Sky players in Chinese pro league stay in U.S. amid coronavirus outbreak

The Women’s Chinese Basketball Association suspended its season as the Wuhan coronavirus continues to spread.

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Cheyenne Parker is playing for Sichuan Blue Whales of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association this offseason.

Cheyenne Parker is playing for Sichuan Blue Whales of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association this offseason.

AP

The Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) suspended its season as the Wuhan coronavirus continues to spread.

The WCBA, the top professional women’s league in Asia, is the offseason home for several WNBA players, including Sky forward Cheyenne Parker and center Stefanie Dolson, both of whom are currently in the U.S.

Dolson, a center for Hebei Win Power, was relieved to learn she didn’t have to return to China during the coronavirus outbreak, which emerged last month as the WCBA began its monthlong break.

“I’m not usually one to be dramatic or scared about sicknesses or dangerous things, but once this virus went to widespread so quickly and hasn’t stopped it’s momentum, it’s definitely made me a little more scared and cautious about going back,” Dolson wrote in a text to the Sun-Times on Thursday.

It’s unclear when the WCBA will resume play. Some have indicated it could be mid-March, but Parker doesn’t think that’s realistic.

“With everything being publicly announced about how bad it’s getting and all current flight restrictions, it’s not looking like it will be anytime soon,” Parker texted.

There’s also a chance the season could be shortened, according to Parker. If that’s the case, Parker, who plays for Sichuan Blue Whales, doesn’t believe she’ll report late to the Sky’s training camp, which opens April 26.

Parker’s Chinese contract is worth $300,000 — more than double her WNBA salary. She wasn’t sure if the shutdown would affect her income.

“Because we are under contract with them, they are still legally supposed to pay us,” Parker texted. “I’m not sure if they can wait until the season resumes or if they have to stick to dates on [the] contract, but I’ll be finding out about that once payday comes. That will let me know how they plan on doing things.”

If there’s one silver lining in this extended break for Parker, it’s that she’ll be able to promote the WNBA at the NBA All-Star Game next month.

“Thankfully now I’m free and available to do any and all appearances I can since the all star [sic] is in Chicago!” texted Parker, who plans to split her time between Chicago and North Carolina for the next month. “So I am really excited about that!”

Dolson will be able to take advantage of the extra time at home by playing with the U.S. national team and participating in three-on-three tournaments.

Several other Chinese sports leagues and events have been affected by the outbreak. The Olympic boxing qualifier in Wuhan next month was cancelled, and the Chinese Football Association postponed the start of its season. The women’s Olympic soccer qualifiers were moved from Wuhan to Sydney, Australia.

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