Women’s Basketball COVID Cancellations | Illustration by Eniola Odetunde
Wright State University (WSU) Women’s Basketball was forced to forfeit two more conference games last week, according to a Horizon League ruling released on Jan. 6.
The games forfeited were both home contests two days apart, with the first being against the Youngstown State Penguins, and the second being against the Robert Morris Colonials.
Due to COVID-19 transmission in their program and the programs of other colleges, the Raiders have missed eight games so far this season, with four being ruled as cancellations and the other four ruled as forfeits.
With these forfeits, the Raiders fall to 1-11 in their overall season record and 0-7 in conference play, only able to play eight of the total season games, and three conference games.
Forfeit policy
Horizon League policy states that any contests canceled due to COVID are to be deemed forfeits unless the Commissioner rules it a no-contest. A no-contest can only be ruled when extraordinary circumstances lead to the cancellation.
“League policy authorizes the Commissioner to deem a cancellation a no-contest when the involved institution can demonstrate that extraordinary circumstances led to the cancellation,” the ruling states.
“The Council agreed that a high volume of breakthrough cases among vaccinated individuals is considered extraordinary,” the ruling stated.
So, in order for a COVID cancellation to not count as a loss on a team’s record, they have to prove that the cancellation was due to “extraordinary circumstances.”
The ruling
Both WSU and Northern Kentucky University (NKU) had games canceled this week due to positive COVID cases and looked to have them ruled as no contests.
While relief was granted to the Norse, it was not given to the Raiders. According to the Horizon League announcement, The Norse were granted relief because they were unable to field a team.
“Northern Kentucky sought to deem missed competition this week no contests since it is unable to field a team due to breakthrough cases among vaccinated student-athletes,” The ruling states, “Commissioner Julie Roe Lach granted the requested relief noting that it satisfied the extraordinary standard.”
As the Raiders did not meet the number of cases for the commissioner to allow a no contest, it can be assumed that the Raiders may have been able to field a team, but wanted to cancel the games due to missing several coaches or only having five to six players available.
“Wright State women’s basketball sought to deem missed competition this week no contests but relief was not granted as circumstances did not meet the extraordinary threshold,” the ruling states.
