Utah women’s hoops intends to play Friday after COVID-19 pause

In the wake of a COVID-19 pause early last week, the University of Utah women’s basketball team is back in the gym and intends to open its season later this week.

The Ute women paused all basketball-related activity Nov. 23 due to a positive test, plus the ensuing contact-tracing protocols. An athletic department spokesperson told The Salt Lake Tribune that the team began practicing Monday, with the intention of opening its season vs. 17th-ranked Oregon State on Friday in Corvallis. The Utes are also scheduled to play at No. 10 Oregon on Sunday.

The women’s basketball program stoppage cost the Utes their originally-scheduled opener vs. Southern Utah on Wednesday, plus a visit from Utah Valley on Saturday.

“We have been testing every day and have returned to practice to prepare to play games this week,” read an athletic department statement, which was provided to The Tribune. “We’ve been working closely with our leadership along with the Pac-12 and the state health officials to ensure that our student-athletes are in the safest environment possible.”

Further clarity as to whether or not Utah will play later this week is expected as early as Monday afternoon, or possibly Tuesday. Oregon State was scheduled to play NAIA Carroll College on Monday, while Oregon has a trip to the University of Portland on Monday and a home game against Colorado on Friday before seeing the Utes.

As was the case with a Utah men’s basketball COVID-19 stoppage earlier this month, the women’s stoppage has been categorized as a pause while more testing was conducted, and not a full-blown program shutdown.

The Utah men began fully practicing late last week and intend to open their season Thursday at the Huntsman Center vs. Washington (4 p.m., Pac-12 Networks). Their COVID-19 pause began when multiple antigen tests came back Nov. 13, but workouts continued on some level, including individually.

Multiple sources told The Tribune last week that the number of positives inside the men’s basketball program at one point was “at least nine,” which included head coach Larry Krystkowiak, who revealed on his weekly ESPN700 radio show that he had tested positive. Krystkowiak was in quarantine until Friday.

It was unclear Monday how many members of the women’s basketball program were affected by contact-tracing protocols. It is also not clear if the entire roster was available for practice on Monday.

Under NCAA guidelines, the college sports governing body is suggesting, but not mandating a 14-day shutdown for one positive test involving a Tier 1 individual. Tier 1 includes players, coaches, and other essential personnel.