Four days after its final home game was canceled because of COVID-19 concerns within the program, the Gophers women's basketball team returned to practice Wednesday afternoon.
The team will practice again Thursday, then travel to Illinois for Friday's regular-season finale.
The plan is for the team to compete in next week's Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, where the team will most likely begin play Wednesday.
"It's been challenging, there is no question," Gophers coach Lindsay Whalen said after the workout ended. "Our team has been dealt a really tough go with different COVID positives throughout the year. To get to the last week, and have another one, it's been difficult."
It began last Thursday when a non-player associated with the program tested positive for the virus, a member of the so-called Tier 1 group that gets consistent testing. That group includes, for example, players, coaches, managers, trainers and strength and conditioning coaches. On Friday, one student-athlete tested positive.
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