League set to tip off shortened season
A WNBA season like no other will get underway today with all 12 teams at a single site.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, league staff and the player’s union worked together on a plan to tip off the league’s 24th season at a single site during the coronavirus pandemic. They coordinated on medical protocols and the logistics of playing in one location.
After a couple of weeks in the bubble, the plan seems to be working. There have only been two positive tests for the coronavirus by staff and players, and those were in the first few days when people arrived on July 6. There have been none since.
“Knock on wood every day, but things are stable here” in Brandenton, Florida,
Engelbert said. “So far, the plan and the protocols are working. Wearing masks, washing hands, daily temperature checks.”
Engelbert, who just finished her first year as the league’s commissioner, is confident the WNBA will have a successful season and make it through the playoffs in October.
“Again, I’m not superstitious, but the more I talk about how well things are going, I do get a little nervous,”the commissioner said. “But I’m very confident right now.” she said.
• No. 1 pick Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon and Miramonte High-Orinda is one of seven rookies on the New York Liberty roster this season — the most of any team in the league and the most to be on a roster in at least a decade. The Liberty opens the season today (9 a.m.) with the first game against the Seattle Storm
• Teams will play 22 games this year facing all the other franchises twice. There will be no fans in attendance and no travel to other cities which should save some of the grind on the bodies of the players. The playoff format will be the same as its been for the past few years with the top eight teams making the postseason and the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds getting byes to the semifinals. The first two rounds will be single-elimination playoff games.