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The WNBA seemed to be moving toward a plan to play in 2020, and now they’ve made an announcement.
As many major sports try to find a way to have or continue their seasons amid the coronavirus pandemic, the WNBA seemed to shaping their plan. On Monday, the league officially unveiled its plan for a 2020 season.
The league is finalizing an agreement with IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida to serve as a single site for all 12 teams. That includes training camp, games and housing for players, coaches, etc. The regular season will be 22 games, followed by a traditional playoff format. The matchups for a regular season schedule will be announced at a later date.
The plan would have the teams reporting to Florida in early July, with the start of the regular season to follow in late July after some training camp time. Games during the 2020 WNBA season, as expected, will be played without fans.
The WNBA has an official return to play plan for the 2020 season.
Via the WNBA press release, here is how the league sees the game’s return without fans:
Although the WNBA 2020 season will be played without fans in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league will continue to build on the current momentum around the WNBA and the players, while offering fans a front row seat at home thanks to broadcast partners ESPN, CBS Sports Network and NBA TV and their ongoing commitment to women’s sports.
According to ESPN, players will receive 100 percent of their salaries despite the season being shortened from 36 to 22 games. With what’s gone on with MLB and the MLBPA, it’s refreshing to see a league and its players putting money aside.
“It’s not just about the money, it’s symbolic in a lot of ways,” said Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, president of the players’ executive committee, said of the salary commitment. “It’s a symbolism that carries on from our CBA. We asked our league and others to bet on women, and our league has shown they are doing that. It’s huge on an individual level for players, but also on the grand scheme.”
The situation, as it is everywhere, still has some fluidity to it. But all signs point to the WNBA going into a controlled environment with the necessary healthy protocol, and having as full a season as it possibly can.