Kim Mulkey Tests Positive, UCONN Game Cancelled

Per her twitter account, Coach Kim Mulkey has tested positive for COVID-19.

Mulkey states she was exposed to a family member on Christmas who tested positive. Coach Mulkey stayed in quarantine and away from the Lady Bears even after 3 negative tests. She then tested positive on Monday, January 4.

The Baylor Lady Bears twitter account has announced that the game vs UCONN scheduled for Thursday, January 7th has been cancelled. Full statement below:

WACO, Texas – The Baylor women’s basketball team began restricting team activities Tuesday after head coach Kim Mulkey tested positive for the COVID-19 virus on Monday. The program and Baylor medical staff are conducting additional COVID-19 testing to determine the length of the program’s restricted activity. Thursday’s game with UConn in Waco has been canceled. Further Baylor participation in upcoming contests will be determined by how long the program is restricting activity with safety of the program and its members driving those decisions. Mulkey missed the Jan. 2 contest at TCU due to contact tracing. She produced three negative tests leading up to the game, however, she decided to remain in quarantine for the protection of the staff and student-athletes in case the virus took time to come to fruition. When Mulkey returned to team activities Monday, which included a COVID-19 test, her results were positive. The 21^st-year head coach at Baylor will isolate for an additional 10 days, and if she shows no symptoms, will return to team activities January 15.

BAYLOR HEAD COACH KIM MULKEY’S STATEMENT ”On December 25, I was exposed to COVID-19 by a family member who tested positive. I immediately self-quarantined and did not re-join the team when our staff and players came back from our holiday break on December 28. I produced three negative tests leading up to our game at TCU, Jan. 2. However, I decided that it was important to continue quarantining in case the virus took time to come to fruition. I tested positive yesterday (Jan. 4) and will now isolate. If I have no symptoms, I will re-join the program on January 15. While I am disappointed and hate to be away from the program, Baylor women’s basketball is in good hands with our coaches and support staff. The safety of our student-athletes is paramount and will take precedent over any basketball activity during this pandemic.”

This now makes two premiere out-of-conference games the Baylor Basketball programs have had cancelled due to COVID-19 related issues. The Baylor Men’s Basketball game vs Gonzaga was cancelled hours before tipoff, originally scheduled for December 5, 2020.

OurDailyBears is wishing Coach the best. Get well soon!

Edit:

Per the Big 12:

In accordance with Big 12 Conference women’s basketball game interruption guidelines, the Kansas at Oklahoma State (Saturday, Jan. 9), Kansas State at Baylor (Sunday, Jan. 10) and TCU at Kansas State (Thursday, Jan. 14) contests have been postponed. Additionally, the Connecticut at Baylor non-conference game on Thursday, Jan. 7 has been canceled.

K-State’s matchups against Oklahoma (Jan. 2) and West Virginia (Jan. 5) were previously postponed. KU’s matchups with West Virginia (Jan. 2) and Iowa State (Jan. 6) were previously postponed.

The Big 12 will work with Conference programs to reschedule the games for later in the season.