On the same day most players and staff arrive in Florida ahead of the resumption of play later this month, the WNBA announced Monday that seven players had tested positive for the coronavirus over the past week.
Without specifying the individuals or teams involved, the league said the seven positive results were out of a total of 137 players tested over a seven-day period concluding July 5. Any player who tests positive "will remain in self-isolation until she satisfies public health protocols for discontinuing isolation and has been cleared by a physician," according to a WNBA statement.
All WNBA players were required to pass three coronavirus tests before traveling to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where the league will play out its season.
Several high-profile players, including Jonquel Jones, Kristi Toliver and Chiney Ogwumike, had already announced they will sit out the 2020 season because of health concerns.
Only the Indiana Fever will not arrive in Bradenton on Monday. That team's arrival is delayed out of what the league described as "an abundance of caution due to the CDC's close contact self-quarantine requirements."
According to the Indianapolis Star, two Fever players were among those who tested positive.
Games are currently scheduled to begin on July 24 without fans in attendance.