The women’s basketball team Duke ended their season in the midst of 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 Friday because the school did not publicly announce the decision.
Duke’s women’s basketball team has been on break since December 16 because of two positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracking within the program’s travel group. The Blue Devils (3-1) postponed games against Miami, NC State and UNC Wilmington. The team’s next scheduled showdown was against Louisville on Thursday.
The Blue Devils are the first Power 5 school to start this season and will not end it because of the virus. The Ivy League chose not to play winter sports in November, before the basketball season began. Some other schools have also decided not to play this year.
New coach Kara Lawson, who was hired in July, said this month: “I don’t think we should play now. That’s my opinion on that.” This came a day after Duke’s male coach Mike Krzyzewski questioned why college basketball was being played in the middle of the pandemic.