Duke’s women’s basketball team has ended its season amid the coronavirus pandemic, a person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press. The men’s team planned to continue playing.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity on Friday because the school has not publicly announced the decision.
Duke’s women’s basketball team has been on hiatus since Dec. 16 due to two positive COVID-19 tests and contact locating within the program’s travel party. The Blue Devils (3-1) postponed games against Miami, NC State and UNC Wilmington. The next contest scheduled for the team was Thursday against Louisville.
The Blue Devils are the first Power 5 school to start this season and will not finish it due to the virus. The Ivy League opted not to play winter sports in November before the basketball season began. Some other schools also decided not to play this year.
New coach Kara Lawson, who was hired in July, had said this month, “I don’t think we have to play right now. That’s my opinion on that.” That came a day after Duke men’s coach Mike Krzyzewski asked why college basketball was played in the midst of the pandemic.