{{Short description|US baseball COVID isolation area}} The '''Wubble''' was the WNBA's 2020 coronavirus pandemic isolation zone at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The league, teams, and players used the season as a way to leverage advocacy for social justice.
== Isolation zone == The WNBA's 2020 coronavirus pandemic isolation zone at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida was nicknamed the "Wubble", a portmanteau of women and bubble.<ref name="jenningsATHLETIC24jul2020">{{Cite web|last=Jennings|first=Chantel|date=24 July 2020|title=2020 WNBA season (Wubble) guide: Everything you need to know to follow along|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1948065/2020/07/24/2020-wnba-season-wubble-guide-everything-you-need-to-know-to-follow-along/|access-date=2021-07-02|website=The Athletic}}</ref><ref name="youngYAHOO12oct2020">{{Cite web|last=Manza Young|first=Shalise|date=12 October 2020|title=The WNBA's "wubble" stood for activism, for Black women and for so much more than basketball|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/the-wnb-as-wubble-stood-for-activism-for-black-women-and-for-so-much-more-than-basketball-232609030.html|access-date=2021-07-02|website=Yahoo Sports|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="baileyUSA13jul2020" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|year=2021|title=144|url=https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/23038582-4041-4778-b29a-ff70604c578a|publisher=ESPN Films}}</ref>
Players and other personnel expressed concerns about whether the isolation zone could truly be safe and about the logistics of starting up play after not playing for five months.<ref name=":1" /> Players expressed concern about playing the season while the George Floyd protests were happening, and a conscious decision was made by players and the league to use coming together in the isolation zone and having every game nationally televised as an opportunity to advocate to the audience for social justice.<ref name=":1" /> The league had concerns about the long-term effects on the viability of the league of being out of sight of fans for over 20 months if the 2020 season simply didn't happen.<ref name=":1" />
Players were tested daily while in the isolation zone.<ref name=":1" /> There were no confirmed COVID-19 cases among players and team personnel during the season and playoffs.<ref name=":1" /> No personnel were allowed to leave the isolation zone except for limited reasons such as family or medical emergency, after which they were required to re-quarantine for seven to ten days.<ref name="jenningsATHLETIC24jul2020" />
ESPN made a 2021 documentary about the WNBA isolation zone, ''144''.<ref name=":2" />
== Personnel entering the isolation zone == The entire season was played inside the isolation zone.<ref name="baileyUSA13jul2020">{{Cite web|last=Bailey|first=Analis|date=13 July 2020|title=WNBA brings its stars (well, most of them) to bubble for unique 2020 season|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2020/07/25/2020-wnba-season-preview-img-academy-bubble/5508320002/|access-date=2021-07-02|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref> The league allowed players to bring their families and a caregiver with them into the isolation zone.<ref name="kaplanUSA15jul2020">{{Cite web|last=Kaplan|first=Phil|title=Candace Parker, daughter a "package deal" in Florida for WNBA season|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2020/07/15/candace-parker-daughter-package-deal-wnba-buble-florida/5442427002/|access-date=2021-07-02|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref> According to ESPN's documentary about the Wubble, 144 players came into the isolation zone.<ref name=":1" /> The WNBA said that in all the league had 315 people inside the zone.<ref name="jenningsATHLETIC24jul2020" /> ESPN reporter Holly Rowe was the only journalist inside.<ref name="jenningsATHLETIC24jul2020" /> Other journalists onsite were required to follow specific protocols to keep them separated from those in the isolation zone.<ref name="jenningsATHLETIC24jul2020" />
The week before training camp started the league tested 137 players, and 7 tested positive.<ref name="jenningsATHLETIC24jul2020" /> On July 6, eleven teams travelled to Bradenton; the Indiana Fever arrived July 11 because of quarantining players.<ref name="jenningsATHLETIC24jul2020" /> Within the first few days two more players, Atlanta Dream players Kalani Brown and Glory Johnson, tested positive.<ref name="jenningsATHLETIC24jul2020" />
=== Los Angeles Sparks === Los Angeles Sparks player Candace Parker brought her eleven-year-old daughter in.<ref name="kaplanUSA15jul2020" /> Nneka Ogwumike came in.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Juneau|first=Jen|date=15 April 2021|title=New ESPN Documentary Goes Inside the 2020 WNBA "Wubble" and 'Season Dedicated to Social Justice'|url=https://people.com/sports/wnba-wubble-espn-documentary-trailer/|access-date=2021-07-02|website=PEOPLE.com|language=en}}</ref> Sparks assistant coach Fred Williams did not come into the isolation zone for medical reasons.<ref name="voepelESPN13jul2020" /> Chiney Ogwumike and Kristi Toliver opted out for medical reasons.<ref name="baileyUSA13jul2020" /> Players Brittney Sykes and Reshanda Gray and trainer Courtney Watson came in.<ref name=":1" />
=== Phoenix Mercury === Phoenix Mercury player Diana Taurasi came into the isolation zone without her wife Penny Taylor and their toddler son.<ref name="metcalfeUSA7jul2020">{{Cite web|last=Metcalfe|first=Jeff|title=Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi "made for quarantine" because of years in Russia|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/mercury/2020/07/12/diana-taurasi-phoenix-bubble-quarantine-years-playing-russia/5424927002/|access-date=2021-07-02|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref> Taylor gave up her job as a Mercury assistant coach for the season.<ref name="metcalfeUSA7jul2020" /> Ten of eleven Mercury players came into the isolation zone; Jessica Breland was medically exempt.<ref name="metcalfeUSA7jul2020" /><ref name="voepelESPN13jul2020">{{Cite web|last=Voepel|first=Mechelle|date=2020-07-13|title=Mercury's Breland medically exempt from playing|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/29453160/phoenix-mercury-jessica-breland-medically-exempt-playing-season|access-date=2021-07-02|website=ESPN|language=en}}</ref>
=== Seattle Storm === Seattle Storm head coach Dan Hughes did not come into the isolation zone for medical reasons.<ref name="voepelESPN13jul2020" /> Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck, Epiphanny Prince, Ezi Magbegor, Jewell Loyd, Alysha Clark, and Sue Bird came in, Bird with her girlfriend Megan Rapinoe.<ref name="jenningsATHLETIC24jul2020" /><ref name="baileyUSA13jul2020" /><ref name=":1" />
=== Washington Mystics === Washington Mystics player Tina Charles was medically excused.<ref name="baileyUSA13jul2020" /> Natasha Cloud opted out to pursue social justice reform.<ref name="baileyUSA13jul2020" /> Elena Delle Donne was denied a medical waiver but the Mystics agreed to pay her salary.<ref name="baileyUSA13jul2020" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Gardner|first=Steve|date=16 July 2020|title=WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne will still be paid by Mystics despite denied medical waiver|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/mystics/2020/07/16/elena-delle-donne-washington-mystics-paying-wnba-mvp-full-salary/5453980002/|access-date=2021-07-02|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref> Players Alaina Coates, Ariel Atkins and Leilani Mitchell came in.<ref name=":1" />
=== Las Vegas Aces === Las Vegas Aces player Liz Cambage received a medical waiver.<ref name="baileyUSA13jul2020" /> Kelsey Plum did not come in.<ref name="jenningsATHLETIC24jul2020" /> Dearica Hamby brought her daughter into the zone, along with her mother as a caregiver.<ref name="harmataPEOPLE21jul2020">{{Cite web|last=Harmata|first=Claudia|date=21 July 2020|title=As WNBA Prepares for Restart, Players' Kids Are Stealing the Show in the "Wubble"|url=https://people.com/sports/as-wnba-prepares-for-restart-players-kids-are-stealing-the-show-in-the-wubble/|access-date=2021-07-02|website=People Magazine|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> A'ja Wilson and Angel McCoughtry came in<ref name=":1" /> along with coach Bill Laimbeer.<ref name="jenningsATHLETIC24jul2020" />
=== Atlanta Dream === Atlanta Dream player Renee Montgomery opted out to pursue social justice reform after Dream owner Kelly Loeffler made a statement criticizing the league for announcing the opening weekend would be dedicated to Black Lives Matter.<ref name="baileyUSA13jul2020" /> Players Glory Johnson, Courtney Williams, Chennedy Carter, Tianna Hawkins, Blake Dietrick, Kalani Brown and Elizabeth Williams and head coach Nicki Collen came in.<ref name=":1" />
=== New York Liberty === New York Liberty players Layshia Clarendon, Kia Nurse, Kiah Stokes, Amanda Zahui B and Sabrina Ionescu came into the zone.<ref name="baileyUSA13jul2020" /><ref name=":1" />
=== Indiana Fever === Indiana Fever player Natalie Achonwa came in.<ref name=":1" />
=== Chicago Sky === Chicago Sky head coach James Wade came in.<ref name=":1" /> Players Stefanie Dolson, Diamond DeShields, and Sydney Colson came in.<ref name=":1" />
=== Dallas Wings === Dallas Wings player Satou Sabally came in.<ref name=":1" />
=== Connecticut Sun === Player Jasmine Thomas came in.<ref name=":1" />
=== Minnesota Lynx === Head coach Cheryl Reeve brought her five-year-old son into the isolation zone with her.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Sharrett|first=Cody|date=4 August 2020|title=One Month Down: Lynx Reflect On Life In The Bubble|url=https://lynx.wnba.com/news/one-month-down-lynx-reflect-on-life-in-the-bubble/|access-date=2021-07-02|website=Minnesota Lynx|language=en}}</ref> Players joining in include Napheesa Collier, Sylvia Fowles and Bridget Carleton.<ref name=":3" />
== Season == {{Main|2020 WNBA season|2020 WNBA Playoffs}}
The season had been scheduled to start May 15 but in February was announced would be postponed.<ref name=":1" /> On June 15 the league announced it would play a condensed season inside an isolation zone.<ref name=":1" /> Training camp started in early July and the season started July 25.<ref name="kaplanUSA15jul2020" /><ref name=":1" /> The opening weekend, two days of triple headers with all twelve teams competing, was televised on ABC, ESPN and CBS.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Horrow|first=Ellen J.|date=13 July 2020|title=WNBA releases 2020 schedule with opening weekend dedicated to Black Lives Matter|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2020/07/13/2020-wnba-schedule-img-academy-black-lives-matter/5431187002/|access-date=2021-07-02|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref> Players wore Black Lives Matter and Say Her Name slogans on t-shirts and jerseys and venues displayed courtside signage.<ref name="youngYAHOO12oct2020" /> Alysha Clark said, "Every game that we played this season was a chance to be in front of an audience...(and) we wanted to educate them about something that we were fighting for."<ref name=":1" />
According to players' union president Nneka Ogwumike, 70% of the 2020 season consisted of every-other-day play as compared to 20-30% during a normal season; player fatigue became an issue.<ref name=":1" /> The first matchup was New York Liberty vs. Seattle Storm.<ref name="baileyUSA13jul2020" /> The regular season ended September 13.<ref name=":1" /> The first game of the playoff semifinals between the Seattle Storm and the Minnesota Lynx was postponed because of "inconclusive" COVID-19 tests; after additional testing the playoffs resumed two days later.<ref name=":1" /> The Seattle Storm won the title, their fourth, against the Aces.<ref name="youngYAHOO12oct2020" /> Season MVP was A'ja Wilson.<ref name=":1" /> While shaking champaigne bottles and being showered in confetti the Storm players shouted, "We're going home!"<ref name=":1" />
During the season and playoffs television viewership increased by an estimated 68%.<ref name=":1" />
== Focus on social justice == In early July, in announcing the revised 22-game season schedule, the league announced opening weekend would be dedicated to Black Lives Matter, with a focus on advocating justice for women and girls.<ref name="zillgittUSA6jul2020">{{Cite web|last=Zillgitt|first=Jeff|date=6 July 2020|title=WNBA dedicates 2020 season to social justice, announces creation of Social Justice Council|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2020/07/06/wnba-dedicates-season-social-justice-jerseys-names-women-killed/5387726002/|access-date=2021-07-02|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref> The announcement drew immediate pushback from Atlanta Dream owner Kelly Loeffler.<ref name="baileyUSA13jul2020" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="metcalfeUSA7jul2020" /> The league and players' union responded by dedicating the entire season, which was played during the George Floyd protests, to racial justice, and by jointly creating the WNBA/WNBPA Social Justice Council.<ref name="youngYAHOO12oct2020" /><ref name=":0" /> Teams also supported voting rights, joining the More Than a Vote campaign to encourage people to register and plan ahead to make sure they'd be able to vote.<ref name="youngYAHOO12oct2020" /> They protested the criticism of Black Lives Matter by Atlanta Dream owner Kelly Loeffler, wearing t-shirts urging fans to vote for Loeffler's senate race opponent Raphael Warnock, who later won.<ref name="youngYAHOO12oct2020" />
The league halted competition in late August, postponing games, to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake, stating in their official announcement that "this was the reason for the 2020 season."<ref name="youngYAHOO12oct2020" /><ref name=":1" /> They released an August 28 statement asking for action not only in the shooting of Blake but in the deaths or shootings of Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Michelle Cusseaux, Shelly Frey, Korryn Gaines, India Kager, Kayla Moore, Layleen Polanco, and Michelle Shirley. <ref name=":1" />
Alysha Clark said, "Every game that we played this season was a chance to be in front of an audience...(and) we wanted to educate them about something that we were fighting for."<ref name=":1" /> Sue Bird said, "Had we not had a season, sadly, our voices just wouldn't have been heard...the only way to make it happen is to play basketball."<ref name=":1" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:2020 WNBA season Category:COVID-19 pandemic in the United States Category:Women's sports in Florida