HONOLULU — The University of Hawaii women’s basketball home game set for Thursday against Long Beach State has been canceled, the latest around the Big West conference of many contests called off due to COVID issues.

The UH men’s basketball game Thursday at Cal State Fullerton was nixed on Monday because of ongoing COVID and injury player availability issues for the Rainbow Warriors.

What You Need To Know

  • Both UH men's and women's basketball matchups for Thursday have been canceled due to COVID issues within the programs

  • Both UH teams have yet to make their Big West Conference season debut with three games canceled

  • Their Saturday games are currently on as scheduled, tentatively

  • The COVID issues within the Rainbow Wahine program are believed to be a first

The games will not be rescheduled. Neither UH team has yet made its Big West Conference season debut, with three straight BWC games canceled for both.

Their Saturday matchups — at Long Beach State for the UH men and Cal State Fullerton at SimpliFi Arena for the UH women — are tentatively on as scheduled.

According to the UH, the reason for the Rainbow Wahine cancellation Thursday was “COVID-related issues.”

“We are disappointed but understand the safety and health of our athletes is our Number 1 priority,” Rainbow Wahine coach Laura Beeman messaged Spectrum News Hawaii. “We will continue to prepare for our game Saturday against CSUF.”

The UH women (3-6) last played Dec. 21 at UNLV, while the UH men (4-5) last played Dec. 23 against South Florida in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

The UH men's volleyball season opener — featuring the unveiling of the team's 2021 national championship banner — is still on as scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday.

"I don't see how we can't be concerned," volleyball coach Charlie Wade said to media Tuesday about the prospect of COVID cancellations. "But at the end of it, it's really out of our control. We've just said from the start of this, let's be as vigilant and disciplined as we can to control what we control and certainly follow the mitigation protocols that have been put in place. As disciplined as we can be, it still requires a little bit of luck as you're relying on the people around you and people you come in contact with.

"Fortunately, so far we've been able to avoid any kind of outbreak on the team while we've been bubbled up together," he added.