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How should the NBA and WNBA continue play if players get the coronavirus in late playoff series?

The bubbles have been successes so far. But now, we may have seen that luck run out after some Seattle Storm players received inconclusive COVID-19 test results.

By Albert Lee
Las Vegas Aces v Seattle Storm
Some Seattle Storm players received inconclusive coronavirus test results, delaying their semifinals series against the Minnesota Lynx.
Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

The Washington Mystics have played in a bubble environment over the last two months in Bradenton, Florida for the 2020 WNBA season. The good news is that the bubble worked. No players on the team or the league at large tested positive for the coronavirus during their time.

Of course, there would eventually be a time when the bubble environment could be compromised. Yesterday, the Seattle Storm and Minnesota Lynx were supposed to play each other in the semifinals. But that series was delayed at the last minute due to inconclusive test results by some Storm players.

Those players are in isolation and are being tested again. If any players test positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, then this would be the first time that the bubble was officially “broken.” The Storm vs. Lynx series is delayed for the time being.

The other WNBA semifinals series between the Las Vegas Aces and Connecticut Sun is still on for now. But it will be interesting to see what happens if the Storm has multiple positive tests.

The NBA’s Eastern Conference and Western Conference Finals are on in nearby Orlando, Florida. So far, no players tested positive either, including when the Washington Wizards were there for the season restart. If multiple players on a team suddenly get the coronavirus whether in the NBA or WNBA, should the playoffs be delayed a couple weeks to allow these players to recover? Or should games be forfeited to keep the calendar moving? Let us know in the comments below.