WNBA postpones start of 2020 regular season

ANKARA

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) postponed the 2020 regular season as coronavirus continues spreading rapidly across the U.S. and the world.

“As developments continue to emerge around the COVID-19 pandemic, including the extension of the social distancing guidelines in the United States through April 30, the WNBA will postpone the start of its training camps and the tip of the regular season originally scheduled for May 15,“ the WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement late Friday.

''While the league continues to use this time to conduct scenario-planning regarding new start dates and innovative formats, our guiding principle will continue to be the health and safety of the players, fans and employees,'' she added.

Since appearing in Wuhan, China, last December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 181 countries and territories.

The U.S. has confirmed the most infections, over 278,000, with more than 7,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.