamson pledged to cover the salaries of arena employees at the Smoothie King Center for 30 days.

5. The NBA and WNBA

Following the CDC’s recommendation to wear face coverings when out in public, the NBA and WNBA are now offering team-branded masks on their online stores. For every mask purchased, one is donated to Feeding America and Second Harvest, along with a monetary donation towards these organizations providing meals for folks impacted during the crisis.

6. Robert Kraft, New England Patriots

When Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker arranged to purchase over one million N95 masks for the state, he turned to Jonathan and Robert Kraft, president and CEO of the New England Patriots respectively, for help transporting them from China. The Kraft family offered up the official New England Patriots plane to deliver the needed supplies, and donated $2 million dollars towards their purchase.

7. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles, and Julie Ertz, Chicago Red Stars, US Women’s National Soccer Team

Through their Ertz Family Foundation, husband and wife Julie and Zach Ertz donated $100,000 to support their local community. The donations went towards Philabundance, a food bank that continues to serve the city of Philadelphia even as 50 smaller organizations have had to shut their doors due to a shortage of supplies.

8. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors

Besides contributing to the Golden State Warriors’ $1 million donation for arena and concessions workers, Steph Curry is helping tackle the coronavirus pandemic with information. Early in the US outbreak, Curry used his platform to host an Instagram Live chat with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, where they answered questions about COVID-19, physical distancing, and testing.

9. Megan Rapinoe, Christen Press, Tobin Heath, and Meghan Klingenberg, US Women’s National Soccer Team

Last year, this group of World Cup winners launched re-Inc, a gender-fluid streetwear brand, and now they’re using their new fashion line in partnership with the #GetUsPPE initiative. A percentage of sales from their latest capsule collection will go towards helping frontline medical workers get the personal protective equipment that they need.

10. Venus Williams, Tennis Champ

With so many people sheltering at home to stop the spread of the virus, tennis player Venus Williams is making it easier to exercise while physical distancing. Williams is hosting daily workouts Monday through Friday on Instagram Live, leading her audience through a full-body routine using household items and bodyweight exercises.

11. Colin Kaepernick, Former NFL Quarterback

Athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick launched the Know Your Rights Camp COVID-19 Relief Fund to raise money and awareness for the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on communities of color and incarcerated individuals. Kaepernick donated $100,000 to the fund to provide food, education, shelter, and protective equipment to those affected.

12. Justin Verlander, Houston Astros

After the MLB announced that they’ll continue to pay their players during the season’s shutdown, Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander announced that he would be donating his paychecks instead. Each week, Verlander is supporting a different not-for-profit organization working to help those impacted by the coronavirus.

13. United States Tennis Association (USTA)

Tennis courts used to host the U.S. Tennis Open are being converted into field hospitals for New York City coronavirus patients. The temporary facility at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will have 350 beds to handle an excess of non-ICU patients from Queens’ Elmhurst Hospital.