” Weve been fortunate, because we understand this infection is made complex,” she said. “We began with private quarantining, as players came into Florida. We then went to just team activities four days later on.”
” Its been a herculean effort, and a huge sacrifice from the players and the coaches,” she added. “So far, so good, however I do not wish to jinx it.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told CNBC on Friday she sees this years coronavirus shortened season as vital for the league and female professional athletes everywhere.
” Theres been a lot of scenario preparation, so a great deal of my service experience is coming in convenient,” Engelbert said, keeping in mind that given that the initial quarantine at the start of July no WNBA player has actually tested favorable for the coronavirus.
” I recognize not everyone can do the testing were doing here,” she continued. “But something Ive found out over the 3 weeks here is, if you follow the science, it works.”.
” Part of this was to get more direct exposure for these elite ladies athletes,” she stated. “Less than 5% of all sports covered is womens sports.”
” This might move the numerator for womens sports,” she informed “Squawk Box,” one day prior to Saturdays season opening games. “Its existential for us to have a season, economically.”
Given the dangers related to playing basketball during a pandemic, the 12 groups and their support personnel members are quarantining at the IMG Academy sports complex in Bradenton, Florida, where all video games will be played with no fans. Putting players and staffers in a “bubble” is a strategy likewise adopted by the mens National Basketball Association and Major League Soccer in Orlando, and the National Womens Soccer League in Utah.
” I do think there are lessons here to learn, however theyre not different from the general public service statements of using masks, and washing hands,” Engelbert stated..
Engelbert, previous CEO of Deloitte and a standout Lehigh University basketball and lacrosse gamer, said she hopes the Womens National Basketball Association can profit from the chance for additional television protection.
With many sports leagues being curtailed for coronavirus safety reasons and television networks starving for live sports, about half of the WNBAs video games will be televised this year, according to The New York Times. Thats a modification from previous years when mens sports took concern.
WNBA action begins Saturday, with three games, tipping off a shortened season of 22 routine games, with playoffs.
Engelbert, who is likewise a board member on the nonprofit Partnership for New York City advocacy group, said that lessons discovered in WNBA “bubble” could be expanded to other offices, as business navigate a go back to work.
