On March 12, 2020, the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic led to the abrupt suspension or cancellation of numerous athletic events and seasons across Texas:
Southland Conference Basketball Tournaments: Both the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments were underway at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas, when the Southland Conference announced their cancellation on March 12. The men’s tournament had commenced on March 11, but the decision to cancel came before the women’s tournament could begin.
XFL Season: The XFL, which had recently relaunched, suspended its 2020 season on March 12. This suspension affected the Houston Roughnecks and the Dallas Renegades, both Texas-based teams. The Houston Roughnecks had been leading the league with an undefeated 5–0 record at the time of the suspension.
Sun Belt Conference Softball: The Sun Belt Conference, which includes the Texas State Bobcats, initially announced an indefinite suspension of all spring athletics, including softball, on March 12. This suspension led to the eventual cancellation of the season, impacting teams like the Texas State Bobcats, who had a 15–9 record at that point.
Professional Sports Leagues: Major professional sports leagues with Texas teams also suspended their seasons around this time. The NBA (Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs), NHL (Dallas Stars), MLB (Texas Rangers, Houston Astros), and MLS (Houston Dynamo, FC Dallas) all halted play in response to the pandemic.
These swift cancellations and suspensions underscored the immediate and profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on athletic activities throughout Texas.