The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, in consultation with its medical officials, has postponed women’s basketball team workouts for 14 days following the most recent COVID-19 test results.

 

Six women’s basketball student-athletes have tested positive for COVID-19. With this 14-day postponement, workouts for those athletes who test negative for COVID-19 can start on Monday, July 20. Previously, the Big 12 Conference announced a permissible start date of July 6 for basketball workouts, but WVU’s women’s basketball team has not yet started its summer prep.

 

All positive individuals will enter a self-isolation period for 14 days. As part of the department's health and safety protocol, contact tracing procedures have identified additional individuals who could have been exposed, and they will be mandated to self-quarantine per the department's protocol.   

 

“As with our men’s basketball team, the safest thing to do is put a pause on our women’s basketball workouts,” said Director of Athletics Shane Lyons. “The recent testing numbers, before their workouts even begin, show it’s not in the best interest of the student-athletes. Our medical officials will closely monitor the team in the coming days with a goal of starting its summer prep on July 20.”

 

Aside from women’s basketball, recent positive tests in the department include an additional three athletes in football. Contact tracing and self-isolation have already begun for those three individuals.