More sports are returning in the near future. The WNBA announced they have officially agreed to go forward with a 22 game season starting near the end of July.
The WNBA is taking a lot of precautions to return as safely as possible. All of the teams will go to IMG Academy in Florida for training camp, games, and housing. The playoff format will be normal as of right now but will be monitored and re-evaluated as the season progresses. The players will get their full pay which was an issue for some other sports like the MLB.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the following in a statement about the upcoming approved WNBA season.
“We are finalizing a season start plan to build on the tremendous momentum generated in the league during the offseason and have used the guiding principles of health and safety of players and essential staff to establish necessary and extensive protocols. We will continue to consult with medical experts and public health officials as well as players, team owners, and other stakeholders as we move forward with our execution plan. And, despite the disruption caused by the global pandemic to our 2020 season, the WNBA and its Board of Governors believe strongly in supporting and valuing the elite women athletes who play in the WNBA, and therefore, players will receive their full pay and benefits during the 2020 season.
As home to some of the world’s leading athletes, coaches and performance experts, IMG Academy is thrilled to partner with the top basketball players in the world and the entire WNBA family,” said Tim Pernetti, Executive Vice President, IMG Events & Media. “We are truly looking forward to becoming the Official Home of the 2020 WNBA Season and working closely with the league in providing our best-in-class training and competition environment.”
The WNBA is paying attention to everything going on in the country right now and is making sure they allow their teams and players to be a leading voice of change as they move forward.
Engelbert continued:
“The WNBA opposes racism in all its forms, and George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are the latest names in a list of countless others who have been subject to police brutality that stems from the systemic oppression of Black Lives in America, and it is our collective responsibility to use our platforms to enact change,”
The season will be played without fans but the WNBA will be available on major sports networks like NBA TV, ESPN, and CBS.
The NBA 2019-20 season is returning around the same time with a different look. It wont be long before basketball fans can get their fix again.
