COVID-19 outbreak sees Canberra Capitals-Perth Lynx WNBL semi-final postponed hours from tip

The Capitals were supposed to face the Perth Lynx in game two of their series at the Tuggeranong Basketball Stadium on Sunday before the match was postponed three hours from the opening tip due to positive cases within Canberra's squad.

A number of Capitals players have tested positive to COVID-19, while others are symptomatic and awaiting results. Under ACT government guidelines, they are not able to leave isolation until a negative PCR result is received.

It left the Capitals unable to field a team of seven - the number required as per the league's COVID-19 finals protocols - and force officials to take drastic action.

The three-game series has now been slashed to two matches, with the winner to be determined by points spread or a single game if another match is not possible.

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Capitals general manager Lucille Bailie says officials are in overdrive to reschedule game two. The club is intent on playing it in Canberra, but they are in a race against the clock to make it happen.

Clubs and league officials have agreed to finish the season by Easter [mid-April]. The Capitals will need to exit isolation in seven days and then have extra days to train and ensure players are match-fit.

The WNBL grand final will remain as a three-game series, with revised dates being released in the coming days.

"We have a narrowing window to complete the competition, we're working towards doing that in a fair and respectable manner, and in a way that preserves the health and safety of the players, because that we can't compromise," Bailie told The Canberra Times.

"The wellbeing of the players comes first. It has been an incredibly challenging past 24 to 48 hours, assessing and managing the COVID impact. We're left with no choice but to postpone this game.

"We will continue working day and night with the league and stakeholders to work out a reschedule. Right now, there's a focus on the health and the welfare of the players. COVID has impacted all of us and the league is no different. We will continue to work and update as soon as we have some reschedule details.

"This season has presented, like no other season, adversity and challenges we could never have imagined. We'll get through this, and we hope to be courtside again soon to cheer on Canberra's most successful sports team."

Details of game two are to be released in the coming days, with Perth Lynx players and staff to return to Western Australia on Monday.

The Melbourne Boomers booked their place in the grand final as the No. 1 seed after sweeping the Adelaide Lightning in two games.

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