Chronological rundown of the D-I women’s basketball programs that either opted out of the entire 2020-21 season or discontinued their season at some point as a result of issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Total programs affected: 31
- opted out of entire season: 12
- discontinued during season: 19
Full-Season Opt-Outs
October 27, 2020: Bethune-Cookman (MEAC)—school opts out of all sports in 2020-21
November 12, 2020: Cal State Northridge (Big West) announces that student-athlete opt-outs leave it unable to compete in 2020-21
November 12, 2020: Ivy League announces that “league schools will not conduct intercollegiate athletics competition in winter sports during the 2020-21 season”; includes: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale
November 19, 2020: Maryland Eastern Shore (MEAC)—school completely opts out of the 2020-21 season’s spring semester
November 23, 2020: Florida A&M (MEAC) opts-out of 2020-21 competition
Discontinued Season
December 25, 2020: Duke (ACC) cancels remainder of season; final record: 3-1 overall, 0-1 ACC
December 29, 2020: SMU (AAC) cancels remainder of season; final record: 0-6 overall, 0-2 AAC
January 5, 2021: Dixie State (WAC) suspends competition for remainder of season; final record: 1-2 overall, 0-0 WAC
January 14, 2021: Virginia (ACC) cancels remainder of season; final record: 0-5 overall, 0-2 ACC
January 14, 2021: San José State (Mountain West) cancels remainder of season; final record: 2-2 overall, 1-2 MW
January 18, 2021: Vanderbilt (SEC) discontinues season; final record: 4-4 overall, 0-3 SEC
January 24, 2021: Vermont (America East) discontinues remainder of season; final record: 4-2 overall, 4-2 AE
January 29, 2021: UMBC (America East) discontinues remainder of season; final record: 2-6 overall, 2-4 AE
February 3, 2021: South Carolina State (MEAC) cancels remainder of season; final record: 1-9 overall, 0-2 MEAC
February 5, 2021: Canisius (MAAC) cancels remainder of season; final record: 0-5 overall, 0-4 MAAC
February 10, 2021: Hartford (America East) cancels remainder of season; final record: 3-9 overall, 3-9 AE
February 12, 2021: William & Mary (CAA) opts out of remainder of season; final record: 6-7 overall, 3-5 CAA
February 19, 2021: Binghamton (America East) ends season early due to COVID protocols; final record: 5-11 overall, 5-9 AE
February 23, 2021: St. Francis Brooklyn (NEC) forgos remainder of season; final record: 4-10 overall, 4-10 NEC
February 25, 2021: San Diego (WCC) has season ended by COVID pause; final record: 12-7 overall, 9-5 WCC
February 28, 2021: Navy (Patriot League) unable to participate in conference tourney; final record: 5-7 overall, 5-3 Patriot
March 2, 2021: Hampton (Big South) has season ended by COVID pause; final record: 4-11 overall, 4-7 Big South
March 3, 2021: Delaware State (MEAC) calls off remainder of season; final record: 3-12, 2-8 MEAC
March 5, 2021: Radford (Big South) has season ended by COVID pause; final record: 9-11 overall; 9-9 Big South
Non-COVID Opt-Outs
January 21, 2021: Detroit Mercy (Horizon) suspends its season amid allegations of abuse by head coach AnnMarie Gilbert; final record: 1-13 overall, 1-9 Horizon
February 18, 2021: Colgate (Patriot League) cancels the remainder of its games, after having seven players suffer season-ending injuries; final record: 1-8 overall, 1-8 Patriot
Categories: schools
Leave a Reply