CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WFXR) – Virginia athletics announced Thursday the women’s basketball team will not finish the rest of the 2020-21 season due to health and safety concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Athletics officials say they made this decision with the overall health and safety of the student-athletes and staff in mind. This news comes after the program postponed or canceled six games due to coronavirus protocols. The Cavaliers were also left with a depleted roster because of injuries, which impacted the team’s ability to safely practice and compete.
“We have the pleasure of coaching a very resilient group of young women who have fought through injuries, a strict COVID-19 protocol, and all the mental battles that come with it,” said head coach Tina Thompson. “So, the decision to end our season mid-stream comes with great difficulty. As difficult as it is to end our season in this manner, it is a necessary one. The health and safety of our student-athletes will always be the number one priority. We will continue to focus on their overall well-being and prepare to resume competition in the fall.”
Virginia will reportedly continue the current competition schedules for all other varsity sports programs and will keep following Atlantic Coast Conference health and safety protocols.
The Virginia Cavaliers are the second ACC women’s basketball program to cancel their season due to COVID-19 concerns. Last month, the Duke Blue Devils made the same decision.
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