LACEY, Wash. – With growing concerns due to COVID-19 and limited participation, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced the 2020-21 conference schedule for men's and women's basketball will no longer be conducted.
 
Back on November 13, six of the GNAC member institutions (Alaska Anchorage, Central Washington, Montana State Billings, Simon Fraser, Western Oregon, and Western Washington) elected to opt-out of the conference basketball season. On December 11, Alaska Fairbanks also elected to not participate due to health and safety concerns. Due to that decision, Seattle Pacific on December 16 became the eighth school to opt out, and the conference schedule was longer deemed viable.
 
"The fact that we do not have a GNAC schedule is a disappointment but it's a fact that we understand is created by the times we are currently in," said Athletic Director Bob Grisham. "We will not focus on the disappointment, but we will direct our efforts to the future, and what can we now do to provide our student-athletes with opportunities to compete, and have a meaningful experience."
 
Saint Martin's and all GNAC institutions will retain the autonomy to independently schedule basketball contests no earlier than January 7. Saint Martin's will still be allowed to conduct team activities, practices, and contests against outside competition while adhering to NCAA policies and local public health authorities.
 
"I want to commend our student-athletes, coaches, athletic training staff and athletic department staff for their resiliency, and ability to work together to meet the challenges we are facing," Grisham said. "We mutually share the same desired outcome; a safe environment for our athletes to compete in."
 
The GNAC Management Council and CEO Board continue to look at the feasibility of the spring seasons for baseball, softball, outdoor track and field, men's and women's golf and women's rowing; and the suspended fall seasons for cross country, men's and women's soccer and volleyball.