WBBL season ends early, BE cancel all activity due to Coronavirus pandemic

Image credit: Mansoor Ahmed

The Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL) has taken the decision to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 season, due to the current Coronavirus pandemic.

On Sunday, the WBBL Trophy final took place as Leicester Riders defeated Durham Palatinates 70-66 at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, despite concerns about the game going ahead.

The statement, in full, read:

It is with the deepest regret that the Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL) has taken the decision to cancel the remainder of the 2019/20 season.

The WBBL is wholly owned by its member clubs, who as a collective, determine any decisions and they have agreed that in light of the on-going uncertainty surrounding the impact of Covid-19, cancellation was in the best interests of the League.

This action has been taken in consultation with British Basketball League (BBL), Basketball England, Basketball Scotland, Basketball Wales, BUCS and the AoC Sport.

We are finalising the details as to what cancellation means in terms of results based on the current standings and will update in due course.

We would like to thank all the players, staff, volunteers and fans for their support during what has been an unprecedented situation.

Basketball England followed suit by cancelling all affiliated basketball activity including the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL), junior leagues and academy leagues, though implied there may be exception for competitions – such as the WEABL – that have already reached the latter stages.

“Basketball England is here to serve and protect its members,” Stewart Kellett, Basketball England CEO commented, per release.

“We know from feedback over the weekend that the basketball community want the governing body to protect people. We also know that people want to play and stay involved and are disappointed with the cancellation, but we have to do what is right for the greater good of the country, to help stop the spread of the virus. We are very grateful for support on this matter.

“Basketball England will provide advice and support to clubs and our members that need it.”

This action was consulted on by the BBL, WBBL, Basketball England, basketballscotland and Basketball Wales as well as BUCS and the AoC Sport following the recent government measures issued on Monday.

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