The University of Maine women’s basketball team won’t play its first game until at least December due to the suspension of winter sports activities there because of COVID-19 cases. When the Black Bears do play, this could be a special team. UMaine proved last season that a winning culture, and the confidence and swagger that accompany it, are firmly in place. Despite a rash of injuries to players, including 2019 America East Player and Defensive Player of the Year Blanca Millan (knee) and 2018-2019 America East rebounding leading Fanny Wadling (concussion), the gritty Black Bears went 18-14 overall and 12-4 in America East. They earned a spot in the league championship game against top seed Stony Brook, but the season was halted because of the coronavirus. Head coach Amy Vachon’s team was going for a third straight conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance. Millan, who appeared in six games, and Wadling, who missed the entire season, received medical redshirts and have returned for a fifth season.