Ivy League becomes the first conference to cancel sports amid COVID-19 pandemic
On Wednesday, the Ivy League semi-shocked the world when it became the first conference to shut down their sports programs through the rest of the year. The news comes after most Ivy League schools took the widely divisive (but ultimately safest decision) to dramatically cut back on in-person classes for the fall semester.
If you look all the way back to 500 years ago, (March 2020), you may remember the Ivy League was once against the first conference to end their sports seasons, once again to much criticism. However, that decision became a catalyst for other conferences in the NCAA, and eventually, sports league across the U.S., who all chose to suspend or cancel their seasons.
So what does this mean for women’s hoops?
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Well, the conference is still open to moving fall sports to 2021, meaning that basketball may simply be pushed back rather than completely cut this year. Last season Princeton finished at the top of the Ivy League, but will be without Dallas Wings first round pick Bella Alarie if the Tigers pick back up next year.
Across social media, Atlanta Dream owner Kelly Loeffler was further criticized for her derogatory comments against the Black Lives Matter movement. Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley supported Loeffler on Twitter, writing that she was proud of the owner for “standing up to the mob wanting sports to be about uniting people, not dividing people based on political agendas.”
Many players and coaches responded on social media, including WNBA hall of farmer and head coach of South Carolina Dawn Staley, who wrote “The ultimate division is packed in this tweet” (referring to Loeffler’s post). “We shall and will overcome.”