Bradley University Athletics

Spring Sports Season Suspended Thru March 30

The Missouri Valley Conference has announced the cancellation of the 2020 Women's Basketball Championship and suspension of conference competition thru March 30

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications General 3/12/2020 2:29:00 PM

The Missouri Valley Conference has joined a growing number of NCAA Division I leagues from across the nation in announcing changes to the spring sports championship season in response to the coronavirus pandemic. According to the announcement from the league office Thursday afternoon, the league has suspended all Conference spring sports competition through March 30, effective immediately. In addition, the Valley has cancelled the 2020 Women's Basketball Championship, which was scheduled to tip off this evening at TaxSlayer Center in Moline, IL.

The nationwide response to the coronavirus pandemic remains a fluid situation. Bradley Athletics remains aligned with the mission of Bradley University and will follow the direction of the University, Missouri Valley Conference and NCAA leadership in its approach to the situation.

As a result of Thursday's announcement by The Valley:

At 22-7 overall and 13-5 in the MVC race, the Bradley Women's Basketball team enjoyed the best regular season in program history. Boasting a RPI rating of 50 as of Thursday morning, the Braves are well-positioned to earn a postseason tournament bid (NCAA or WNIT) and the University will allow the team to accept an invitation to either tournament. If the Braves are invited to the WNIT, however, they will not host games at Renaissance Coliseum through March 30.

The Bradley Men's Basketball Team won its second-consecutive MVC Championship last weekend in St. Louis to secure The Valley's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. If the NCAA proceeds with the tournament, the Braves will be permitted to participate. Sunday's NCAA Tournament Selection Show Watch Party, presented by RSM, however, has been cancelled.

Bradley University sponsors seven teams that compete during the traditional NCAA Division I spring sports championship season: baseball, men's golf, women's golf, softball, women's tennis, men's outdoor track and women's outdoor track. Those seven seasons have been halted, effectively immediately. The ability for those teams to resume their seasons March 31 remains under evaluation as circumstances regarding the worldwide coronavirus pandemic develop.

Bradley University also sponsors two teams - men's soccer and women's volleyball - who compete in a limited exhibition competition season during the spring. The spring competition segment for those two teams also has been suspended and the status of their April exhibition matches will be evaluated.

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