SA cluster leads to chaos for the WNBL

BASKETBALL Australia has started working through schedule contingencies after Adelaide Lightning were forced back into quarantine in Townsville.

The Lightning’s clash against Southside Flyers last night was postponed after the Queensland Government forced the entire Lightning group into retroactive quarantine following the COVID outbreak in South Australia.

The move has thrown the condensed WNBL season into chaos, with the Lightning forced to miss three games before they can emerge from quarantine on Monday.

It is understood the club will not miss any training, with the WNBL putting in arrangements with Queensland Health for them to safely use training courts in Townsville.

Basketball Australia general manager Paul Maley praised the league with the swiftness in which it acted following the instruction from the state government.

The entire Lightning travel group has already been tested for COVID-19 and the league has started workshopping scheduling resolutions.

“We as an organisation pride ourselves on being adaptable,” Maley said.

“We have reacted quickly and worked proactively with Queensland Health.

“As part of planning (for the season) we put in plans for things in the event of a positive test emerging from the hub. This is a different scenario with an outbreak happening in a different state and quarantining put in place retroactively but we will work through it.

“All options remain open but we would like to avoid (extending the season).

“We have our dates in place for the finals series and we would like to work towards that. It is not an easy task in the short amount of time and the amount of games played in a condensed season.”

Maley said the league had not ruled out the possibility of the postponed games being cancelled.

It is understood the Lightning remain in high spirits despite the return to quarantine being a major setback in their quest for the WNBL title.